See the General Motors Diesel Ltd. SD50F from Aurora Miniatures North America in action our HO scale Winston-Salem Southbound in our latest product review video. Model Railroader Senior Editor Cody Grivno provides a brief history of the six-axle road locomotive and Dakota, Missouri Valley & Western 5454; points out the many factory-applied details on the cowl-body unit; and demonstrates the sound and light functions on our review sample, which has an ESU LokSound V5 sound decoder.
The Aurora Miniatures HO GMD SD50F is decorated for Dakota, Missouri Valley & Western (orange and gray with reporting marks in two road numbers) and Canadian National (zebra stripes in four numbers; North America and single stripe schemes in one number each). In addition, Aurora offers an SD50AF painted for CN (zebra stripes) and DMVW (orange and gray with current herald) in two numbers per scheme.
Features on the six-axle road unit include an injection-molded plastic body and a heavy die-cast zinc alloy chassis. Among the details on the SD50F are pilot- or deck-mounted ditch lights as appropriate; factory-installed m.u. and train line hoses, sunshades, windshield wipers, and wire grab irons; and see-through, etched-metal radiator screens.
The model also has a variety of light-emitting-diode lighting features (headlights, ditch lights, number boxes, tri-color class lights, step lights, ground lights, and locomotive control desk stand). The operating radiator fans have an improved drive unit with quieter operation and selective fan control. The SD50F has a minimum radius of 18” and a recommended radius of 22”.
Direct-current models with a 21MTC connector and dual sugar-cube speakers retail for $249.99. Versions with an ESU LokSound V5 DCC and sound decoder and dual sugar-cube speakers are priced at $349.99.
Trains.com Product Review videos showcase the latest new items from manufacturers of products in Z, N, HO, S, O, and large scales. In the videos, you can watch locomotives in action, take a close-up look at details on freight cars, see kit components, and much more.
If you are a manufacturer and have products you would like reviewed, please email Senior Editor Cody Grivno at cody.grivno@firecrown.com for more information.
