See and hear the Digital Command Control (DCC) and sound equipped InterMountain AC-12 Cab-Forward. We ran the HO scale locomotive on our layout using a Model Rectifier Corp. Digital Command Control (DCC) system. You can also read a full review of this model.
Video: InterMountain HO scale AC-12 Cab-Forward 4-8-8-2
By Angela Cotey | April 27, 2010
| Last updated on November 3, 2020
This HO scale steam locomotive includes a SoundTraxx Tsunami Digital Command Control (DCC) sound decoder
This locomotive is a great example of a legendary locomotive. But, I can find some issues in the sound, though. The boiler blowdown on a locomotive like that would be lower, the recording's from a 4-4-0 or similar loco. Also, when the Cab-Forwards ran, they had that signiture air pump "pew" sound. I can't hear that on the model. Plus, the chuff on this loco is too high for a large American steam locomotive. With all being said & done for, it is a great looking model, but it isn't a great sounding model.
easily the best looking cabforward model I have sceen. sound needs a little adjustment. this is definitely a model for me.
I would have liked to know if the body shell of teh unit has anything to do with the heritage of teh old IHC cabforward. What I mean is there more detail finer modeling of the detail and printing of the various placards.
How does this model compare to the upcoming MTH version?
Thank you best regards
Juergen
I saw one of these at the local hobby shop and it ran quite well with no issues except maybe the sound as mentioned above. I thought it sounded pretty good but that is relative to what I have heard from other manufacturers. I am waiting for delivery of the BLI/PCM Paragon 2 versions of this model for comparrison and the die cast MTH version should be very good as well. I believe all these models are very close with detail & operation. MTH tends to have extra features like cab and marker lights, a good smoke unit & die cast body for extra traction but more expensive. BLI has a good smoke unit & also a brass Hybrid version. I am sorry to hear that the Intermountain model has so many electrical related issues according to the comments I have read so far. I thought the price was good for the quality of the model that I had seen and run at the hobby shop. The local hobby shop has sold several Intermountain's with no reported problems so far. Local modelers seem to like them just fine. So again, I guess it is all relative.
I am experiencing the same problems as noted in the recent MR product review. Top speed is about 45 and after it warms up settles into 38 mph. Am getting 2 chuffs / revolution. I have a roller stand, digital speedometer, and use JMRI Decoder Pro.
Am experiencing min speed of 1 RPM— 3 MPH
Intermountain suggested 2 possible fixes for the speed –raise the track voltage to about 18 V RMS or remove some of the pickups on the driver wheels ( pickups are on the tender and all driving wheels) — I'm not comfortable about either recommendation.
Beautiful model –I'm not ready to give up on it yet. I figure it's just software controlling it all. I suspect the decoder may be the root cause.
I can be reached @ jbond@provide.net
Should there be 8 chuffs per revolution on an articulated simple locomotive instead of the four that the sound unit plays. Two chuffs per cylinder per revolution times 4 cylinders = 8 chuffs per revolution.
Otherwise the model looks great and seems to run very well.
LOL I'm sorry guys, that's just an ugly loco. I can't help it! To each his own as they say, so you have at it! Enjoy!
It would be nice if the CV's could be set to chuff correctly, but it is not possible with the Tsunami. The model is a great looking locomotive but not a good runner. I have several copies of this model but will continue to use the Key AC12 without sound if I want to run one.
I have two im ac-12 s .one from the first run and the second from the second run. the second run engine rus faster but could have some more weight so as to pull a little more. overall, I think the detail is about the best for a plastic steam engine. not too bad for four hundred bucks. The last brass overland version is over 2000 bucks.
Hi Alden,
The distinctive compressor sound is there. It just might be a bit hard to hear on the video. You can adjust the volume level of the individual effects, if you'd like a particular effect to be louder.
Thanks for your interest
Dana Kawala
Senior editor
I agree with J Rob Dove, there should be 4 chuffs per revolution per cylinder for a total of 8. The main sould missing is the distinctive PSHEWW—-PSHEWW——————————-PSHEWW—-PSHEWW of the air compressors, a sound very distinctive of the Cab-Forwards. As a teenager, I spent many hours around and riding in the cabs up in Dunsmuir, Cal. They were truly unique.
I have the N scale version of this Intermountain loco and have had no problems with it. A great-running locomotive that brings back memories of watching the real ones run many years ago…
As it comes, the Tsunami isn't connected to the drivers, so you have to adjust the CV's to get the proper number of chuffs per revolution..or at least a close approximation. Also the Tsunami only allows an off-beat "chuff-chuff" for a simple articulated. This is OK but not exactly correct, it really should be going in and out of sync. (On a true mallet, it would only be four chuffs per revolution, like a regular engine.)
I like the whistle on that engine a lot, but is there an air horn feature as well, because those locomotives also had air horns.
I bought one Intermountain AC-12 Cab-Forward with DCC and sound and it did not work properly at all. It could only reach 50% of max speed and was crawling in any slight grade. Not enough chuffs according to number of cylinders. I exchanged it for another one at the store and it was the same thing, so finallly I had to return it. The store did not argue at all, because they tested it on their test layout and it was doing the same.
About a week ago I wrote MR inquiring whose Cab-Forward they reviewed. (It could not have been Intermountain???)
Yes, I know it was Intermountain's!!! I am on my third replacement engine. While this last one runs, that is not saying much. Great looking engine but its performance is terrible!! Will not go over 20 or so miles per hour. And it barely pulls four cars.
The first one I had ran great, as long as it was on straight track. The loco refused to negotiate a 30"plus radius. The next engines, two "replacements", ran about ten minutes then stopped…..Never to run again. Intermountain tried to rectify the issues but after this last "replacement" they will not return any of my inquires. Guess Frank and his crew are too embarrassed.
About the only thing this engine is good for is a display on our mantel.
Robert Bale
Leland, NC
I Watched The video, & was not impressed wth the sound Chip I agree with all the comments about sound above. The Inter mountain certainly is a very nice looking loco motive
bad
I recently bought an Akane AC-12 that hade been in the box since 1985.
After lubing it and repairing a sprung valve yoke I put it on the club layout and it ran like a champ. It doesn't do many things, just goes forward and back, stops and runs. Now I'm not going to bore you guys with a lecture on the value of simplicity. I'm just sayin'…….
I hope their new ES units are better product than what this appears to be. Don't sound like an Intermountain product I am sued to reading about !
Looks and sounds great, Sory but my layout is to small for it.
Intermountain is a great company and has worked hard to improve their product line and I believe they will keep on doing this with future releases.I have not seen this model in person but thought the sound system needs some work. As for the model itself, it looks very good and seems to run good ,maybe they could release a non-sound version.
My model of the cab forward arrived just after the publication of the first comments. The details on the model are great BUT the performance is very poor. The drawbar will not stay connected, and the pulling power is no where near a locomotive of that type. I am very sorry I have purchased it .
I have this loco. There was a considerable drag to start with right out of the box. I noticed that the decoder sounds increased in speed out of sync with actual speed of loco (top end speed as mentioned in the review). I contacted InterMountain and was advised that the wipers on the loco may be causing the drag and that I could either adjust the tension of the wipers or remove them completely without voiding the warranty. In the end, it was much easier to remove the wipers on the loco and just silicone the ends of the wires to avoid shorting issues. The tender has pickup capabilities and overall I am impressed with this cab forward. I will be picking up another shortly!
To bad really, but honestly, I've not had the greatest luck with Intermountain.