Baldwin 52'' Driver 4-6-0 DCC Sound Santa Fe 498

I have already reviewed Sound Value models 52703, 4-4-0 CP Jupiter and 53102, a 4-8-4 GS-4. I was critical about the lack of synchronization between the chuffs of the exhaust and the action of the side rods, cranks and eccentrics. The sound far exceeds the apparent speed of the locomotive. Less noticeable at slow speed but as loco speed increases the sound gets further and further ahead exponentially. A scale 25 mph sounds like the train is approaching the speed of light. But this engine is quite different and for a simple reason. 52” drivers are nowhere near as tall the drivers on the other locos, so these turn more RPMs in covering the same length of track, and that almost catches up to the sound completely. The sound itself is quite good. Detailing is excellent with glazing, glass wind deflectors, good back-head detail including a very realistic throttle (nice touch) separately applied cab and tender grab irons, full grabs on the rear of the tender, cutting levers and lift pin brackets, pipes from the boiler to the steam chests, handrails along locomotive and grab irons on the smoke box. All appear to be scale dimensions. Molded details are high quality as well. Boiler top details, dynamo with piping, steam dome with brass looking pops, bell and whistle and sand dome carrying the engine number. Most importantly it runs very smooth and quietly. I haven’t encountered this much detail in this price range before. They are a good buy.