Bachmann heavyweight coaches...anyone bite?

[Mark5]

I fondled one of these at the Springfield show. 

While I know nothing about accuracy, I noticed one really neat feature: They had flush-mounted (and nice crystal-clear) windows.  Something never done on heavyweight cars in N scale.  This little detail makes them look much more realistic than the other companies' models where the windows are inset by half a scale foot (due to the thickness of the shell).  Well done Bachmann!

You'll laugh, but most heavyweights did not have "flush" windows. 

[peteski]

You'll laugh, but most heavyweights did not have "flush" windows. 

No, I understand that.
However,  I still rather have flush windows than ones which are inset 6-9 scale inches into the car due to the thickness of the plastic shell.  How much would they be inset on a real car? About 1 inch? That is 0.006" in N scale. That is not very deep.  For all I know they might be inset by that much on the Bachmann model.

[reinhardtjh]

I was scrolling through the MBK pages looking for anything else I may want to add to my order before the midnight deadline for the 5% Easter discount and I discovered that they had silently restocked the Bachmann passenger coaches.  Currently 27 PRR coaches in stock at $47.99  ($45.59 if you beat the deadline). 

http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/N-Scale-Heavyweight-Passenger-Cars-s/2348.htm?searching=Y&sort=3&cat=2348&show=30&page=1&brand=Bachmann

[Cajonpassfan]

Sorry, but that is still ridiculously expensive for what it is....
I just don't get what Bachmann is doing with their pricing on these..
Otto K.

[eja]

I just don't get what Bachmann is doing with their pricing on these..
Otto K.

They are making a profit !

[davefoxx]

They are making a profit !

By using a similar business model as the underpants gnomes, perhaps?:

[reinhardtjh]

Sorry, but that is still ridiculously expensive for what it is....
I just don't get what Bachmann is doing with their pricing on these..
Otto K.

I agree they are expensive, even at the discounted price.  But check current prices for HO passenger cars. It's not out of line by much.  Note that it also includes lighting and all that goes along with that.  Most passenger cars require add-ons if you want it. THen again, if you don't you are paying for something you don't want. Some win, some lose.

For us Pennsy fans it all comes down to if the model is close enough to the PRR P70 or not. The other alternative is a Shapeways shell (Price those. Wait, I'll do it for you - $67 in FUD or $112 in FXD - plus trucks, wheels, couplers, paint, decals, etc) with it's attendant problems or finding a Lima (or Model Power if that's all that's available) coach and buying/creating the correct parts.   The Lima/Model Power is the slightly less expensive route, but involves a fair amount of work so if you need a fleet (and the PRR had a thousand+ P70's) then you have a job ahead of you.

So it comes down to how much time you want to spend, how much your time is worth and/or what your modelling skills are. 

[towl1996]

They are making a profit !

Not off me.    I guess they think adding lights will justify the higher price point. If these were priced right, I would have bought 3 or 4. The old MP/Lima version still holds up to me and I'm glad I actually did some modeling to convert mine.

[thomasjmdavis]

But check current prices for HO passenger cars. It's not out of line by much.

But check the current prices for N passenger cars, and they are definitely out of line (especially if we talk MSRP).  And what will it cost to make them accurate models of something (trucks, details, couplers)?  Are they really worth as much as a Rapido?  Or two MTs?

I suppose for some people they are.  It seems to follow the Bachmann pattern of recent times-  DCC (or in this case, lighting) thrown in which makes them more costly, but a lot of things skipped to keep costs down.  So, if lights are a big deal to you, then they may be worth it. If it was $25 without the lights I might be tempted.

But if you see value in them, more power to you.

Tom D

[VonRyan]

All these puppies need are 2D-P5s that can pick up power like the stock trucks and they'll be perfect, but until then, I'm still quite pleased with my two P70s.

[Blackout]

I got my Bachmann January newsletter today and the heavyweight coach is featured...MSRP $79.00!
Are you kidding me? What are they thinking, or what am I missing? Are they self-propelled? Made of precious metals? What? Anybody have one of these?
Otto K.

The internal weight is made of gold.