New Bachmann GP7 images...

[Mark5]

Has anyone popped the hood yet?

Just wondering if it has the same small can motor Bachmann has been using in everything lately.

There's a pic at the bottom of this page:

http://forum.atlasrr.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=63528&whichpage=2

looks like the same crappy 3 poler they're sticking in all the new locos.

Mark

[Ian MacMillan]

I kinda like the no grab irons so that I can easily add my own. Dimples on the inside of the shell so as to where to drill would be nice, but I guess the BLMA drilling template it is.

[Puddington]

There's a pic at the bottom of this page:

http://forum.atlasrr.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=63528&whichpage=2

looks like the same crappy 3 poler they're sticking in all the new locos.

Mark

If that's the same motor as the other recent units they've made then I disagree; they have run very well. Just because a motor is a three pole doesn't disqualify it from being any good...Kato GS 4 ...?

[wm3798]

Is it just me or is the font of the PRR cab number a little too Roman?  I do like that they've finally broken down and painted white numerals on the number boards...

I'll be interested to see what might be involved in chopping the short hood...  I need to see if my Atlas flavored stick on cab face will work on this one.

*edit*  Okay, just had a gander at Spookshow's shot of the chassis...  No chopping going on here, it looks like.

Lee

[wazzou]

In just viewing the photos, I think the fan tooling on the tops of the units is what most sets it behind the Atlas units IMO.  Let's face it, in N Scale the tops of locos are more easily viewed than anything.

With that said, if they follow this up with Ph.III GP-9's, I'd be inclined to pick up a few.

[wcfn100]

There's a pic at the bottom of this page:

http://forum.atlasrr.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=63528&whichpage=2

looks like the same crappy 3 poler they're sticking in all the new locos.

Mark

Why would you expect anything else in an entry level, poorly detailed locomotive?

Jason

[Mark5]

If that's the same motor as the other recent units they've made then I disagree; they have run very well. Just because a motor is a three pole doesn't disqualify it from being any good...Kato GS 4 ...?

I have some of these Bachmann locos with the 3 polers. The Kato GS4 motor sucks too.

Mark

[Mark5]

Why would you expect anything else in an entry level, poorly detailed locomotive?

Jason

Good point. They used to put five polers in the spectrums at least.

[victor miranda]

for comparison purposes only.
the Kato GS4 is not as smooth nor as slow as a Kato Mike.
the GS4 has a 3 pole motor, the Mike has a 5 pole.

victor

[Bruce Bird]

Wow- all I need to do is come up with a P&E logo 'patch' kit to cover the bogus number, renumber the loco correctly on the short hood and voila'- a correct P&E freight GP7.  BTW, they had passenger GP7s but they were painted gray and not black.

Hmm- not bad considering the source.  I don't mind the lack of grabs either.

Bruce

[Puddington]

I have some of these Bachmann locos with the 3 polers. The Kato GS4 motor sucks too.

Mark

I own a number of Bachmann 16-44's and they will pull the teeth out of your mouth; are damn near bullet proof and run like a champ... a bit noisy; yep, so was the prototype.

Guess we disagree.

[Puddington]

Why would you expect anything else in an entry level, poorly detailed locomotive?

Jason

If this is what an entry level locomotive looks like in 2011, then the hobby has improved and we have Bachmann to thank. Scale fidelity in nose width; better than Atlas rivets on the roof panels; decent handrails, good paint quality, number boards....etc... the list goes on... and, as for the "detractions".. well not everyone here likes the over scale diamond tread (I like it but....) that Atlas uses... I, for one...no, not for one, I believe others agree, the lack of "hunks of plastic" rungs (like Atlas and Kato) on the fore and aft hood, while a noticeable exclusion, it does allow a "modeler" to add them without killing the paint job. The "starter" won't miss what they don't know should be there.....Same comment for the MU's.

Why slag a "starter" loco for not being a fine scale product....? What purpose does that serve ? Price point does define "what is and isn't" and this price point has been, it seem, exceeded by the detail Bachmann has put in.

3 pole vs 5 pole...not that old chessnut again...........Bachmann's latest motor run fine; the 16-44's are workhorses; they run like a champ.....

It doesn't surprise me that people wanna bash this model....after all it's a BARFMANN....Right Jason ?...... and nothing good ever comes from them........right ? WRONG. >

[victor miranda]

clip....
3 pole vs 5 pole...not that old chessnut again...........Bachmann's latest motor run fine; the 16-44's are workhorses; they run like a champ.....
... clip

b-mann has never claimed a 5 pole for this loco and I have no objections to
the motor picked by b-mann.

the comment I made was to point out the problem in the logic with this line...

clip...
Just because a motor is a three pole doesn't disqualify it from being any good...Kato GS 4 ...?

If you compare the two Kato locos
you will see what a 5 pole can do for a loco.
Kato's three pole motor is pretty high quality for a model railroad motor.

so as you don't miss this point.
the decoder in the b-mann is doing a very good job
of overcoming the known flaws of a three pole motor.
You nor I know how good or bad that motor is.


I will make a prediction.
When the street price for the new b-mann
is half the street price for the DC Atlas GP unit

Atlas will quit making them.

victor

[Mark5]

I own a number of Bachmann 16-44's and they will pull the teeth out of your mouth; are damn near bullet proof and run like a champ... a bit noisy; yep, so was the prototype.

Guess we disagree.

I have a Bmann FM H16-55. It "cogs" at slow speeds. They are good for 3 polers, but I can easily tell that it is a 3 poler - it's as plain as the nose on your face. I am using DC.

That said, I have the FM and three Bachmann steamers (including two "J"s) with these 3 polers. Although the motors are clearly inferior to a decent 5 pole motor, they are not bad enough to prod me to re-motor them. This is progress! ;D

I'd probably leave N scale if all N scale locos had these motors.

Mark

[Puddington]

Victor: I bow to your knowledge of motors; my point was simply that just because a motor is a 3 pole doesn't make it junk; were it so then how could Kato have a/ used one; for they are most people's quality standard and b/ How could so many 3 pole equipped locomotives been so well received. A Kato accepted 5 pole motor is a wonderful machine; albeit, not every offering from anyone will contain; or needs such a motor; given the mfg. considerations and price point they wish to hit.

There just seems to be a lingering "5 or nothing" movement out there some days.