Well! Bachmann's new pricing is NOT so great after discount

[MichaelWinicki]

He also has the SD-45's listed with the SoundTraxx Steam Package .  That's going to sound awesome 

Pete has the SD45's listed at $149.

I'm going to wait until they are released and we get some reviews before I step up and purchase any.

[robert3985]

I have no interest in either.  However, I pay around $300 for every steamer I've purchased over the past few years...and I don't complain...even when I've got to replace some of their POS MRC decoders.  Yup, I'm talkin' about Athearn Big Boys and Challengers.  If I "need" an engine that would be proper for my era and my location, I get it (them).  I'll horse-trade, sell something or do custom work to get what I need/want...and not complain about it.  So far, I'm at six Big Boys and seven Challengers, and I'll be shopping for a few more pretty soon.

200 something bucks for a steamer that runs well equipped with DCC and sound doesn't sound exorbitant to me.  80 bucks for a sound decoder???  All the ones I buy are in the 110 to 130 dollar range, and that doesn't include a speaker or enclosure.

As for the diesel...it's way out of my era, so I won't comment.

Here are some of 'em parked at Echo.  Taken before my last purchase...


200 somthing bucks per engine???  These monsters were 600 something each except for the one with the double tender and caboose....that one was over a grand...and I horse-traded for all of 'em...no money out-of-pocket:


Just saying that if ya want something bad enough, then you'll find a way to get it...N-scale included.

Right now I'm saving my nickels and dimes for Kato's run of FEF-3's.  One way or another I'll have five of 'em, even if I don't have the money...and I'm gonna bet they'll be going for around $300 each.

[Leggy]

Don't know where you get $300 from when the GS-4s were MSRP at ~$200 and went for under that....

[victor miranda]

I am guessing he is adding the sound decoder.

and that is the point of the complaint...
I don't want to pay for sound (DCC too but that ship done sailed).  Can I get it without?

I have an AC12,  have not got a challenger for some reason.

victor

[Kisatchie]

Just saying that if ya want something bad enough, then you'll find a way to get it...N-scale included.

Hmm... I have a gun.
Give me $2000...

[robert3985]

Don't know where you get $300 from when the GS-4s were MSRP at ~$200 and went for under that....

Times have changed since the first Kato GS-4's were introduced...particularly the dollar vs yen (or the dollar vs anything else).  I hope you're correct, but I'm planning on $300 bucks each.  At least if they're less than that, then I'll have a surplus which I'll use to buy sound decoders and speakers.

[SkipGear]

The Bachmann SD45's had one advantage, they ran well with Atlas and LL loco's.  Kato's do not as they have not yet figured out how to gear a loco properly.

It really doesn't look that bad with a little work (really a lot)..... remove gallons of paint, add proper paint and photo etch details, lower the body on the frame. This one has been running for years without problem.



I have 3 LL Berks which will all get replaced if the Bachmann loco is half as good as recent steam releases. My LL berks are setting in their boxes, waiting for the weekend effort it takes to put DCC in them, and that still won't net me traction. They are beautiful running DC loco's that won't pull their own shadow without some modifications. When it comes to adding DCC, they are not friendly at all. Besides that, the LL version is a Pere Markette / Nickle Plate version and having accurate C&O version of the loco will be a big plus and makes it worth the price for many C&O modelers.

One of my LL Berks was destined to be a Polar Express at the request of my son. It will probably stay in the fleet, DC and unmodified except for paint as it will probably just be set up for display around the holidays.

[Leggy]

Times have changed since the first Kato GS-4's were introduced...particularly the dollar vs yen (or the dollar vs anything else).  I hope you're correct, but I'm planning on $300 bucks each.  At least if they're less than that, then I'll have a surplus which I'll use to buy sound decoders and speakers.

I bought my GS-4 back when they first were delivered for $200 so it hasn't changed much....

[Mark5]

It really doesn't look that bad with a little work (really a lot).....

I hope they fix the tooling and get the height thing right. Heck, lets be greedy and hope they make it right!

They really dont have any excuse anymore, with all that tooling expertise in-house now.

Mark

[packers#1]

Times have changed since the first Kato GS-4's were introduced...particularly the dollar vs yen (or the dollar vs anything else).  I hope you're correct, but I'm planning on $300 bucks each.  At least if they're less than that, then I'll have a surplus which I'll use to buy sound decoders and speakers.

Always better to have planned for the price to be higher than lower.

[mu26aeh]

I'm surprised with all the rivot counters and nitpickers (no offense intended) that still no one else noticed a diesel locomotive that comes with steam sound effects package.  Maybe I'm over looking that 

[Ed Kapuscinski]

It really doesn't look that bad with a little work (really a lot)..... remove gallons of paint, add proper paint and photo etch details, lower the body on the frame. This one has been running for years without problem.

Did you add the traction motor blower duct to the fireman's side?

[daniel_leavitt2000]

They actually added that detail on the second run.

[SkipGear]

Did you add the traction motor blower duct to the fireman's side?

I did because it started life as an Undec which was only done in the earlier version.




As far as the steam sound comment, probably nothing more than a cut and paste typo. Not a big deal to get worked up about.

[MichaelWinicki]

The Bachmann SD45's had one advantage, they ran well with Atlas and LL loco's.  Kato's do not as they have not yet figured out how to gear a loco properly.

Good explanation SG.

I was trying to explain that to LV Lou in a previous post about the one problem I have with Kato diesels, and that was their speed... but you did a much better job explaining it.