Rumors of Bachmann N Scale K4

[Chris333]

I recieved a second Bachmann 2-6-0 in the mail today. Took it out of the box and put it on the track. Powered it up. Then went upstairs and e-mailed their parts department about the possibility of getting wheels for it that are round.

My first 2-6-0 runs great.

[Cajonpassfan]

Just a note: a couple of nicely painted and weathered Trix K4's (and a Deck) on feebay, if anyone is interested...
No dog in this race, just waiting for the release in hopes of a decent steam model, and others yet to come
Otto K.

[arbomambo]

Unbelievable.....
Simply unbelievable

[reinhardtjh]

Just a note: a couple of nicely painted and weathered Trix K4's (and a Deck) on feebay, if anyone is interested...
No dog in this race, just waiting for the release in hopes of a decent steam model, and others yet to come
Otto K.

Those are Chris Broughton's. He does pretty good work. 
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1612607705665383&set=a.1487691074823714.1073741828.100007485075854&type=1

Only one left... http://www.ebay.com/sch/chrisb-67/m.html?item=301721437822&hash=item463fffc67e&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2562

[Ed Kapuscinski]

[pjm20]

I'd like to simply point out that all the SPFs in this thread are estatic for this release and all non-SPFs are the ones ripping Bachmann, so stop blaming us...

[VonRyan]

Exactly.
Even as a freight modeler, I'll be buying at least one pre-war K4 to pull the 1938 Broadway Limited.
As long as it runs as excellently as the Berk, and the whistle is clear and crisp, I'll be thoroughly impressed.

[randgust]

Just an observation.  And not a SPF, either.

When the 44-tonner was first announced pre-production, the photos showed sewer-pipe handrails, and bad ones at that.

I started to gear up for etched brass handrails, and licking my chops.     Then the actual model came out, and somehow, some way, somebody was made aware that the pre-production handrails did look like crap.  The ones actually on the final model were much better.   Much easier to break, but much better looking.   I do think somebody has the admirable job of monitoring threads like this.

The one thing Bachmann has done, consistently and inexplicably, is used the larger-scale model as the prototype for the smaller scale version.  Some rather interesting compromises and glitches happen when they do that.   They'll copy errors on the HO model down to the N one, because they are scaling down the HO, not starting fresh with a raw drawing and photos.   I'd look closely at the HO one, find something that doesn't look just quite right (say a barely visible mold seam down the middle of the cab roof) and see if it doesn't somehow magically appear as a pronounced rib on the N model.  Or something like that.   They can do some really nice work and then inexplicably toss something like that in.  I swear they take the HO model, send it back, and say "take this and just make it smaller".

And that odd 'rusting' on the wheel spokes of the one N version photo is the kind of 'copy' from the larger one that gets badly translated on the smaller one. Is that yellow striping or rust on the HO one?  Looks like rust to us, we'll make it rusty looking on the N.

I'd say this is all so much useless hot air if I didn't think they were capable of actually fixing it.   I'll also remind people that few locomotives have evolved their mechanisms more than the ever-loving 4-8-4, just check Spookshow.

I was a complete Bachmann basher until I got the 44-tonner, that turned me around.   I'll give them some slack and beyond it.  But they still do some very strange things for no particularly good reason.

[towl1996]

I was a complete Bachmann basher until I got the 44-tonner, that turned me around.   I'll give them some slack and beyond it.  But they still do some very strange things for no particularly good reason.

I think that hits the nail on the head. People have wanted this engine for so long, they're afraid Bachmann is going to mess it up somehow. It feels like a once in a lifetime deal for this K4. All you can do is keep hope alive. 

[lv4142003]

Randgust (Randy), interesting take on how Bachmann scales their models down from one scale to another. I love 44 tonners, and have several in both HO and N (3 or 4 are yours - haven't done anything with them yet). I would like to get one in S and O (Yoders are terrific, just expensive) so I'll be getting a Bachmann Williams 44 ton and convert it to 2 rail. S scale will be harder (Resin kit from Smokey Mountain - one on ebay now). But it caused me to wonder did Bachmann scale up their HO 44 ton to O scale? Back in the 70's and 80's I used to frequent a LHS here in Philadelphia, "Macks Hobbies" , on Allegheny Ave above Kensington Ave. Bachmanns plant and offices were only blocks away and their salesman and employees were in all the time. I happened to be there one day when one of the Bachmann execs came in and purchased a Bowser (English's) metal PCC car and Brill trolley and had "Mr. Mack" mail it to Japan or Korea. Several months later Bachmann starting offering their "new" PCC and Brill trolleys. Dead on copy of Bowser, though they screwed the front of the PCC up (made it too wide).

[Philip H]

I think that hits the nail on the head. People have wanted this engine for so long, they're afraid Bachmann is going to mess it up somehow. It feels like a once in a lifetime deal for this K4.

So F'ing what?  I mean really, I'm sorry but we're bashing VAPORWARE here folks.  Sure  the ad says shipping, so there is product somewhere.  And sure, TRW has the biggest concentration of SPFs in the known universe (and others too probably) so we SHOULD be a technical production resource.  But until @peteski gets his hands on one to disassemble and photograph close-up and @spookshow reviews it its still VAPORWARE.  for which numerous threads have been derailed over the years.

All I've heard since I got here years ago was how horrible it was that the PRR's allegedly most iconic steam loco was not made RTR by anyone.  Now someone steps to the plate.  Who cares who - there by my count 4 manufacturers who do N scale plastic American steam.  Four. And Bachmann for all their ills has been one of them for the longest time. The other options appear to be Model Power, Kato, and Athearn.  And they didn't bite.

So let's all agree not to worry about flaws - perceived or predicted - until we actually see the thing.  And run it.  And figure out how to fix it.  Which TRW can certainly do with all our expertise.  But calling it a turd before you even chew it is just . . . . I don't know but I am really sick of the bashing after all the whining.

[Philip H]

And just to make sure there's no animosity:

[victor miranda]

nice video....

you can see and hear all you will get.

why am I laughing?

victor

[Puddington]

Ok; Bachmann bashers.... please list in order of importance what was wrong with that K4 we just saw in the video...? Other than the fact that Bachmann makes it and it's oh so trendy to bash Bachmann.....

If you're going to bash that RTR locomotive I saw in the video then I don't know how to make you happy; seriously; after seeing that and with not one piece of hard evidence to say the model will be anything but successful, how can you critique the model? ...... Until people have one, and based on what we see on that video I think people better stow the Bachmann bashing.....

[eric220]

nice video....

you can see and hear all you will get.

why am I laughing?

victor

Like me, you're probably laughing at the whistle.

Ok; Bachmann basher..... please list in order of importance what was wrong with that K4 we just saw in the video...? Other than the fact that Bachmann makes it and it's oh so trendy to bash Bachmann.....

If you're going to bash that locomotive I saw in the video then I don't know how to make you happy...

Now that there's some data, There is one glaring error: the banshee whistle. That is a prototype PRR whistle, but it's totally wrong for the K4. It should be a deep, mournful 3-chime. I sincerely hope that can be changed.

Having said that, I'm thrilled with everything else that I saw. The "as delivered" scheme drivers even look more like pinstripes and less like yellow spokes. Granted, it's a YouTube video, so the detail isn't great. I'm definitely on for at least one, and how many more will depend on whether or not I have to spend money on replacing the sound decoder.