More exciting news about Bachmann K4

[basementcalling]

Saw'em today. Looks good....

Those better than the ones in the advertisement. No surprise as I assume they tweak the pre production runs. Hoping folks are happy with them when they are actually in hand and on the rails.

Good times for N scalers.

Noticed BLW hasn't listed these yet, but MBK had the new Wheels of Time SP Bulkhead flats and looks from the in stock numbers like they have a winner with SP fans.

[Dave V]

Dr. Dave:  I think (that possibly due to your bias towards PRR and K4) you might not be seeing things clearly.  The negativity you see is not really directed towards the new and exciting K4 - it is towards Bachmann and their product design and quality in general.  I would bet you dollars to donuts that you would see the same negativity shown in a thread for any new Bachmann-made N scale steam loco.

I have a poor opinion about Bachmann's steam locos in general (when compared to other manufacturer's models), but I have no stake in the K4.  But Victor is a good example of what I'm talking about.  He is a big fan of PRR and it seems that he would like to get at least one K4.  He is also highly regarded tinkerer, and analyst and evaluator of N scale steam mechanism design.  If you look at his K4-related posts in the locked thread, he clearly shows his disdain for Bachmann and their design and production methods. I don't think he is being negative - he is stating proven facts and he is just being a realist.


Oh, Ernie told me that the Bachmann video was taken about 3 weeks ago.  That would be in the beginning of August.

I missed this earlier, and not to belabor the point, but...  Yes, this particular loco hits very close to home, but Ed's right.  I'm speaking in general of the broad-brush bashing that happens to the majority of the manufacturers.  Your point about any N scale Bachmann locomotive receiving the same negativity is exactly my point.  Voicing the same disdain ad nauseam is indeed being negative.

And Ed said it a bit more succinctly than I did.  The Railwire has a reputation that is more negative than it deserves, and you don't generally see the complaints from our very own membership that we do about the very negative tone.  IMHO, we should be known for our modeling excellence and nothing more.

[strummer]

NICE PHOTOS!!!!

thanks Delamaize.

k. the tendertrucks look like b-mann is modeling Kiesel trucks.
I'll bet they will have a hard time keeping them in stock.

again thanks for the photos.

victor

I hadn't noticed that. You're right, they will be a popular item.

Mark in Oregon

[tom mann]

Thanks to @delamaize .  Because of him adding photos that turned yet another insane product discussion topic into something useful, I didn't have to lock this.

Soon, the Product Discussion forum will be replaced by some sponsored content courtesy of OutBrain.

[wcfn100]

I purposefully avoided responding to the first K4 thread about different modelers' perceived views of Bachmann, but, now, I can't resist.  Just today, I received my Bachmann N scale 2-10-2 from TrainWorld.  It far surpasses what I expected.

The 2-10-2, like the 2-8-0 that many are using as shining examples, are Spectrum models.  This isn't.  Hopefully it will be a good runner, but expectations should be closer to what we've heard about the Berkshire.


Jason

[arbomambo]

And the same issue of Model Railroader that featured the Bachmann Ad for this new K4, also features the ad for the new Model Power Pacific on the rear cover

[OldEastRR]

Quote from: Ed Kapuscinski on Today at 03:54:04 PM

I hate it being known as "that forum full of assholes".

Can we get a new header? 

Jim

Or at least funny ones? I miss the old goofy headers. The new ones look like stuff made by MR --BOOOOORRING.

[peteski]

Or at least funny ones? I miss the old goofy headers. The new ones look like stuff made by MR --BOOOOORRING.

These are actually old header images.  See https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=34820.0  and then https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=34497.0 .

[Rich_S]

IMHO, we should be known for our modeling excellence and nothing more.

Dave,  At what point does constructive criticism turn into Negativity? I was once told on this very forum, there is another forum available, If I wanted every thing sugar coated. It can be a very fine line at times 

Now my personal opinion about the Bachmann K4. My October MR just arrived today and I immediately turned to page 27. My first impression is it's great to see more than one K4 being produced by Bachmann, 2 pre-war's and 2 post war's with different numbers. The model does look very nice, BUT the disappointment sets in once again just like on the 2-8-4 Berk. I know I'm in the minority, but I do not want sound, my ears ring 24/7 because of the sound the 12" to the foot locomotives make, I want my models to be quite. I've even emailed Bachmann and ask why they do not offer a non DCC non sound version of the locomotives. They did send a standard reply, I'm not going to share. I'm sorry guys, $400 for a K4 and $350 for a Berk are a little to pricey for my hobby. In my opinion, are those two locomotives equal to 7 quality diesel locomotives? sorry No. Now if they offered them without sound or DCC in the $150 price range, I'd purchase both of them in a heart beat. Again just my opinion, meant as constructive criticism 

[delamaize]

Talk to the Bachman Reb this morning. There is multiple whistles in the decoder one of them is a 3 chime. The sand dome is a item that is cast into the boiler. But they also said the prototype that they used for the reference had a tall sand dome . They said that they are planning on doing other variations of the locomotive with different details like different sized  sand domes. I asked him about the running qualities they said it will be comparable if not better than the 4-6-0 and 2-6-0 and the new em1. They said everybody that they have had test it was very impressed with its power and with the smoothness of the mechanism. Later today I'll see if there's a chance that I can see one run and if I can I will take video

[peteski]

But they also said the prototype that they used for the reference had a pulse and don't like that.

What does that mean?  The locomotive was still alive and its heart was beating?  You no like alive locomotives    

[victor miranda]

while we await delamaize,
I read the line as meaning the recording created from the chime
has a pulse in the recording.

I hear a pulse in all steam powered chimes.

calliopes are fun that way.

victor

 

[victor miranda]

...snip.  I know I'm in the minority, but I do not want sound, my ears ring 24/7 because of the sound the 12" to the foot locomotives make, I want my models to be quite. .snip...

I am not sure you are in the minority.
I know I don't want the sound...
it is not good sound and it is expensive.

victor

edited to remove negativity.

[Dave V]

Dave,  At what point does constructive criticism turn into Negativity? I was once told on this very forum, there is another forum available, If I wanted every thing sugar coated. It can be a very fine line at times 

Sigh...  It's subjective, but there's a difference between "needs more cowbell" and "if it's made by X it's gonna be a steaming pile."  Specific critiques of models and modeling...yeah, that's us.  Broad-brushed bashing based on conjecture, that's negativity for negativity's sake.  Note that even though I've expressed my sincere disdain for the negativity I've seen lately (and it extends past Bachmann to MTL, IMRC, Rapido, and a host of other manufacturers), I've not done anything administrative in response (although I support my fellow mods when they do).

You will probably note as I have that any product announcement follows a very predictable pattern, which usually goes like this: 

1)  "Model X announced by Company Y!" 
2)  "Cool, I need one!"
3)  "I don't need one, but it looks pretty good!"
4)  "I don't need one, but I know enough about it to point out that detail Z is wrong."
5)  "Yeah, Company Y always makes mistakes like that"
6)  "I won't ever buy from Company Y because everything they make is a turd."
7)  "Because it's Company Y, Model X will not only look awful, it won't run worth a crap either."
8 )  "It's like Company Y tries to be wrong...why couldn't Company A do this model instead?"
9)  "<Ahem> Company A also makes crap and I won't buy from them either."

Or, what I read is "I know something!  Pay attention to me!  And I'll complain louder and louder until everyone agrees with me (or the thread is locked)!"

So...  Those are my thoughts, not as a moderator, but as a member of this community who--by virtue of sharing my own modeling and seeking to learn from others--tries to give more than I take from it.

[nscaler711]

Sigh...  It's subjective, but there's a difference between "needs more cowbell" and "if it's made by X it's gonna be a steaming pile."  Specific critiques of models and modeling...yeah, that's us.  Broad-brushed bashing based on conjecture, that's negativity for negativity's sake.  Note that even though I've expressed my sincere disdain for the negativity I've seen lately (and it extends past Bachmann to MTL, IMRC, Rapido, and a host of other manufacturers), I've not done anything administrative in response (although I support my fellow mods when they do).

You will probably note as I have that any product announcement follows a very predictable pattern, which usually goes like this: 

1)  "Model X announced by Company Y!" 
2)  "Cool, I need one!"
3)  "I don't need one, but it looks pretty good!"
4)  "I don't need one, but I may just buy one for the heck of it."
5)  "I don't need one, but I know enough about it to point out that detail Z is wrong."
6)  "Yeah, Company Y always makes mistakes like that"
7)  "I won't ever buy from Company Y because everything they make is a turd."
8.)  "Because it's Company Y, Model X will not only look awful, it won't run worth a crap either."
9)  "It's like Company Y tries to be wrong...why couldn't Company A do this model instead?"
10)  "<Ahem> Company A also makes crap and I won't buy from them either."

Or, what I read is "I know something!  Pay attention to me!  And I'll complain louder and louder until everyone agrees with me (or the thread is locked)!"

So...  Those are my thoughts, not as a moderator, but as a member of this community who--by virtue of sharing my own modeling and seeking to learn from others--tries to give more than I take from it.

I fixed the mistake in your list.
Carry On.