Bachmann heavyweight coaches...anyone bite?

[bbussey]

I just went back and compared photos of the Doodlebug trailer coach with those of this heavyweight coach model, and definitely it is the same model.  So I will check the measurements later today of the trailer coaches I have and also juxtapose the trailer coach model with the Lima model.  Maybe it is a P-70, or close enough.  We'll see what measurements I report, and then the SPFs can make the final eval.

[Dave V]

@bbussey, thanks!  Without one in hand and with conflicting reports from the field, it would be nice to know how close these really are.

Over time I've become a little less obsessed with exactness and more focused on capturing the feel.  But, if it's far enough off, even with a street price at 50% MSRP, I would walk.

[eric220]

I've three of the aforementioned coaches, in PRR livery, which I picked up for $45 each.
For all intents and purposes, they're P70s. No I didn't caliper the boggers, but I did compare them to P70s in NJ International's PRR Heavyweight book, and I'm satisfied in saying that the Bachmann coaches are P70s, save for minor bits with the roof and the trucks, but the interior lighting is suitably visible, but not overpowering, and is at a fairly consistent level of illumination across the length of the car.

I'm very satisfied with their natural look when positioned behind a Bachmann K4, both in motion and at rest.

Looks like I need to find a blueprint to overlay. 

[Iain]

Meh, NS didn't own any steel coaches until Mcginnis (Yes, THAT Mcginnis) came along and got a few for himself on the railroad's dime.  Easy enough to pass!

[bbussey]

I guess I was wrong, as the Bachmann model does appear to be a P70 class coach. It matches the dimensions of the Lima car exactly, with updated features and better detail. The couplers are subpar and the pivoting pocket would have to be addressed, along with finding appropriate truck frames that still route power to the internal lights. However, the lighting features individual LEDs where the overhead lights would be on the prototype and nice touches such as etched bathroom windows. So yeah, it's a P70 so you SPFs are going to have to pony up the green, or hope they get dumped at half value in a few months (yet note that the product-dump hasn't happened in recent years on every new model they've released, so beware).

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[jmlaboda]

By golly... it is a P70!!!

The splice plates on the P70s were the same way as on the model, the only thing that it appears to be lacking is the crease (or is it a seam) that runs the full length of the letterboard.  Not hard really to do, with a good ruler, sharp Exacto blade and a little patience, but even as is this coach definitely looks right!!!

[VonRyan]

See that! Mine eyes doth not deceive me! 

I knew it from the moment that I compared them to the photos that they are P70s.

I'm just glad that I only paid $45 each for the three that I have.

[thomasjmdavis]

Well, I will confess that my eye did deceive me, as I was convinced these were "shorties" (reinforced by the advertising as a 72' coach).  Now that there are 4 different models (Lima/Minitrix/MP. Rivarossi/Atlas/Con Cor, MT and Bachmann) of a twin window coach, how about an ATSF 3060 and a single window ala CB&Q, Erie or L&N?

All the best for those of you for whom this model fills a gap.

Tom D

[towl1996]

Yes, thanks @bbussey for the pictures. The coach does look good. But the price  . I can't see these selling well, so I'll wait for a possible price dump and then buy. if not, oh, well. 

[Dave V]

So, my GI-issue Mark IV eyeballs didn't deceive me.

[VonRyan]

Yes, thanks @bbussey for the pictures. The coach does look good. But the price  . I can't see these selling well, so I'll wait for a possible price dump and then buy. if not, oh, well. 

Thanksgiving weekend at a train show, some bloke bought 7 of them in PRR paint at $45/car. Luckily for me they missed the 8th one.
And I thought I was nuts when I was trying to accumulate three of them.

Makes me wonder...

[chicken45]

Now we need someone to compare them to the MTL coach!

[muktown128]

Bachmann PRR coaches available at MBK.  10% discount on Bachmann items until 2/1.
Trainworld has them also.  Free shipping on orders over $100 ends today.
The favorite spot on eBay also has some.
All for under $50 I believe.
I may need to pick up 1 or more soon.

MTL PRR coach sold for $57 on eBay yesterday.  This is the second one that sold recently for over $50.

Could really use an MTL runner pack if these are a good stand in.

Scott

[Dave V]

I watched four of them sell in just a couple hours today at MB Klein.   After you enter the 10% rebate code you can pick one up for $43.19.   That's steep but it's not completely unreasonable in this day and age.   So I snatched one up.  Frankly I've never been one for car lighting so I really don't care that when I swap it out for proper 2D-P5 trucks I will no longer have lighting.

[muktown128]

5 left at MBK, down from 14 this afternoon.