Bachmann taking reservations on N scale H16-44.

[NYC]

Personally my greatest need is the U28B and U30B.

Now your talking besides the RS32/36 those are what I needl. Throw the U33B in as well and get LL,Atlas or Kato to make them almost anyone other than The Bachman or PCM to high priced.  

[Iain]

Untill recently FM switcher were still in revenue service locally.  I rode in one.

That was a H12-44... not a H16-44.

I know this, I am not stupid.  Think I did not notice the lack of short hood?

[3rdrail]

Untill recently FM switcher were still in revenue service locally.  I rode in one.

That was a H12-44... not a H16-44.

I know this, I am not stupid.  Think I did not notice the lack of short hood?

Well, if you knew it was not a later model H16-44, why did you drag it into the discussion?  It contributed less than nothing.  :-\

[Iain]

Untill recently FM switcher were still in revenue service locally.  I rode in one.

That was a H12-44... not a H16-44.

I know this, I am not stupid.  Think I did not notice the lack of short hood?

Well, if you knew it was not a later model H16-44, why did you drag it into the discussion?  It contributed less than nothing.  :-\

I was just saying that FMs could still be seen, that's all.  I also will not post on this topic again.

[wes_sutton]

Chill out guys, the common enemy here is Bachmann. Regardless of the phase, body styling etc, barring a miracle it will be crap.

Our energies would be better directed getting Atlas to fill some of the gaps in the market.

Wes

[brokemoto]

Before we all agree that this FM is going to be gahr-BAH-hay, can we stop and consider an alternative?  WHAT, what IF, what if this represents a new, from the drawing board up, upgrade of the Standard line?  What if this thing runs as well as the doodelbug or the an LL GP-20?  What if Bachpaersson is planning a total upgrade of its offerings, or at least, major upgrades to more than a few of its offerings?

Let some interesting observations be submitted to a candid modelling world:

1) for years, various manufacturers have issued the MDT switcher.  They have all shared the common bond of horrendiferous runnability.  Suddenly, B-mann offers an upgraded version, that runs halfway decently and..................it will not stay on the shelves of FLHS nationwide.

2) the USRA 0-6-0 had some serious problems that rendered it next to useless as anything but a T-O-Y.  Suddenly, it receives some upgrades and it also, suffers from a failure to remain on train store shelves

3) I am currenlty engaged in a discussion with another gentleman on another forum about the eight-wheeler.  While we are both reporting excellent slow speed control, he has reported that his plastic box version lacks the wobble or the boboing of older versions.  I do not have any plastic box versions, but I do have some of the last cardboard box copies.  With a bit of tinkering and runniing in, these are not the pathetic power that everyone considers them to be.  The important point here
is that the wobble is gone.  Has there been an upgrade or improvement here, as well?

4) an upgraded/improved 4-8-4 recently appeared,  While I do not have one, as superpower does not really interest me, I have noted the good reviews that it has received.

5) B-mann snapped up the shark, a model with superb runnabililty, as soon as the judge banged his gavel to liquidate E-R.

6) the persistent rumours, despite their being vapourware thus far, that B-perssonn is planning YET ONE MORE TIME, to upgrade the F-unit mechanism, particullarly since their factories made one that was similar for the shark.  The F-unit is a mediocre locomotive, the shark, superb.

Yes, I , too , am distressed that we do not have the ten-wheeler (especially) or the decapod.  I have also noted my disappointment at the less-than-stellar 2-6-6-2.  Still, I have to consider that possibly something might be afoot at East Erie Avenue.  Could B-mann be trying to go in N a route parallel to the 'PROTO-1000' route that LL took iin HO?  This was decently running power that was well buiilt, but did not have the detail of the PROTO-2000.  LL never did do that in N.  Is B-mann trying to find a market for that in N?  Coulld it be that the Standard line is going to be it and that B-mann's N scale offerings might evolve into a three tier presentation:  SPECTRUM, Standard and T-O-Y (although I am sure that they would have a different name for it)?

Could the FM road switcher  be the first in the upgraded Standard line products?  I would hope so.  Oh, and to whoever it was that asked about accurate road names/paint schemes, the B&O also appears to be accurate as delivered.

[umtrr-author]

On your point #5, brokemoto, Bachmann was the OEM for the E-R Sharks.  It's my understanding that they are just rebranding the stock that did not make it out to E-R before they closed down.

On point #2, I have one of the 0-6-0s and it does run well for the price point.  I may have an update on this since it will be coming to the RIT show with the Starter Layout and I'll be running it some more.

[John Burkush]

Yea, a GE 44 tonner would be nice 
JnJ R&d a "44" a couple of years ago but that was
as far as it went.

[wm3798]

When they introduced the SD 45, it was touted as a "from the ground up" re-tool.  We all know how that turned out.

And after seeing the amazing strides taken on their HO standard line... Decoders installed for chrissakes!...I had high hopes that the new release of the N scale GP-40 would be improved, but I was immediately disappointed.  It has the same guts that I've had decomposing in my junque box for almost 20 years, and the same clunky shell.

The only reason for even a modicum of hope is that this is not a model they've done badly before.  The level of detail on the re-tooled F units is acceptable in my book, and they may go that far with this model.  But both the Plus and Spectrum F drives fell well short of the mark.  I wouldn't hold my breath expecting much different.
Lee

[GonzoCRFan]

How come nobody is upset that Bachmann is doing the B23-7/B30-7 in N scale - head to head with an existing Atlas product?

I honestly had no idea Botchmann was doing those two locomotives. And even if I did, I wouldn't be upset about it. Why? Because they're pretty much one of those "dead to me" companies. Unless they made something I was absolutely dying for (SW1001, GP15-1), I wouldn't even consider buying it. I hate to be that way, but they totally alienated me as a customer when they brought about a Dash-8 that was priced beyond an Atlas or Kato, and fell far short of the quality those brands deliver. As far as I'm concerned, they're wasting production capacity with whatever they're making, so it doesn't really matter to me. It's a shame these locomotives will probably suck, as I wouldn't mind grabbing a few of these unique units for Schuylkill Steel, but unless Bothmann's diesel department has turned over a completely new leaf, that will never happen.

[Mark5]

hehe, we'll have to dig this thread up when the thing actually comes out.

[Mark5]

Here's mine, alongside and Atlas Trainmaster:

[wm3798]

Voof!  It looks nice, what can you tell us about it's running characteristics?

Lee

[Mark5]

I popped the shell partially last night. Split frame with tiny can motor.

Out of the box it is a jack rabbit. I've heard from others that after running a bit it slows down. This remains to be seen for me.

[wm3798]

I like how they can print the silver window frames, but can't get white numbers on the number boards... :

How does the frame compare to an old Bachmann crapmaster?

Lee