New Bachmann SD45's are now available

[MichaelWinicki]

Before I get one, I'd like to know:

-Has the ride height been improved (as compared to the Spectrum release)?

-Has the electrical pickup system been improved (as compared to the Spectrum release?)

And since it now comes with sound– how is it?

Thanks!

[basementcalling]

PRR and ATSF already bye bye on MBK website.

Photos look pretty good, but totally inconclusive for the questions you ask.

[Chris333]

Out of the 4 at MBK I think only the EL unit is an N scale photo.

[MichaelWinicki]

Hopefully someone picks one up and chimes in... 

I think it was Ed who came up with an clever way to obscure the gap between the trucks and the body on the Spectrum version that came out about a decade away... but I'm hoping the new one has eliminated that issue.

And the electrical pick-up on the Spectrum version left a lot to be desired with brass wipers having to stay in contact with the frame– not the best way to maintain electrical contact as I found out on my layout.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Hopefully someone picks one up and chimes in... 

I think it was Ed who came up with an clever way to obscure the gap between the trucks and the body on the Spectrum version that came out about a decade away... but I'm hoping the new one has eliminated that issue.

Nope, that was on a LL C424.

[MichaelWinicki]

Nope, that was on a LL C424.

Ah yes!

You are correct sir!

So I guess it makes it even more important for Bachmann to have improved the tooling on this new batch.

[Mark5]

Looks like these ride high like the first runs ...

It was Skipgear that heavily tweaked one of the Bachmann SD45s to make it look decent I think.

Mark

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I'm pretty sure he replaced or improved every single component.

[peteski]

I'm pretty sure he replaced or improved every single component.

I see what you did there - you funny!

[coosvalley]

The flared section looks awful!

For the price you could pick up 2 Kato's, though not with sound......

[jpwisc]

The flared section looks awful!

For the price you could pick up 2 Kato's, though not with sound......

I noticed that right off the bat. The radiator grills are to small, the fans are vintage looking, the long hood doors are either too short or the hood is too tall.

The cut lever is WAY over sized. I think Bachmann also made a larger coupler for this engine.

I don't think you can rear the number boards when the lights are off.

The trucks are not very crisp.

Half the paint schemes should have had nose lights (The NP one should have had the Mars type housing).

But hey, they are really cheap sound engines, so someone will buy them.

[MichaelWinicki]

I tried calling Bachmann today in order to see if get more info... And that failed miserably.  Their phone "tree" as you can guess wasn't very helpful.

[Chris333]

At BLW they list the old ones at $47 and the new ones at $145, it made me laugh. 

[mu26aeh]

At BLW they list the old ones at $47 and the new ones at $145, it made me laugh. 

I'm sure you noticed, but the $47 one is DC only, with rapido couplers.  New one is DCC/Sound with knuckle couplers.  Kinda like apples and oranges in my mind.

[Philip H]

FWIW there is a review with sound and video on Trainboard.