Hi all,

I'm 'bumping' this back up to the top ... really interested in what those who have one of these think of their 'pulling power' ... specially, how does the Bachmann 2-8-4 pull in comparison to the Spectrum 4-8-2 (which IMHO is an excellent puller)?

thanks!

lanny

No Rich, you absolutely do not sound like a 'snob'. I got three repsonses from three people I consider 'experts' on this forum and my decision is abide by your (their) adivice and to by pass this product. I too enjoy the challenge of a really beautifully built resin kit or a highly detailed styrene kit. That's the way I will continue to go.

Thanks guys!

lanny

I would appreciate comments (good or bad), opinions, etc. on HO rolling stock kits mfg by 'C&BT Shops'.

Thanks very much to any who have information concerning these kits.

lanny

Hoople,

If everything else is working okay, wheels are clean and it is properly lubed, you may need to go to a wider radius than 22" in order for it to run well. I have 32-36" + radius and one BLI 4-8-4 would not track well even on that radius.

Just a 'guess' on my part. Best wishes on getting it to run okay on your layout.

lanny

Also try "The Favorite Spot" on eBay ... (a Bachmann distributor eBay store with very good prices)

lanny

Hi

Here in mid Iowa we have a 'branch' of the NW/NS but I am not familiar with that particular car. I model late steam era so maybe it did not exist in the 40s and 50s? Is it a more recent NS hopper (I mean by that , 'diesel era'?)

lanny

Dan,

Do you run DC or DCC? The 2-8-0s and 2-10-0s are beautiful runners but not very powerful haulers. I have had several 'DC ready' because I do not use DCC. I've been very impressed with the way they run, but not with the way the haul upgrade. But that's okay because I suppose generally neither one prototypicaly hauled long freights.

I have never had a 4-6-0, but have heard it does a good job as well.

Bachmann Spectrum are, IMHO, the best 'bang' for your 'buck' in these steamers ... that also includes the 'Heavy Mountain' and the 2-6-6-2 both which are not only beautiful runners but good haulers as well. (I don't have any light mountains or 2-10-2s from Bachmann)

lanny

This is a question that may have been answered in this post, though I am not sure. Actually it is two questions.

(1) Are the new Bachmann 2-8-4s now generally available in all models advertised?

(2) How do they run. I had a P2K 2-8-4 but sold it because it was such a poor runner ... (very smooth and quiet, handling #6 turnouts just fine but couldn't pull more than 2 or 3 cars on my grades without drivers slipping and stopping while they spun. Yuk!:P).

Are the Bachmann 2-8-4's engineered to handle hauling 'tonnage' better than that?

thanks to anyone who can help with this info.

lanny

Quote from: japasha on November 21, 2007, 04:10:09 PM
An easy to work with material is Wallboard Compound. It isn't runny and will adhere to all foam products without any treatment. If you carve your foam, this stuff is like a finishing layer. A bucket costs about $6 and goes a long way. It can be carved to represent rocks or stonework. Been using it for 40 years and it is very inexpensive.  You can even put it over dry papertowels or newspaper.

This is kind of what I have been considering doing. My layout is not in a good place to mix plaster of paris and coat anything. But the premixed buckets of 'wall compound' for drywall seem like that material would be ideal. Any suggestions anybody has sure would be appreciated relative to using premixed drywall compound over foam insulation or other structural support materal.

thanks

lanny

Hi,

I am not sure what a 'top gon' hopper is ... though I know that ICRR used gondolas as coal hoppers and there are some models of that style available from Intermountain or possibly some other mfg, I think.

Could you give a few more details as to what you mean regarding 'top gon' hoppers?

thanks!

lanny

Hi,

I have too much 'cool stuff' from eBay to post. At first I got 'stung' a very few times. Generally one who is 'stung' once on eBay learns some lifetime eBay lessons.

In fact I got too much 'cool stuff' that doesn't really fit my 'era' of ICRR late steam so I have been selling a lot of that off in the past and coming weeks.

I've purchased some truly 'Mint in Box' Spectrum heavy Mountains and Consolidations at what I consider great prices ... prices ranging between 49.00 to 69.00 a piece. These are for locomotives whose mfsr prices are $170 and $200 a piece.

I think, if a person is very careful and deals just with sellers who have perfect or near perfect ratings in the hundreds or thousands, you will not get 'junk' and will not get 'stung'.

Of course as Gene mentioned in another post, watch out for the 'shipping charges'. I charge only actual 'shipping' cost (I 'absorb' the cost and time of packaging in order to keep the shipping cost as low as possible) but even that is expensive (Thanks! USPS:D). Some poeple seem to think they need to make extra 'bucks' on shipping ... I don't buy from them even if their product is good, though I don't think their extra charging for shipping and packaging is dishonest or wrong. I just decided for myself, not to do that.

lanny

Jim,

I've never tried to add lighting to the Bachmann Amtak Silver series cars ... but I am sure that some sort of lighting could be wired in if the wheels are metal and properly insulated ... your idea of the 'grain o wheat' bulbs ought to somehow be able to work in both kinds of cars.

best wishes,

lanny

For those who may not have read GG's post, our friend and fellow modeler, Mr. Stephen Warrington passed away, I believe yesterday or today.

He was a true railfan, modeler, and especially of the ICRR. He will be missed. For those who pray, Stephen's dear mother would appreciate prayers as well as the family.

My personal prayers and condolences to Mrs. Warrington and family.

lanny nicolet

Very nice as usual! Are there mirrors being used in this photo? Very realistic scene!

lanny

Hi Rich and all,

First of all a question, Rich ... if you can get 'Baker' trailing trucks that come from the Spectrum Heavy from Bachmann, can you also get 'Delta' trailing trucks that will fit the Spectrum Heavy? The ICRR Mountains used Delta trucks and I thought that it was impossible to get parts like that ordered from Bachmann? Let me know.

Thanks for the kind words ... actually, I haven't done that much as yet. My part will be the detailing/kit bashing. I'll definitely send some 'closeups' when the locomotive comes back from 'Bojangle'. Actually, I can't really take credit for these first steps except for cutting and splicing the boiler. I sent it to him to do the frame extension and he did some resplicing and filling for me as well. He has really helped me with some great modeling advice.

I should also mention that this will not be a totally 'exact' 'rivet for rivet' version of an ICRR Mike (from any ICRR Mike series). The Spectrum Consolidation gear tower sits over the rear driver but in the ICRR Mike prototypes you can see all the way through over the rear driver to the other side.

That's one of the 'concessions' I am making to stay with the great Spectrum mechanism. As far as I can tell in talking with Orsonroy and other ICRR experts, the only way to get a completely prototypically accurate ICRR Mike would be to 'scratch build' the boiler and motor/gearing mechanism, or perhaps, work with a BLI/Athearn mike and replace  the boiler with PCV tubing and do lots of scratc/kit bashing. Both options (which would give a more accurate ICRR Mike) are not 'up my alley' 

I checked out the IHC Mikes, and while they are nice runners I just don't think they would make a very good starting point to kit bash and ICRR Mike (Just my personal opinion). In any case I'm puting my IHC Mike premiers up for sale on eBay

I will post some frame 'close ups' for you and share some of 'Bojangles' advice on how he did it, in the near future.

regards

lanny