100% with you, folks - ryeguyisme and NM-Jeff!

The gauge does not make the big difference. I wouldn´t give a s... about the fact if the wheel gauge is wrong. Look folks, we do have Maine 2-footers from Bachmann. Any complains about the fact that their gauge is far too wide? There you go...

More and to me (and hopefully a lot of others out there) is the fact, that a good model needs to be a good runner. Hey, we love to see them move! That´s what Model Railroading is all about: See your trains roll through landscapes, not complain that there is this´n that wrong on a model which is not running at all (or is a horrible runner while looking brilliant...) I have been through this: And YES, I won´t buy a bad running model any more, even if I desparately want it!

Its as ryeguyisme said: Go and run your trains and use this time to continue building your layout, running your trains and have fun. That´s what it´s all about!

Plus a good producer who listens to us and gives us the models we demand. Must I buy another Bachmann Fn3 model to admire... Probably yes: a C-19...

Cheers, Tom

Yep, Royce - thanks and ROGER THAT about the RGS 20 and the RGS/C&S 74 which would be a dream to have from Bachmann...

Ryeguyisme: That conversion of a Bachmann Consolidation into a C-25 or a C-21 is a nice job if you follow the recommendations my pal Bill Iwan has given in the On30 annual. This works pretty well. You can get all the needed bits and pieces from Precision Scale and the my other good friend Bill Banta makes a lasercut cab for the Bachmann Consolidation. There is a peaked roof and a round roof version of it in production by bill. The round roof just cries: Denver & Rio Grande Western, that´s me!!

I just got me another cab conversion kit as I want to make another C-25 kitbash from a Bachmann Connie. I do have D&RGW 360 and 361 plus 375 here but want to make another 375 in her more recent version of the late 30ies with a green boiler...

Please Bachmann, why not making the C-19 and K-27 available in On30...?
We deserve them...

Cheers, Tom

Folks, in fact no need for a scaling down of a Mudhen. In fact you would not be able to notice the difference to a On3 gauged model. The outside frame and rest of the model would hide this good enough to have a accurate appeal of the K-27.

Ok, that´s right - it´s not that "just easy and straightforward job" to scale down the Fn3 model of the Mudhen (which is brilliant, thanks Bachmann for making it...) but a Mudhen with a good running gear would be able to elminate most lack of proper tracklaying if constructed the way the outstanding Fn3 model is.

Bachmann has shown several times how to make it right. And the new C-19 is another statement of the Bachmann folks´ artistry. So, why not making a K-27. MMI is not likely to reproduce them and I´m sure that a lot of folks out there would go for a D&RGW K-27 plus the two RGS versions inculding the 455 after wreck as built in Fn3 too. Especially the 455 after wreck would probably sell extremely well...

Cheers, Tom

I would buy three K-27 and two or three C-19 if Bachmann would make them. The Mudhens are definitely my favorite Narrow Gauge engines and I have a Bachmann Fn3 K-27 (455 after wreck) sitting here on the shelf to admire every day. I would welcome a Bachmann made Mudhen and a C-19 very much too!!!!

The MMI models are fine, but they are very stiff-necked on track, the running gear does not allow the engine to negotiate (not rough) fully flat and perfect track laying and my K-27,K-28 and K-36 engines do have tracking issues on the Micro Engineering turnouts from time to time.

So I would go and sell them if Bachmann would make a K-27 in the way the precious Fn3 model is!!!
Please, Bachmann folks, give us something Colorado N.G. - make the iconic K-27.... =)

Cheers, Tom






Jeff: The MMI models are almost gone. Best, try Southwest Narrow Gauge, they have some re-runs from time to time and will be producing the RGS 455 after wreck too, which requires extra tooling, though...

Hi there,

I did a very similar conversion as Kalle did describe in freerails.com and this solved the problem. The point is, that the used coupler box is a German product which won´t be easy to get. It does i fact give the rear coupler more free sway, which solves the problem.

Using wider curves is the easier solution. Modifying the Forney into a nice 2-4-0 is something totally different. Backwoods Models does have a nice conversion I still want to do. Not to solve the coupler issue which I had sorted out already, more to enjoy building this kit.

www.backwoodsminiatures.com

Cheers, Tom

That is hard to take. We all have been waiting for the Heislers for so long...

Bachman folks, this is not to tell you that you guys did let us down, but
no one cries "hooray" for these news, for sure.

They look very promising, these Heislers, but what has happened here - again...?

Is there anything about other coming models you can give us to cheer us up a little...?
Maybe something Sandy River & Rangeley Lakes - perhaps a SR&RL No.18 or a SR&RL No.24...

Cheers, Tom

Me too, Royce.

I would love to see a D&RGW/RGS line from the Bachmann folks. Now that a lot of others have
put on the brakes on the On30/On3 market. MMI is, to me, not likely to be out with any other
D&RGW or RGS goodies in the next time..

Bachmann: take yor chance! You can do this! There is a demand!!!


Cheers, Tom

Royce, I just admired what the Bachmann folks gave to the Fn3 communits: the C-19 does look awesome.
Would love to see one in On30 from Bachmann...

Cheers, Tom

Hi there Mudhen,

you may want to visit the No. 346 at the Colorado Narrow Gauge Museum in GOLDEN, CO.
I would be enthusiastic if Bachmann would produce the actual livery of the 346 with the green boiler, which fits this engine very well.

I´m more than just happy to see that all the prototypical changes are here and the poor 345 which did not survive the crash as a stand in for C-16 No.268 back in Summer of 1951 for Paramount pictures...
So the Bachmann model does give her another life in 1:20.3 scale.

Mudhen, yes, they all had the center set of drivers flangeless. Just as some others had.
Bachmann folks: Why not giving the On30 guys such a C-19 too...?


Cheers from Germany
Tom

Hi there folks,

as Hamish said, it comes clear again and again that Bachmann does feel to be very comitted to On30. And we are grateful for that, Bachmann folks! Ok, some new items from you do just fit the ideas some of us have, some don´t. That´s life and that´s fine.

But as Hamish said too, bringing some more "chunky" On30 stuff forward, if one asks me, Rio Grande and EBT stuff would just perfectly add some cool items some of us (me too...) like. This could even reduce the risks in this market, even yet at this stage of high going waves on the finance markets...

We know that MMI is not likely to go on with their diecast/brass models of D&RGW engines. While the Bachmann Consolidations are some of the most loved On30 engines, I did make conversions following my dear friend Bill Iwan´s recommendations in the On30 annuals. Out of the shop: Both C-21´s (360,361) and the C-25 (375), later I did plough my own way from a Bachmann Tweetsie Engine into a RGS No.20 and later another one, the RGS No.22. Bachmann, you can do that too... It´s that easy.... But please, pease,please bring the Heisler forward now...=)

Tom

And that´s awesome work. Speaks "Maine" to me a lot...

Great job!
Cheers, Tom

As some others say,

I´m not very happy with the new On30 stuff, as I rather had expected something Colorado or Sandy River or something for the On30 Loggers out there...

A bigger, more modern shay would have been my idea... The 2-4-4-2 does look neat, but it´s nothing more than another articulated engine still a bit smaller than the 2-6-6-2 is. As Bill in FL said, it looks like a Factory kitbash from the bigger articulated? Or is it already the finished model...?

The cars are fine, but this stuff has already been done by kit manufacturers...
I wouldn´t say that you let some of us down,Bachmann, but we had expected other things, I´m afraid.

I´ll be enthusiastic if you folks please bring the Heisler now forward. We´re all looking for its delivery since a long time,...

Cheers, Tom

As I wrote earlier, I´m very thankful to the Bachmann folks since On30 got me started into O-Scale after beeing a HO guy with a European Prototype RR. This in fact opened a whole new world to me!

No doubt, never, that Bachmann does stand to On30 and pleae keep in mind folks, that the geared engines did not all have those drive train issues. My oldest Shays seem to run forever with no issues at all and my older Climax too. My Railtruck? Nope.

And: As Dwayne said, even when things get rough there will be someone on the aftermarket who will sort out problems. This time Bachmann has done that their own way, my 2nd Climax with gear problems does just run fine with replaced drive train.

To me, the future of On30 is bright and Bachmann is going to be a important part of it.
Cheers, Tom

As Jeff said, I could say the same: The Porters never had any kind of mechanical issues, they had electric picup problems - the first 0-4-0´s, while the 0-4-2´s never had to face poor electric pickup. But they never suffered anything mechanical or gearing problems.

Maybe they will get a makeover soon...?

Cheers, Tom

Hi there Tonyaus,

when I got it right, there is no other Bachmann engine which shares the gear with the 0-4-0 side rod gas-mech. Why not get a replacement from the Bachmann folks? Meanwhile ´til this will arrive run her on one geared axle which will work.

Cheers, Tom