If I am reading the posts correctly the trucks on the newer 38 ton Shay are quite an improvement over the trucks on the older 36 ton Shay? Is this correct? What other differences are there? I just purchased a Westside Lumber 38 ton Shay and I was wondering about the trucks? Also, are there  any other things I need to be concerned about or can I lube my Shay and start breaking it in?

I definately like the look of the code 83 track but I am using code 100 on my large HO layout for two reasons. First I have found it to be a little more robust and trouble free and second I have one hell of a lot of brand new code 100 Peco turnouts I got a real deal on, $8 to $10 ea. Also, finally Atlas has come out with a DCC friendly code 100 #8 turnout at a very reasonable price.

Atlanta Central, I appreciate your explaination of model prices and I am sure your evaluation is mostly correct. But everything you mentioned does not explain a situation I just went through myself. I think we would all agree that Bachmann's brand new Fn3 K-27 is a very hot item. Suggested retail is $1400! I have seen NO ONE but a couple LHS's asking that price. On ebay they are anywhere from about $799 to $1000 with free shipping. Trainworld is I believe $799, Caboose Hobbies is around $700 and I bought one from a large online hobby seller for about $570. As you say, no one is loosing money selling these, so what is happening. The item must not be worth $1400? Someone is putting a real squeeze on the LHS forcing them to pay more than a consumer like me has to pay. It reminds me of Rivarossi back in the early seventies. They showed Big Boys with Suggested Retails of over $200 when anyone could buy one for less that $50. I don't understand how this is good for anybody?

I just don't understand retail, and I mean that, I really don't? One company's suggested retail is meaningless while another's is closer to the mark? Somehow the hobby shops are tied to a certain distributer and must honer this "retail" price??? If I buy a Bachmann item I expext to pay at the most 1/2 of suggested retail, usually much less and believe me I have thousands of dollars in Bachmann stuff. On the other hand a Kato item will be closer to that companies suggested retail and Athearn tends to be some where in between. I have several hobby shops that are about 50 to 60 miles away and I will buy some things from them. I would even spend a little more just to keep them going but I am not going to pay $1200 to $1400 for a K-27 that I can buy at Caboose Hobbies for $700 to keep them in business! On the other hand I would be willing to bet that those hobby shops paid more for their K-27's than Caboose hobbies is selling them for? I often thought that if I had a hobby shop why would I have Bachmann Fn3 Heisler on display for $799 when I could buy some at Trainworld for $295, give my customers a break, sell it for about $450 and help my bottom line? But I guess the hobby shops have to buy from certain distributers and there in lies the problem. I don't know what the solution is but my funds are limited and I cand afford to pay 40% to 150% more to keep the locals in business. I will say this, I will continue to by detail parts, couplers and other small items at my hobby shop and any large items when their price is "close" to my best price. I am sorry but that's the way it is!

Thanks Phil

A am sixty years old and I have been a model railroader most of my life. I am primarily an HO modeler but I am also working on a small On30 layout because I love narrow gauge but I can't see HOn3. Now that an affordable segment of "large scale" is finally getting away from the toy like appearance it has perked my interests. Besides, I can actually see this stuff!  The Fn3 stuff has great detail and although Bachmann suggested retail prices are a joke, you can actually buy this stuff for a reasonable price. However, the more I read these posts, the more concerned I become about quality? There seems to be problems with so much of it! In HO and On30 I probable have fifty Spectrum steam locos and most are good to excellent. I just don't know about Fn3?

My experience so far is as follows. I just received my Bachmann 2-8-0 Connie and a Bachmann 1:20.3 box car. In addition I purchased a plastic caboose and stock car from Accucraft. The 2-8-0 is beautiful and appears to be a quality piece. Then I read the posts about the problems with it and it makes me wonder. What run do I have? What do I have to fix? The box car is another matter. One truck was not attached, I found the screw but not the washer in the box. One of the wheels is mounted crooked on an axle and wobbles as it turns. I could not straighten it out. One journal box cover is missing and one fell off. On the coupler lift bars, both pulled right out of the coupler pins. I have requested parts from Bachmann and I think the connectors can be glued back into the coupler pins? Not a good experience! The two Accucraft cars are superb with absolutely no issues and I paid less for the stock car than I paid for the Bachmann box car! I now have a Bachmann K-27 on order and after reading about all the problem with this item my concern is growing. I was also considering a 38 ton Shay or a Heisler but I just don't know? Reading these posts reminds me of Microsoft and their habit of releasing products that where not ready and let the customers sort it out with help from product support!

I guess I need some reassurance from someone that I have not purchased a bunch of problems?

I have a picture of it at the Pamona Fair Grounds in Los Angeles. It is or was back in the 80's a static display along with several other locomotives behind a chainlink fence. With the Big Boy, 9000 class etc you can miss it if you don't look.

Hello group! I am sure somone must have addressed this issue already but I could not find it? I just received a new 1:20.3 2-8-0 and it is a beauty! However, the couplers are way too low for my rolling stock and the front coupler also sticks out too far! I would appreciate suggestions for replacing both couplers. Thank you........

I believe you are correct about the Centennial Units. I was just pointing out that in respect to the Bachmann models, for some reason the older single motored unit is a DD40X and then the Spectrum two motor units are DD40AX. Who knows why?

I believe the Spectrum versions are DD40AX's? They have the twin motors etc. As some one indicated don't wast your time on the none Spectrum (DD40X) it is crap. Just keep looking on ebay but let me warn I have seen these things go for over $250.00. If you find a new one for under $150.00, Buy it!!

I have two of these 4-6-0's and they run great on DC. I have not converted them to DCC yet. If they run well on DC, that should indicate there is no mechanical or electrical problems. You may want to try a decoder with Back EMF which can help smooth out running characteristics at slow speeds.

Better news! Caboose Hobbies. PCM GS4 with sound and DCC $359.99, DCC Ready $303.99!!

I just received my brand new DCC GS4 Daylight 4449 and I will not even take it out of the clear plastic package. It will be returned! The color absolutely sucks! The red which actually has a tint of orange in it on the prototype is closer to purple on this model. It looks terrible. I don't know how Bachmann could have gotten this so wrong? Are there any plans to correct this major screw up to what otherwise looks like a vastly improved model. I probably own 35 Spectrum steamers in HO and On30 and most are excellent. To mess up this bad on a locomotive that is this popular and noted for it's beautiful paint is hard to understand? If anyone has seen it you know what I am talking about. Help!

I have to add my two cents! The show was great but the Bachmann Booth was the best. Two of my train buddies and I bent the Bachman's ear on and off for close the 40 minutes. He was very knowledgable, had some great ideas and a pleasure to talk to!!


Thanks

In my opinion, Bachmann and MMI are compeating on two different levels of the On30 market. While it is true that Bachmann gives you  good value for your money, MMI does also! I have two BLI locomotives, about eight Bachmann locomotives and one MMI K27. In quality and performance, the K27 is on a much higher level than the others and at $400.00 it too is a lot of bang for your buck.
There are currently several retailers taking pre-orders for the On30 MMI Uintah and Sumpter Valley, for a price comparable to an HOn3 model. Let Bachmann concentrate on the smaller stuff. How about a 2-8-2T, 4-6-0, 4-4-0 and a Heisler??? Oh, and don't forget about the new lower profile freight car chassis?