Quote from: the Bach-man on April 03, 2011, 10:38:04 PM
Dear Eric,
The next round of announcements will be made in July at the NMRA National Convention.
Have fun!
the Bach-man

Ack!  My hopes are up!

I feel like I'm beating a dead horse, but one more vote for a heavy pacific with a K4 shell.

I want to bump this thread because of some conversations that I've had recently on other forums. Bachmann currently has mechanisms that could be used for several PRR locomotives:

• B6 0-6-0
• M1 4-8-2
• H10 2-4-0

Perhaps producing one of those, which would just involve a new shell, would be a good way to test the waters. I'm in for a few of each, in addition to the K4's that I'm looking for.

Popular thought?

http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/board/index.php/topic,8167.0.html

Popular thought?

http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/board/index.php?topic=15264.0

Quote from: heintz on December 07, 2010, 06:35:08 PM
And if a K4, why not an E6 Atlantic which shares a lot of parts with the K4?

While we're up, the L1 mike shared a boiler with the K4.

It's easy to sit here on the boards and talk, so I thought I might demonstrate my willingness to drop a few dollars on PRR-specific steam.  I picked this up at a show this weekend.



It's the old Minitrix PRR B6 lettered for the ATSF.  Both this B6 and my Minitrix K4 have a lot of work left to be done on them before they will operate properly on my layout.  I gladly accept the cost of purchasing these locos, along with the investment in time and effort (or money) to get them up to a satisfactory running condition; however, I would much rather buy models with modern tooling, painting, and mechanisms, directional lighting, DCC or DCC-ready, and so on.

Quote from: bobwrgt on August 19, 2010, 07:11:46 PM
That is why i switched to HO for steam. Not enough in N scale.

I keep wondering if the dearth of steam in N Scale is due to a lack of demand, or if that lack of demand is just perceived because not many manufacturers are willing to make high-quality steam.  I believe that Kato and Athearn have clearly shown in recent memory that there is demand for high-quality, road specific N Scale steam.  A K4 or other large PRR steam makes a lot of sense, because they are popular, they were common, and the passenger and freight cars are out there, so there are cars to pull.

It will be interesting to see how the FVM Hiawatha does.

Quote from: David Leonard on July 23, 2010, 09:21:16 AM
OK, Bachmann, here's the deal. You make a very good K4 in HO scale, but you perhaps think sales in N scale wouldn't support an N version. But note that in HO scale there are at least 4 manufacturers who have produced or currently produce K4 models (Bachmann, MTH, BLI and Bowser). The Trix N model is way out of date and not very good in terms of detail. Forget it as far as competition goes. The field is wide open for you! Almost every modeler who would buy a K4 would buy two, since they often ran double-headed. With a diecast boiler (maybe with separately applied Belpaire firebox?), traction tire and all wheel pickup, there's no way this thing would fail anyone's performance test.

Second!

I'm 30 and I'm starting to wonder if I'll be in that group...

For all everyone has said on the subject, I keep coming back to a couple of points.

• Trix made a successful model of a K4 many, many years ago.
• Kato makes a very nice mikado that is the same general size as the K4.
• The K4 is one of the most popular steamers out there.
• It's hard to go to an N-scale forum on the internet and NOT find a thread asking, "where are the friggin' K4's?"

It is certainly technically possible to build a mechanism with sufficient weight to make a very successful model of this locomotive.  By all indications, there is a LOT of pent-up demand, so sales should be fairly strong.

Where are the friggin' K4's?

Hint to the Bach Man - The Minitrix K4's tender is almost EXACTLY the same size as a 44 tonner...

4-6-0!  Yay K4!.. wait... 4-6-0... 4-6-2... Dang it... 

Well, getting closer.

K4?  Maybe?  Maybe?  Please?

Quote from: in_eden on April 02, 2010, 02:07:13 PM
Not funny man. Not funny.
I hate april first.

Sorry, I couldn't resist.   

Kato announced K4's this morning!

Quote from: ABC on February 08, 2010, 10:03:24 PM

Quote from: eric220 on February 08, 2010, 09:32:46 PM
If there's an E44 in the works, I'll be good for a few.

There's not even an E44 in HO yet (usually they'll make it in HO first, but I'm sure you're aware of this). And the E33 would probably be comparatively more expensive than its HO counterpart.

I have no interest in an E33, but I'd be willing to buy one to attempt to convert it to an E44. The two locomotives share a nearly identical undercarriage/truck assembly, the body styles are extremely similar, and the E44 is taller.  If Bachmann came out with an E33, I'd think a pre-built E44 body shell on top the assembly would be relatively easy to do.  Still a dream, I know, but I'll register my interest for one.