I'm new to model railroading and trying to decide which train set to buy first. I'm looking at the 2008 Bachmann catalog. I'm trying to understand the difference between the Spectrum Frontiersman set (item # 01302, list price $325) versus the Steam Digital Commander (00502, $245).
What is it that justifies the higher price for the Frontiersman, which has the simpler powerpack? The Steam Dig Cdr has the 10-button powerpack, which would seem to be the more valuable option. Is it primarily an issue of a higher quality locomotive? Both are marked DCC on Board and nickel-silver EZ Track.
Thanks!
Yes, the issue is the higher quality locomotive in the Frontiersman set, which is a more finely detailed 2-8-0 Consolidation with a very reliable mechanism.
The Digital Steam Commander set has a 0-6-0 from the "Standard" line.