Is this for real? :o
Thanks,
-Mark
mark i trust your posting will not be removed like mine was and i just posted that a photographer had taken photos at the nmra convention of loco xxxx in n scale with sound and it was deleted. if true the pennsy folks are going to go nuts.it took a long time but hopefully a pacific has finally arrived& if so kudos to bachmann.
regards&later kewatin
What I want to know is...
"Where's the N&W one???"
http://www.nwhs.org/archivesdb/detail.php?ID=91279 (http://www.nwhs.org/archivesdb/detail.php?ID=91279)
http://www.nwhs.org/archivesdb/detail.php?ID=11696 (http://www.nwhs.org/archivesdb/detail.php?ID=11696)
http://www.nwhs.org/archivesdb/detail.php?ID=11876 (http://www.nwhs.org/archivesdb/detail.php?ID=11876)
http://www.nwhs.org/archivesdb/detail.php?ID=69779 (http://www.nwhs.org/archivesdb/detail.php?ID=69779)
Well, I don't think I carry any more weight around here than anyone else does (as far as getting their posts deleted). But I must say, nice poker face on "Yardmaster" if this K4 thing turns out to be true. His lamentations about the lack of excitement over Bachmann's new/recent (non-locomotive) product announcements sort of led me to believe that there weren't any new locomotives on the horizon at all.
Quoting Ye Olde Yardmaster - "NMRA is coming soon and there will be new releases, but remember - they're not always locomotives!"
Cheers,
-Mark ;)
Another 8 days and the truth shall be known.either that or a lot of wasted advertising money to get a lot of folks
peeved off.
regards&later KEWATIN
The really crazy part is that the ad says that the models are "shipping now". A very stealthy release if that's the case.
Cheers,
-Mark
I'm not an SPF , but I'll definitely take 1 , especially if I can get one in N&W .
Quote from: jmlaboda on August 21, 2015, 06:10:40 PM
What I want to know is...
"Where's the N&W one???"
Those were former PRR
K-3. They are close, but not quite. PRR sold them to N&W without the tenders. They had various tenders during their service on the N&W. They lasted until the 1940s. I bashed one from a TRIX. The K-3 and the B-6 had the same cabs, so I sawed the cab from the K-4 shell, sawed the cab from the B-6 shell, fused the metal B-6 cab to the plastic K-4 boiler and had the locomotive. The removal of the K-4 cab also required some cutting on the boiler, so it made the large BelPaire firebox on the K-4 a bit smalller.
I took an LL Y-3 tender to put behind it. As people are no doubt aware, the first run LL Y-3 had a twelve wheels live tender that had no electrical connexion to the locomotive. I did wire the LL tender to the TRIX 4-6-2 chassis. The addition of twelve live feet improved the TRIX chassis' performance markedly. Proof of Miranda's Maxim as explained by ke: "The poor performance of many N scale steam locomotives is almost always directly attributable to poor electrical contact".
I will need to buy one just to see if the my bashed TRIX K-3/E-3 shell will go onto the B-mann chassis. Wiring up the LL tender should be easy. If that does not work, I could try sawing the cab from the B-mann shell and fusing another B-6 cab to it.
Here's the ad....
(http://trains.rockycrater.org/graphics/misc/bachmann-k3.png)
Wow! Bachmann is producing an N Scale K-4? I might have to get one of these..... :o
I believe it was Ben Franklin who said "Two may keep a secret if one is dead...
the Bach-man
Bachmann You have made many a N scaler happy with this release. Who would have thought 20 years ago that Bachmann would be the main stay in producing such quality steam.
Good JOB.
I would think that there is going to be many Kitbash projects with this engine. Hopefully you will have K4 parts ( especially Boilers ) available.
With these new releases might the sound decoder be available to add to past dualmode DCC engines? So we could just plug and play. I have your USRA Lt 2-10-2
Ain't it funny how road specific steam seems to sell. Funny, too, how B-mann has not been hanging foobie road names on its road specific releases.
If this is to continue, I do wonder how far away is an N&W shrouded K-class? The chassis is already there: the USRA heavy 4-8-2. The N&W shrouded K classes were either originals or copies of the USRA heavy 4-8-2.
TAKE MY MONEY NOW! I would like to know when they'll be released!
I believe that information is in the advertisement....
Yardmaster,
When will the documentation for the Sound Value DCC decoder factory installed in the PRR K-4 models be available online?
Something tells me that all of those old AHM/Lima and Model Power P70 coaches suddenly just became a lot more valuable. Wish I still had some! :-\
Cheers,
-Mark
Quote from: Hunt on August 23, 2015, 12:10:18 AM
Yardmaster,
When will the documentation for the Sound Value DCC decoder factory installed in the PRR K-4 models be available online?
The decoder documentation will be available via the SoundTraxx website after the release of the product.
Yardmaster - when will these be available?
"Shipping Now".
Cheers,
-Mark
I would hope these would be available by the time I go to a certain store in Maryland next week.
The official announcement is at the NMRA show next weekend. Give it a little time after that to get to the retailers.
Quote from: spookshow on August 23, 2015, 07:53:21 AM
Something tells me that all of those old AHM/Lima and Model Power P70 coaches suddenly just became a lot more valuable. Wish I still had some! :-\
Cheers,
-Mark
I still have some. In fact, I repainted two of the PBM-70s, as the font is incorrect for HWs. If you try simply to erase the lettering, the basecoat comes with it. I have some other P-70s and some PBM-70s that are painted for other roads, but I suppose that someone could buy a spray can of Tuscan, the Microscale Pennsylvania passenger set and go to it.
Then there are the sawed up cars, that I have. One, eventually, that is, will become a PB-70, one will become a rebuilt
Fleet of Modernism PB-70 that reverted to regular use, thus kept its shroud from rebuilding, but received the standard Pennsylvania passenger paint job.
i am excited about the new release of a pacific loco,but i am surprised at the high retail price suggested$399
considering their last release the berkshire selling at street price of $189,which is what i paid for my 2. all of my steam is dcc bachmann with broadway ltd diesels.if the price point doesn't come down i will have to consider buying the 2 new releases of dcc,sound equipped 2-8-2 and their pacific from model power which means i can buy 2 dcc sound locos at street prices for $175 &$177 each which means i can get 2 new locos for less than the retail price of the bachmann k4. i shall be a prudent buyer and wait till mark from spookshow does his reviews before any purchase is made. i am a staunch supporter of bachmann products,but the retail price point is rather high.i hope to see the street price when they are in stock after the nmra show.
regards&later KEWATIN
http://youtu.be/ULjamh_euTw
Very nice video! I'm very much looking forward to picking up a few of these. One concern raised by the video, are we going to have a choice of whistles, or are we stuck with the incorrect PRR banshee freight whistle?
There is always a choice of whistles in Soundvalue locos. I'm not crazy about the whistle either but I have been assured that it is indeed a possibility for this engine.
Yardmaster, first I want to say a heartfelt thank you to everyone at Bachmann for bringing us an N Scale K4. My dilemma right now is not whether I'm going to buy one, but how many I will buy.
I don't want to seem ungrateful, but the banshee whistle is not correct for the K4. It was the PRR freight whistle found on the I's and H's. The PRR had a beautiful deep 3-chime that it used on passenger engines like the K4. Here's a comparison of the two:
http://youtu.be/VCokySRUNNw
And here's an example on K4 1361 when she was steamed up in the '80s
http://youtu.be/mTVjbeRBWWk
Again, I don't mean to seem ungrateful, and this isn't going to slow me down from buying several. I know that Soundtraxx doesn't have a PRR 3-chime sound file, so that may be a part of it. I'm hoping that Soundtraxx's B&O 3-chime is on there. It's probably the closest from their library.
The whistles were picked by our product development manager who knows quite a bit about Eastern roads so I'm sure it is a close as possible. Some things just aren't readily available to record.....
the ad says they are available now in stores... none of the E-tailer I went to have them listed. I know I can get these cheaper than the poor running brass models out there
Relax people, you can change the whistle.
First of all, a very big 'thank you very much' for the K4 locomotive. You made a lot of people happy.
I saw the K4 ad in the October Model Railroader magazine and noticed that it did not mention this release was part of Bachmann's 'Spectrum' series. Is there a reason for that? What is the difference between this and a 'Spectrum' model?
Thanks again for a long sought after locomotive.
I think that everything new is a Spectrum now . They just aren't labeled so anymore .
Quote from: Mike C on August 26, 2015, 03:34:43 PM
I think that everything new is a Spectrum now . They just aren't labeled so anymore .
Yardmaster will hopefully chime in here, but my guess is that Bachmann has retired the Spectrum label and instead started dividing things up between non-DCC, DCC, and DCC-Sound. For example, I've purchased two Bachmann locomotives recently (a Berk and a Prairie). And although they both have the same gold-colored box insert, the Berk is labeled "N DCC Sound Value-Equipped",whereas the Prairie label simply says "Bachmann N Scale".
Cheers,
-Mark
I've taken a lot of flak around the Internet for pointing out the incorrect whistle. I'd just like to say here one more time, thank you Bachmann for delivering an N scale K4. Based on the video that was posted, I have nothing but excitement for this model. The whistle is an easily correctable point. I look forward to running these on my layout.
Thank you!
Eric, I agree the whistle doesn't sound correct for the K4s. Hearing in on my layout will be the test. If it isn't it can be changed.
Don't feel to bad about getting ribbed on the whistle. I've got another question on the loco that may not be as easy to change. First, the loco looks good and I am grateful to Bachmann for producing it. I'm am ready to pull out my wallet as soon as they hit the shelves. My question is about the sand dome. Is it correct, or is just a tad too tall? I think I'll go find a hole to crawl in to now.
Please, please, please answer yes to the following question:
Will Bachmann be releasing a USRA version of the Pacific? While I model the B & O, a pacific with free standing detail and the quality Bachmann mechanism would be a great offering. I won't purchase steam with molded on details anymore - you've spoiled me.
PS: I thank you for the amazing EM1; my bank account doesn't, but I do!
I would imagine that down the road, that yes, they would release a USRA Pacific. They would just have to design the boiler and cab.
I would have to wonder if a USRA light would fit onto the K-4 power chassis. The K-4 was a heavy Pacific. The K-4 had seventy-four inch drivers, the USRA light had seventy-three. The driver size would not be that big a deal. My experience with B-mann drivers is that they scale out a bit small, as it is. I suspect that B-mann casues this to be done so that the things will go around sharper curves. Thus, I would not be surprised if the drivers on this scaled out to seventy-two, or, even seventy inches. Thie latter would allow a closer-to-accurate chassis for several roads that had lower drivered Pacifics, such as Western Maryland.
B&O did have a class of Pacifics that essentially were USRA heavy copies. It even rebuilt several Pacifics into what essentially were USRA heavy copies.
Three roads ran USRA light originals: B&O, L&N and ACL. All three had copies, as well. ACL used them for freight as well as passenger. The B&O copies had Venderbilt tenders. GTW and M&O had copies, as well but no originals.
It is disappointing that MRC did not make some upgrades to the old MP line. My largest gripe is failure to make the tender all wheels live. Yes, it did make the pilots (and the trailers?) live, but, an all wheels live tender has a proved value. I, at least, am not so sure about the live idler trucks. I have a few of the Micro Ace and Kato tank locomotives, some of which have live idler trucks. The live idler trucks do not seem to help much in the contact department.
I suspect that retaining the cast-on handrails was a move to keep down the cost.
I'm happy with all those who wanted a K-4.
I model a bit further south, and I too, wished for a Pacific.
I was not heavy or light in my request, I, like many, wanted something to work with.
This mechanism will be that starting point.
Boiler and cab is just modeling (like I need to start another scratch project).
I don't do DCC and/or sound.
So far, I haven't been able to justify the cost.
I really don't want to pay $399 for a chassis, half that is still way too much.
Did these even live long enough to be sucked into the CoG?
Southern's last one may have lived until about early '50's, maybe late 40's.
Surely an inheritance from an acquisition earlier.
Maybe I could wait for Bachmann to do the light.
USRA standard tender?
Quote from: brokemoto on August 28, 2015, 10:14:19 AM
I would have to wonder if a USRA light would fit onto the K-4 power chassis. The K-4 was a heavy Pacific. The K-4 had seventy-four inch drivers, the USRA light had seventy-three. The driver size would not be that big a deal. My experience with B-mann drivers is that they scale out a bit small, as it is. I suspect that B-mann casues this to be done so that the things will go around sharper curves. Thus, I would not be surprised if the drivers on this scaled out to seventy-two, or, even seventy inches. Thie latter would allow a closer-to-accurate chassis for several roads that had lower drivered Pacifics, such as Western Maryland.
The K4 had 80 inch drivers. Bachmann's model will either have undersized drivers or a longer driver wheel base. The reason is that on the prototype K4 the drivers had 1 inch flanges and there was only one inch spacing between drivers flanges. Reproducing that flange in N scale would equal .00625 inches. That is less than 1/3 the NMRA standard. With a flange that small keeping the locomotive on the track would be impossible.