Does anyone think that Bachmann will come out with an N scale version of their Spectrum K4 Pacific? I think that if they would produce such a model with the same quality as their other steam engines it would be hard to keep in stock.
The PRR K4s in HO was the first Spectrum model madeby Bachmann. Those of us in N scale have been asking for it ever since and still don't have it. So, I wouldn't hold my breath if I were you.
If they ever do, I'll take several in the prewar version, thank you.
I just wonder who you need to talk to at Bachmann to make a request like this. I may not see the whole picture but I don't understand why they have not tried to produce one of these models. Bachmann hit a home run when they retooled the N&W Class J. I have a few and converted them to DCC with sound (MRC Brilliance decoder). These are some of the best steamers I have. Now the N&W only made 14 Js compared to the hundreds of K4 pacifics made by Pennsy. I just don't see the reason!
Dear 1218,
You've already done so- and I've passed along the request!
Have fun!
the Bach-man
Please please please pretty please please...
Along the lines of the 2-8-0 and the Heavy 4-8-2... a heavy pacific would do WONDERS as far as sales. With few modifications you could model PRR, B&O, AT&SF, NYC, Southern, Southern Pacific... and about every other major railroad in the US that ran a heavy 4-6-2 based on the ALCO prototype...
DO IT!
PLEASE!
1218classa, I'm with you. Bachmann produces some fine steam loco's and a Pacific 4-6-2 would be a most welcome addition. Especialy the K4s. Pre or Post war versions. I have the Kato Broadway limited with GG-1's and E8's, but it's cryin' for a steamer. I'd love a T1 4-4-4-4, S1 Turbine? ;D Hint, hint, but the K4s would be a bigger hit me thinks. So here's hoping someone will build one soon!
P.S. Some heavyweight cars would be a nice addition too! (New tooling not Rivarossi or Lima please)
I know the customer base is out there for one of these locos. I don't think that Bachmann or whomever decides to produce this engine would be disappointed of the sales. Post and pre-war editions should be easy to make. I just don't see how N scalers have to go this long without an engine like the K4! It was one of the workhorses of the Pennsy for many years.
The Minitrix K4 Pacific is long gone (and has a primitive by today's standards chassis to boot!) so yeah the market is ripe for a state of the art tooling N scale PRR K-4!
Mark
There is another bonus for creating tooling for the K-4.
The PRR L1 Mikado used the same boiler. That's almost two for one with exception of the mechanism and probably some othe manufacturing problems I can't even begin to think of. I believe it's time for both! Hmmm......while I'm at it, how's about an PRR M1a/b from the mountain? ;D
Quote from: dtpowell on February 05, 2009, 01:48:28 PM
There is another bonus for creating tooling for the K-4.
The PRR L1 Mikado used the same boiler. That's almost two for one with exception of the mechanism and probably some othe manufacturing problems I can't even begin to think of. I believe it's time for both! Hmmm......while I'm at it, how's about an PRR M1a/b from the mountain? ;D
Not quite the same. On all but about ten K4's, the position of the sand dome and bell on the top of the boiler were reversed companred to the locations on the L1s Mikado. You can sacrifice a sand dome off another model and move the two, though. I did it with a MiniTrix shell on a Rivarossi Mikado chassis.
I concur on BOTH the K4 AND heavyweight cars. As of now, NOBODY is making heavyweights....!
Quote from: Williamson on February 05, 2009, 12:01:30 PM
The Minitrix K4 Pacific is long gone (and has a primitive by today's standards chassis to boot!) so yeah the market is ripe for a state of the art tooling N scale PRR K-4!
Mark
Marklin/Trix in Germany has now filed for Bankruptcy. Perhaps Bachmann could purchase & use some of the old molds? I'd like to see an upgraded little switcher.
A heavy pacific model would have wide appeal...
Start with the K4... but basically the same model minus the Belpaire firebox could be applied to a number of other roads that used similar Pacifics based on the ALCO 55,000 prototype. Most similar is B&O's P7 class, which shares 80" drivers, height, length, and is similar in weight. The NYC, Erie, Southern, Santa Fe, Boston and Maine, New Haven, and Southern Pacific ran slightly smaller but similar designed heavy pacifics.
And since Bachmann already has the tooling for a nice C&O boiler front, the Georgionian Pacific is also a similar bioler and driver design.
So like the mountains and Consolidations, you could model easily 8 to 10 road names spanning coast to coast.
How is one of these NOT made?
I agree with in_eden. I don't see how a loco like this could not succeed!
Yes, please I'd like a PRR K4s too. Or perhaps two...
I found interesting that it was possible to modify it for so many railroads. Had no idea about that.
I wonder if the fact that it has a Belpaire boiler will make any significant difference when it comes chosing a motor for it. ???
Well, that's some random thoughts from Sweden.
/Peter
Double Yes...
Yes, Yes! ;)
I am in for one and have DCC plug-in and
wire harness to the tender for speaker.
I love N scale Sound.
JohnnyJT 8)
South Philly
Sounds like there is a lot of people out there that would buy a few of these if somebody made them! I think that whomever produces this engine will be selling them like hotcakes.
I would like to see the AEM 7!
An AEM7 would be fine, but let's keep this thread on topic! :) I very much want a plastic* K4 in N scale (several of them, in fact), and Bachmann is in the best position to do it. Come on, Bachmann, get with your own program!
*"plastic" meaning ready to run. A cast metal boiler would be great.
I dont get to post here much, but seeing this thread had to...
Yes Please make a Pacific and any Pacific... K4, USRA or other wise.
I have a vary aging fleet of 7 RR that need to put to rest.
If they can be made as well as the J I'd be in for at least 7.
By the way thanks for the Heavy Mountain, great looking and running.
Ron N.
a 2-6-6-2T would also be well excepted.
I think I am willing to walk the distance between Baltimore and the bachmann HQ in Philadelphia on my KNEES if they'll make a K4... and maybe expand that into a USRA high headlight HEAVY pacific (i.e. B&O, AT&SF...)
Precision Craft blew it by starting with the M1a Mountain. They should have started with a more universal design... and given the fact that Bachmann had beat them to the punch with an outstanding DCC equipped Heavy Mountain.
There are a couple threads on the Atlas fourm where people are kitbashing things to come up with a K4...
Who ever finally makes a great heavy pacific model will do very well.
Model Power is doing well with their average light pacific model...
Keeping fingers crossed...
All right, Bachmann. This post has only been here for a month and we have five hundred hits on it already. That's got to show some interest in this subject. People are looking for this engine!
I don't want to badger Bachmann about this, but I'm getting old and I'd like a few years' enjoyment of some N scale K4s's. To add a bit more "sales pitch" I just point out that one K4s (r/n 5409) was painted Tuscan Red for a few months in 1929. That's outside most modelers' eras, but I bet some folks would buy one just for the joy of it.
Since the K4s's often ran double headed, there would be more of a demand for these things than most single steam locomotive models. The success of Athearn's Big Boy (which in real life only operated in a specific region--and only on UP) should be a good indicator that a K4s would sell well. And if Bachmann offered a non-Belpair boiler version (with, say, a medium or large USRA tender) they could probably get away with other road names.
OK DACHMANN HAS 4-8-4 AND J CLASS. HOW ABOUT SEMI STREMLINERS (MODEL POER HAS LINE CALLED SEMI STREAMLINERS) PROTOTYPES. AND BULLET TRAINS. I THINK FEW DETAILS, NEW TENDERS AND PAINTING, AND THIS COULD BE BIGGER THAN KATO, CONCOR, MODELPOWER ALLTOGETHER. SO MISTER BACHMANN DO YOU HAVE MAXI TO THINK BIG?
YES THIS COULD BE BIGGEST LINE IN THE WORLD. THINK ABOUT ALL THE JEMS WE COULD KITBASH FROM THAT SELECTIN. MAYBE KATO WOULD START BUYING BACHMANNS ENGINES?
JACK
Also the N&W bought five PRR K3s. I don't exactly know what the differences were between these and the K4s but it probably isn't much. That would give another legitimate road name to use on these engines if they ever produce them.
It's truly madness that no one in N scale produces a K4. In HO several manufacturers make the K4 in pre and post war variants.
If I were Bachmann I'd jump on it before Mike's Train House decides to get into the N scale market!
If model power can make the pacific that they did, there is no doubt that Bachmann could make a very nice well running model. (don't forget the tire)
...and the Heavy Pacific with a high headlight would be very VERY wanted in many roads... as would a center headlight.
Do it. Please?
Quote from: 1218classa on March 09, 2009, 09:05:00 PM
Also the N&W bought five PRR K3s. I don't exactly know what the differences were between these and the K4s but it probably isn't much. That would give another legitimate road name to use on these engines if they ever produce them.
There is a considerable difference between K3's and K4's. Aside from the details, cab, trailing truck, valve gear, etc., there was a BIG difference in weight and horsepower. While both had 80" drivers, the K4s was a far more powerful engine. The difference in size of the firebox and its Belpaire portion is quite noticeable.
There are differences between lots of "heavy" pacifics... but I'm willing to make some concessions. The more discriminating modeler can kitbash to make it perfect...
I know that in the 20's through the early 50's, A LOT of roads used big pretty pacifics to pull trains. Here in the Mid Atlantic region, B&O, PRR, C&O, Reading, and Southern all used 4-6-2's. AT&SF, Southern Pacific each used them... They could all be reasonably be accomodated by one basic model with model specific smoke boxes and the Belpaire firebox on the K4.
...I mean... at least Con-Cor makes their <highly> outdated Hudson model... The Berkshire has just been done very well... Kato hit a home-run with the Daylight... Mikado's are well done by Kato and Model Power... but the MP pacific is nowhere near the level of front line passenger locomotive that the K4 is... or the B&O P7.
I have no doubt what-so-ever that a Heavy Pacific model would dwarf the success of the Heavy Mountain. Probably the 2-8-0 as well.
Any pacific would be great. I would really like to see a Southern Pacific P-8 class locomotive but any would work for me.
You're right, thirdrail. I was kinda hoping that they were similar enough to make another possible roadname for whomever produces this model. I personaly would probably buy an undec. version and try to modify the engine as best I could and change the tender to something more like the N&W used on them. Whatever the outcome, I would still buy several of them.
David-
Funny to run into you here!!!
The AME7 laid an egg for Atlas in both HO and O.... so I would not promote it as a project in N Scale..... I don't see any big factor that would make it a good seller in N when it has failed in two other scales. There are better projects that would be surefire winners... like the K4.
Charlie Vlk
Railroad Model Resources
What is an AEM7? I really don't know... so please fill me in!
You have to look at a K4 as a nice jumping off point... like the O scalers, MTH, Weaver did... make a K4, then use the running gear and basic boiler design for B&O, AT&SF, SP, Southern, NYC, Erie, NP, CP, and probably 20 other roads that ran fairly similar heavy Pacifics.
I NEED the K4 and the B&O P7. A couple of each. I'd buy one in NYC as well.
For steam era passenger service, almost every major road ran a Heavy Pacific. Should be a seller.
The AEM7 is an electric loco used by Amtrak on the NE Corridor fondly referred to as "the toaster" due to its odd appearance.....
Here's an illustration of an AEM7--in this case, New Jersey Transit. (http://i445.photobucket.com/albums/qq175/nscalepennsyguy/NJT4402.jpg?t=1237907540)
It does resemble a popup toaster in some ways.
I think there may have been two additional contributing factors to the Atlas AEM lack of sales. (1) Not much contemporary passenger equipment was available at the time of its release. Subsequently Bachmann has come out with both the Acela and the HHP8. (2) Atlas could not offer the AEM7 as part of a set. A lot of purchasers (especially beginners) are attracted to train sets.
But, to keep this on the main topic (and to keep the thread alive), this is what we're mainly interested in here:
(http://i445.photobucket.com/albums/qq175/nscalepennsyguy/PRR1631.jpg?t=1237907987)
I want my P7. My roster is probably 70% B&O, 15% PRR, 5% NKP...
I'd buy probably 3 P7's... at least a K4, probably 2...
I bought a pair of the Life-Like NKP berks because I loved them...
I have a Model Power Pacific that is in no way similar to anything B&O ran, but it's a runner...
Please Mr. Bachman...
Hear our cries!
Went to a train show in Atlanta and I found only two Minitrix K4s for sale Neither were priced under $90. ??? These engines are commanding these prices only because there are no other manufacturers making these models today. Not to mention the fact that today's steam locos offer much higher detail, smoother slow speed response, and are more DCC "friendly" than the older models. I would much rather pay $125-150 for a up to date loco than $90 for an engine that is almost twenty years old and runs erraticaly. I do have a Minitrix K4 myself and I have seen others run as well. I don't like to have to run an engine at 60 to 70 miles an hour through my yard to keep it from stalling when my newer engine can creep through prototypically!
Time to bump this topic back to page 1. Some of us really want a PRR K4s--prewar and postwar versions. We have the GG1 (Kato), we have the Big Boy and Challenger (Athearn), we have the SP GS4. We have some diesel models of locos that only a handful of proto railroads ever owned (SD26, DL109, etc). It's time for a PRR K4s (Bachmann)!
(http://i445.photobucket.com/albums/qq175/nscalepennsyguy/PRR16318-26-88.jpg?t=1246970242)
Yes. Please. Anyone. Make a K4. And a heavy pacific in B&O. A heavy pacific can be run in more roads than the heavy mountain... and will sell at least as well... if it is made as well. MAKE IT!!!
Besides the B&O, I could also use a Pacific that is a good match for the Western Maryland along with matching heavyweight passenger cars. I believe a bunch of us who model the WM would be thrilled to get these RTR. We have been missing decent heavyweight's for a long time! (We still need the Ten-wheeler and Russian Decapod too!)
But some 4-6-2's up to the 2-8-0's standard would be great.
Charles
I have a decent set of con-cor heavyweights in B&O, and a terrible set from model power in PRR livery... neither stack up to what Kato just did with the Daylight and Broadway Limited.
As for a Pacific... I just can't understand how a mainstay for passenger power for nearly every road out there is missing from the N scale pantheon. Sure there is the Model Power light Pacific, which is good, but a front line locomotive.
Looking at the sales of the Kato GS-4, with a limited market (only one road name to produce, and the train only ran from Portland, OR to Los Angeles), coupled with the success of the Bachmann heavy mountain, there is plenty of reason to believe that a well made, easily DCC compatible Heavy Pacific would be well received.
If someone would go as far as to make road specific adjustments, which Model Power has not, like high mounted headlights, belpaire fireboxes, feedwater heaters, etc., one could REALLY make a great model that could become one of the top level releases in N scale... right there with the Kato Mikado.
Base the prototype off of ALCO's "50,000" prototype that was the basis for most heavy pacifics that railroads used...
It is a can't miss.
AME7toaster or K4........
DUHHHHHHH
Gimme a K4.......I love my HO version.........
Jim
Although many of you will probably recognize me from other forums, I joined this one just to chime in on this thread. I'm definitely good for a couple of these in the pre-war style. I've already invested in the HO version. I still think it's ridiculous that the N Scale world is without a K4. How many different companies make them in HO? I'll refrain from going into a full rant, as most of the merits of a K4 have already been mentioned.
C'mon Bachmann! Let's see some PRR K4s!
Eric...
How do you join the Atlas forum? I've tried about a thousand times, and no matter how I enable cookies, I never get a reply from the moderator! He probably thinks I'm stalking him!
Every time I walk passed the HO display case at my local hobby shop I have to pause and shed a mournful tear as I look at the line-up of locos... It's just not fair!
How is there not a K4 or NYC Hudson?
B&O President? Atlantic?
The steam vacancies in N scale are overwhelming... and now that quality is sharply on the rise, hopefully those openings in our steam rosters will start filling in!
Broadway Limited made a mistake by beginning their N steam line with the M1 mountain, because of it's limited scope and on the heels of Bachmann's great Heavy Mountain model. However, beginning with a K4, and using that to model a variety of heavy pacifics would have been a much more cost-effective way to go...
I really just want a K4.
There has to be a way to convince Bachmann or somebody that offering a K4 would be a move in the N scale market that would pay off in more ways than one. After reading through this thread there are a lot of people interested in seeing one of these models coming to the shelves of our local hobby shop.
Bachmann has been producing some good quality models in both major scales. I know that times are a little tough for all of us right now, but this is one of those opportunities for someone to produce a product that just may ease the pain of the daily grind and help us forget our troubles for a little while. I don't expect that it would take too much tooling to get the ball rolling on this.
I just wait for the day when I open up my copy of MR or RMC and see in the new products section a "preproduction" version of this model in N. That would make my day as well as many, many others as well!
Quote from: in_eden on March 26, 2009, 11:49:04 AM
I have a Model Power Pacific that is in no way similar to anything B&O ran, but it's a runner...
The Model Power pacific is a model of a USRA light pacific. The Baltimore and Ohio had thirty originals, class P-5, ten ALCo-built and twenty Baldwin built. B&O went back to Baldwin for fifteen copies, which it received in 1922, class P-6. The P-6s did have Vanderbilt tenders and had different trailing trucks and other items that reflected B&O practice, such as the high-mounted headlight. When the railroad rebuilt the P-5s over the years, they changed some of the features to reflect B&O practice, such as moving the headlight from the middle of the smokebox cover, which was where they were when they showed up in 1918 and 1919, to the top of the smokebox.
Two other roads had originals of the USRA light pacific: Atlantic Coast Line and Louisville and Nashville. The former used theirs for freight as much as passenger, the latter almost exclusively for passenger. The B&O used theirs almost exclusively for passenger. The other two roads also bought copies of their USRA light pacifics. There were copies made for other roads, as well.
The MP pacific comes in B&O with both the USRA Standard and the Vanderbilt tender. There are two different numbers on the B&O MP pacific with the USRA Standard, neither of which are correct for a P-5. I am not sure about the number on the B&O with the Vanderbilt.
MP's Vanderbilt is based on a Harriman model that ran behind smaller steam, mostly on the SP (4-4-0 [what few SP E-classes had them], 2-6-0, 4-6-0, 2-8-0 and switchers), thus it does not look much like a B&O Vanderbilt. The Vanderbilt that Con-Cor uses on some of its steam models is based on a B&O Vanderbilt. The MP locomotive is, however, a model of a prototype that the B&O operated.
The MP mikado is a model of a USRA light 2-8-2. The B&O had one-hundred originals of this, class Q-3. The first USRA locomotive built was a USRA light mikado that was delivered to the B&O. That locomotive still exists; you can go to Baltimore and see it. The sad thing about MP's treatment of the mikado is that they put a Vanderbilt behind it and gave it a Q-4 number. The Q-4 was a heavier locomotive, that had sixty-four inch drivers, as opposed to the sixty-three of the USRA mikados (not that the inch is that noticeable in N scale). B&O also equipped them with steam lines and signalling devices (subsequently, when CTC was installed) so that they could be pressed into service for passenger duties.
I would not mind seeing a better version of both USRA lights. A quick upgrade is to buy B-mann's SPECTRUM USRA Standards (available lettered for the B&O) and swap out the MP stock tender for the B-personn. The weakness of the MP is its 1970s construction methods, especially the half-wheels live tender from which current is collected by means of wipers. This compromises the electrical pick up and the wipers do create drag on the locomotive. The Bachmann tenders are all wheels live and have needlepoint axle pick up.
However, I would like to see Q-4s and P-3s and P-4s, as the last two worked the Washington-[Brunswick] Cumberland locals as well as the Washington-Baltimore locals, and, the first worked system wide and were frequently pressed into service on Washington locals.
Quote from: in_eden on August 07, 2009, 10:05:25 PM
Eric...
How do you join the Atlas forum? I've tried about a thousand times, and no matter how I enable cookies, I never get a reply from the moderator! He probably thinks I'm stalking him!
Every time I walk passed the HO display case at my local hobby shop I have to pause and shed a mournful tear as I look at the line-up of locos... It's just not fair!
As to the second part, I agree. I wish someone would do in N scale what BLI did in HO a few years ago: start rolling accurately modeled, road-specific steam with sound and DCC, and watch the orders roll in. Even if we have to pay a bit of a premium, I'm sure N scalers would be willing to reward any company that did. I can vouch for one! (Well, at least for PRR prototypes.)
As for the Atlas boards, I had the same problem, until I finally discovered that my email client was marking the replies as junk mail. Try contacting the moderators directly over email (not through the signup procedure). That's how I finally got it sorted out.
And if you bother to make those why not a fully shrouded #3768?
Quote from: David Leonard on July 07, 2009, 08:49:55 AM
Time to bump this topic back to page 1. Some of us really want a PRR K4s--prewar and postwar versions. We have the GG1 (Kato), we have the Big Boy and Challenger (Athearn), we have the SP GS4. We have some diesel models of locos that only a handful of proto railroads ever owned (SD26, DL109, etc). It's time for a PRR K4s (Bachmann)!
(http://i445.photobucket.com/albums/qq175/nscalepennsyguy/PRR16318-26-88.jpg?t=1246970242)
Quote from: the Bach-man on February 03, 2009, 12:23:39 AM
Dear 1218,
You've already done so- and I've passed along the request!
Have fun!
the Bach-man
With Kato releasing the PRR Broadway Limited train in Nsscale along with the GG1 and new issue of the E8's the only thing missing is a PRR K4 pacific and possibly an M1a/b Mountain type. Since Bachmann already has a heavy Mountain out I doubt if you would consider doing another. But a K4 would really fill a big gap. There are a lot of PRR passenger cars out there both modern as well as heavyweight that could use a K4 to make a complete PRR passenger train .
This topic came up over on the Atlas forum the other day. I've noticed that it tends to crop up on a fairly regular basis all over the internet. Back to the original question, who's going to be the manufacturer to take finally recognize the demand and provide the supply?
The topic of an N scale K4 has been brought up on pretty much every n scale forum I've seen. There is definitely a demand for someone to make it.
People are clamoring for the 30 year old Trix model... what does that tell you?
I can't understand how one is not made... or a ALCO 55,000 prototype based heavy pacific (PRR added the Belpaire firebox, but about 15 roads used Pacifics based on the same model).
The heavy pacific was the mainstay passenger power for nearly every road in existence until the 4-8-4 was introduced in the late 40's. With the K4 as a lead, a smart manufacturer could make similar models using the same basic shell and running gear for PRR, B&O, NYC, Reading, Erie, Southern, Southern Pacific, AT&SF, Katy, Canadian Pacific...
with little variations they could be very road specific... headlight placement, steam pumps...
I'm personally dying for a K4 and a B&O P7.
I'll buy several of each as soon as anyone makes them.
Please?
I'm bumping this thread back to page 1. I think we need to keep it alive and in the front of the Bach-man's mind.
Pretty please?
I'll buy at least 2.
If Bachmann (or anyone else for that matter) ever makes a B&O heavy pacific, I'm in for 4. Plus the pair of K4's...
So that's 6 for me!
Gotta add my two cents in here again too. Put me down for a couple of K4's! Plus, if Bachmann wouldn't mind, a L1 Mikado too. The boiler can be used for both. That's what the Pennsy intended...Two loco's for the price of the tooling for the boiler of one! Sounds like a good deal to me.
The L1 and K4 boilers are not exactly the same. They have the same dimensions, and the steam dome appears to be the same, but the sand dome and piping are not identical. These are minor points as far as tooling goes, I suppose, but the mechanism and tender would have to be new and different.
Whatever, let's get some K4's soon! They often ran doubleheaded, so some of us will need plenty of them! There are prewar and postwar versions, different tenders, paint schemes (including one Tuscan) and eras. Lines West had headlights in the middle of the smokebox in the 20's. There are other variations as well, so Bachmann could sell many of these. I'd say that it's a "no-brainer" except that Bachmann does have brains. I expect an announcement this year!!
you have to believe that a K4 would be equally big a seller as the N&W J or Kato's SP Daylight... or the GG1 for that matter. Kato makes the beautiful broadway limited set... that must be selling well (there are now 3 different GG1s and a set of E8's for it from Kato alone!).
I'm sure everyone that bought that will snatch up a K4 as soon as one is available!
Options are great once a heavy pacific running gear is produced...
steamlined... pre war... post war...
plus pretty much every road had a heavy pacific.
It's going to happen...
The question is when and by who.
This discussion (idea) has entered the Atlas N scale fourm... and everyone is saying that BACHMANN should make a K4.
Seems logical.
Someone has to make one... and with the # of sales, it can't be a profit question... I mean how much could tooling cost?
The toy show is happing soon. Maybe we'll get lucky this year and we'll get that elusive K-4 from someone. It's about for some new steam in N scale. The cab forward is out I believe and I'm thrilled about Fox Valley's 1935 Hiawatha coming in July. The K-4 can't be too far away. There are too-o-o many of us out there wantin' it.
You would think that if something as road-specific as the Hiawatha, or the Daylight, or GG1, or Cab Forward, or N&W J would fly, then a K4 should be at least equally as profitable.
Expanding upon that... how about a heavy pacific? sure the K4 has a Belpaire firebox... but minus that and with boiler fronts with high and center mount lights a manufacturer could make very similar Heavy Pacifics in about 15 major US roads.
Starting with a K4 would seem a no brainer.
You'd think that certain models would be a given-
We've got the N&W J, Daylight, Big Boy, and the Van Sweringen Berkshire...
But where is the K4?
Modern NYC Hudson?
How about an Allegheny?
Reading T1?
B&O President?
They're finally getting good at N scale steam...
Time to start producing it!
In_eden,
I may be starting false rumour, but I thought I heard someone was planning to make the C&O Allegheny. I don't know who though. I hope I'm correct.
I'd like to add the PRR M1 to your great list of loco's. I would love to have in N scale. Bachmann makes the heavy Mountain already. So, why not?
One thing is certain. All the loco's in your list are popular and sell well in the larger scales. There is no reason for them not to do the same in N. Particularly the K4.
Broadway Limited has had a PRR M1a "in the works" for a couple of years now. Every once in a while the threaten us with actually making the damn thing (I have two reserved) but most of us believe that it will never happen.
Fox Valley Models just announced a 4-4-2 led Hiawatha train set...
If a road specific loco and cars such as the Atlantic version Hiawatha set is produced, and sold for only $300 for loco and 6 cars... how has no one taken a chance on a K4? Or any heavy pacific for that matter?
Go visit www.steamlocomotive.com and look up the pacific wheel arraingment...
MANY roads ran 4-6-2's derrived from the ALCO 50,000 prototype.
Erie ran the actual prototype.
Notable pacifics derrived from this loco-
B&O P7
ATSF 3400 class
Boston and Maine
C&O F19 (George Washington)
NYC K3
Southern Pacific - some were "Daylightized" with skyline castings
PRR K4
I don't get it.
I'd love to see an Allegheney too.
If anyone, including Bachmann makes the K4 Please do it without the traction tires if at all possible. A cast metal shell as in the Model Power FP7's could add the necessary weight without the need for traction tires for most people. Separate traction tire equipped drivers could be an option for those who would want them. A K4 would be a real winner especially as others have pointed out the Kato Broadway Limited car sets and all the vintage Atlas, Rivarossi, Lima, Model Power, etc. heavy weight PRR cars that are out there. Those Broadway Limited car sets alone spawned three runs of a GG1 and another run of PRR E8's on top of about two or three prior runs of PRR E8's.
And one more thing. Bachmann produced a great 2-8-0 consolidation. That mechanism could, with a different shell, make a PRR H series 2-8-0. The PRR 2-8-0's lasted till the end of steam and then soldiered on in numerous short lines and regional RR's till they just wore out.
I'd like to see a new K4 in scale too. 8)
But, ya know the Broadway Limited Kato did was from 1949, well past the point where you'd see steam on it.
Quote from: inkaneer on March 21, 2010, 03:15:52 PM
If anyone, including Bachmann makes the K4 Please do it without the traction tires if at all possible. A cast metal shell as in the Model Power FP7's could add the necessary weight without the need for traction tires for most people. Separate traction tire equipped drivers could be an option for those who would want them. A K4 would be a real winner especially as others have pointed out the Kato Broadway Limited car sets and all the vintage Atlas, Rivarossi, Lima, Model Power, etc. heavy weight PRR cars that are out there. Those Broadway Limited car sets alone spawned three runs of a GG1 and another run of PRR E8's on top of about two or three prior runs of PRR E8's.
And one more thing. Bachmann produced a great 2-8-0 consolidation. That mechanism could, with a different shell, make a PRR H series 2-8-0. The PRR 2-8-0's lasted till the end of steam and then soldiered on in numerous short lines and regional RR's till they just wore out.
inkaneer,
I disagree with you on the traction tires. I have several Model Power steamloco's and they wouldn't pull much of anything until I switched out one of the drivers with the traction tire equipt ones I got to retorfit them from Model Power.
No matter what Bachmann may add to their steam locomotive line this year. I want them with traction tires.
The huge void in the current selection of steam is puzzling.
A K4 and a generic heavy pacific (think B&Os P1 family) would both be welcome, and as the only models of either are long discontinued (and fairly poor) in the K4s case, and the Model Power so-so pacific, they would sell like beer at a nascar race. For the love of god, no streamlined blue pacifics please...
There are only two 2-8-2s, model power's and katos, and with kato's "we will produce it when are good and ready to make 10 or so" attitude, the void here is screaming to be filled; once again, a Pennsy L1 and a more ambiguous model (everyone and their brother had a fleet of mikes) Im sure the bean counters at Bachmann can figure the rest out.
A 10 coupled something, either a big 2-10-2 (B&O S1) and/or a PRR 2-10-0. Between the two, they represent several hundred engines on two of the biggest roads in the country.
If I got to choose, i would want the pacific first, 10 coupled loco second, mike third, but these three would sure put Bachmann even farther ahead in the steam department.
The C&O 2-6-6-2s, the 2-8-0, and the C&O 4-8-2 are a great leap into serious steam. Keep going guys, round the lineup out! EDIT. AND KEEP THEM IN PRODUCTION.
PS. Add a 0-8-0 someday so i dont have to ever give walthers a dime kthx.
Everyone discusses the need for the K4 and are eager to have a model which seems to fall on deaf ears. How many modellers would be prepared to assemble a high quality kit of the locomotive in two or three variants. Maybe you are looking in the wrong area for the model manufacturer.
smokin and steam around
Hunt Tower
Kato announced K4's this morning!
Not funny man. Not funny.
I hate april first.
Is an N scale K4 really that much to ask?
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. ;D
How I wish for Bachmann to make a PRR K4s.
I sold my car this weekend so please make a K4s so I can spend the money ;D
I think that a K4s with lots of pulling power would come in handy.
/Peter
A true story that happened a few years ago. A fellow model Railroad club member of mine was really into European trains. The one locomotive that he wanted but for one reason or another never acquired was the German 'Krocodile' (SP?). Finally, after years of waiting He was able to order one from a new batch to be made in six months time. He wa beside himself waiting for that engine to arrive. His engine came the very day of his viewing at the funeral home. It made for a very rough time for us knowing how much he wanted that engine and seeing it in his casket with him. He was buried with the engine he loved. I really do hope that someone makes a K4. I would like to run it then give it to my grandkids.
inkaneer,
I was think the same thing this AM after reading the new product announcements in Model Railroader.Unless someone else produces the K4. it will be another year before we can hope to see it. And yes, sadly there will probably be some of us who will never see a decent K4 in N scale. Bachmann is missing out.
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...
Well... we got the 4- and the 6-...
now just change that 0 to a 2...
4-6-2
It would have to happen wouldn't it?
Too bad for Kato that they put out the later era Broadway set... they would have sold a far greater # had the train had the option of being headed by a K4.
Oh, and someone actually produced one.
It's bound to happen.
I guess I'll have to continue to be happy bashing a Model Power pacific into what I'm looking for.
(which is late-40's era PRR K4 and B&O P7)
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.
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!
Ok, Bach man, let's see. I started this post in Feb. of 2009. As of today there have been over 2600 views and 74 replies (ranked #1 and # 3 respectively as of today). If everyone that viewed this post on average purchased just one engine each that would be 2600+ right there. And that just includes this forum! Compared to the other forums that I have been reading, 2600 is a small percentage of the possible total of sales you would have.
The other Spectrum models that you have produced in N scale are of excellent quality and price. You definetly have established a very good reputation for building quality locos. But I don't understand why Bachmann won't build one of the most requested engines ever!
A large part of N scalers that don't normally model the UP have purchased a Big Boy or Challenger just because of its popularity. Another example is your very own N&W Class J. This model is very specific to that road. No other railroad ran these locomotives, period. And yet they sell very well! I have two of them myself. Now this loco proves that if you build a K4s that they will buy it in droves!!!!!
If word ever got out that Bachmann was going to build a K4s the hits on this site and other forums would skyrocket. You would have modelers reserving their locos quicker than a jackrabbit on a date!! ;D
From another post:
Quote from: ABC on August 13, 2010, 10:33:28 AM
There is currently about 375 million residents combined between the U.S. and Canada, as much as Bachmann U.S.A. wants to listen to all its customers, there are millions of them and it would be impossible to keep track of everything suggested on this or that form, but I'm sure they will do their best to try and have the best products possible and satisfy as many people possible of their customer base as they have done since 1833.
And in order for it to be worthwhile (large profit margin) for Bachmann to make they would need to sell either a large quantity or a smaller quantity for a large price. The latter would not go over so well with the customers. If you are interested in ordering several thousand locomotives; then a manufacturer would gladly produce them. And since you think they would fare so well, you can easily sell all the extras since you are so confident it will be in great demand. Bachmann employees people that investigate what products would be best to produce as far as demand and they project if the item ultimately can be a successful endeavor. I wish you good luck, and I am sure Bachmann will continue to produce many new, great products for years to come.
It' not only me that thinks this loco would be a success but at least every other person that viewed and/or replied to this thread. I take it then, ABC, that you do not think that an N scale K4s would be a successful model?
Quote from: 1218classa on August 14, 2010, 01:15:24 AM
I take it then, ABC, that you do not think that an N scale K4s would be a successful model?
No, I am just saying that I will trust the guys at Bachmann to figure it out. Whether or not Bachmann can be successful with a K4 depends on how it is defined. Bachmann puts a lot of thought into everything and considers everything possible before making a decision. I am just saying if you think people would like a K4 so much; you can probably get a company to produce them for you if you are willing to purchase say 10,000 at $500 (+/-$200) each depending on the cost of the mold and manufacturing. The only problem is that cost and quantity are indirectly proportional to each other. I don't know many people who could spare a few million dollars to make a loco, when you could probably buy a real 1:1 K4 for less.
I hope Bachmann makes it for you and your twenty-six hundred friends, although all customers are important to Bachmann, 2600 people is negligible in the grand scheme of things, it is .000000693% of its customer base.
Bachmann's job is to figure out the market. Our job is to advocate for what we want in order to help them figure out the market! Thanks for keeping this thread alive!
That is my point, David. Bachmann can't deny that this locomotive is a hot topic to most n scalers. Wouldn't you say Kato's customer base for the Broadway limited sets they offer is about the same size? They did't seem to mind it was only .000000693% as ABC stated.
Quote from: 1218classa on August 14, 2010, 10:55:12 AMWouldn't you say Kato's customer base for the Broadway limited sets they offer is about the same size? They did't seem to mind it was only .000000693% as ABC stated.
The difference is that they charge more per locomotive than Bachmann and it doesn't upset the customers. Would you be willing to pay $100-$200 more per locomotive if Bachmann made a wider variety?
Here's some sample math:
Say Bachmann can only make 100 locomotives a year. So say one year Bachmann is making only 2 locomotives. The cost of 1 mold is $500. Bachmann wants to have a profit of $5,000 this year. Bachmann's costs would be $1000 so they would need to charge $60 per loco to make $6000. Say the next year Bachmann decides to make 10 new locos. 10 molds would cost $5,000, so now they need to make $10,000 to have a $5,000 profit. To do so they would need to sell each loco for $1,000. The more (new) different locos they make, the greater the price of the locos.
Dear Mr. Bach-man,
As a customer who would pay in advance for a K4 pacific, could I please ask you to consider having a no promises on line K4 survey, possibly consisting of:-
Phase 1. Ask the customers what issues and requirements should be in
the survey, for example, DCC operated tender coupler, sound
on board, minimum radius, etc.
Phase 2. Have Bachmann experts build a list from this input
Phase 3. Ask the customers to prioritize the list
Phase 4. Collate and publish the results
Phase 5. Have Bachmann experts assess the results and make recommendations.
Cheers,
Keith
Same dealer website:
Bachmann Spectrum N scale Class J $109
Kato SP GS-4 Daylight $135
....... I don't see a $100-$200 difference, sorry.
Just because a person views a thread it does not mean they support the thread or wish to order the product advocated by the product.
Manufacturers (most if not all of them eventually) have learned the very hard and expensive way that forum participation is generally limited to the very active but very few minority. Participation in a thread does not necessarily mean that an item is in demand by the whole community.
This is one area where the 80/20 rule applies in that 80% of the noise is generated by 20% of the community. However will 80% of the sales come from that 20%. If so the model will not be successful. I have customers askig for 50+ ATSF CF7's in pistripe paint scheme alone. That alone does not translate to the necessary xx,xxx models that are needed to be sold to pay for tooling. Sales of the Broadway Limited reportedly were not as good as hoped for which could be taken as an indication that PRR sales as a whole will be bad but that is not necessarily so.
This is the reason I titled this thread like I did. I wanted to show Bachmann that there is a very good interest in building this locomotive. No one else makes this particular model. The last one of these made by Trix was many years ago.
I have been following this thread of and on for the last few months, so maybe a dozen or so of the "over 2600 views" belong to me. However, I have absolutely no interest in buying a K4 at any price. So that 2600+ figure is a highly unscientific sample, (sort of like the polls one finds on the websites of some news organizations which are then loudly touted as "the desire of the population"). The determining factor is the number of units that will actually be SOLD AT A PRICE CLOSE TO FULL RETAIL.
In fact, I would love to see a Russian Decapod as was announced a few years ago and then cancelled due to "lack of a small motor". I would purchase at least 4 of those; however, I would not purchase 400. To recover the cost of tooling a certain number of units must be sold at an amount fairly close to list price in order for the model to be profitable. I seem to recall that when the Decapod was released in HorriblyOversized scale that not too long after they were first released they could be gotten at Fire Sale prices from various sellers. I doubt that B'mann made a profit on that one, which is why I am fairly sure I will never see one in N scale. There are several manufacturers out there, and NONE has shown any interest in a K4 . I wonder why that would be. Has anyone noticed that Walthers (LifeLike, Proto2K) appears to have effectively exited the N Scale market? Anyone care to guess as to why that could be? (hint: I picked up four $200 2-8-4 Berkshires for around 70 Bucks each last year, I wonder how much money they made on those??)
I don't think any of us knows what would be a marketable model in N scale, and many manufacturers don't seem to know either. I have to wonder, e.g., whether Bachmann actually announced the Decapod before considering the size of the motor. Why would they do that? Seems like you'd want to know you could actually produce it before you announced it! It's just as possible that there wasn't enough of a demand for it, and the lack of a small motor was just a smokescreen. So, why not announce a K4 and see what the demand really is? If the answer is that there isn't enough of a demand, then maybe some of us will shut up.
One of the benefits of the pre-order system (which Atlas uses, for example) is that the manufacturer has a better idea of what's maketable. LL/Walthers did not use this system with the Berkshire, and as a result they overproduced them. But the 2nd and 3rd runs of the 2-8-8-2 were pre-ordered and sold out very soon. Bachmann generally does not use this system, which makes the introduction of a new model more risky, but seemingly they've done well anyway. However, within a few months of the first run of 44T's, you could buy a one new for $55. Does that mean Bachmann made no profit from it? I don't think so. We'll never know, but a LL Berkshire for $70 may only represent leftover stock from overproduction with Walthers making a profit anyway from the total number they produced.
Quote from: 1218classa on August 14, 2010, 12:28:56 PM
Same dealer website:
Bachmann Spectrum N scale Class J $109
Kato SP GS-4 Daylight $135
....... I don't see a $100-$200 difference, sorry.
That is completely irrelevant to the MSRP, the dealer can charge whatever he choses. Currently Bachmann
is not producing a huge variety of locomotives; they are producing some variety. If they were to make around fifty different types of locos, then you would see a price increase of around $100-$200 per loco. That isn't at all related to what I was saying; I was not saying anything about the present. I did not say or in any way imply there would currently be a difference of $100 between Bachmann and Kato. I said if they made a wider variety of locos; you would see a price increase to offset the cost of new molds.
ABC I seriously doubt that you have ever paid MSRP for any N scale items. You have paid what the dealer wanted for them. Now if the dealer can charge whatever he or she chooses to make a profit then they will be charging more than what they pay for it. How much more is up to them. Even when Hobby Lobby cleared out their model railroad inventory they made a profit albeit a very small one.
MSRP is exactly what it means! Manufacturer's SUGGESTED Retail Price.
If a model manufacturer decides to build a certain locomotive prototype of course there are alot of initial costs involved. R&D, mold design, marketing,and testing all cost alot of money.We all know that. But after the initial costs are covered then more of the money from sales go to profit.
Even after a second and third run there may be additional costs like material cost increases, machine maintenance, employee issues, etc. But they will no where equal initial startup costs. So if Bachmann is already making say eight different types of locomotives in steam the price per unit cost in the end should not be that much higher if they decide to make one more for this year.
I let the builders make what they want. That is why i switched to HO for steam. Not enough in N scale. I have all the Bachmann Spectrum steam engines in HO and also BLI (Broadway) and Proto engines i need. I haven't purchased a Bachmann engine in over 2 years (Steam or diesel) since they have not made any i need. I have purchased around 100 other engines made by the other buliders.
For Hudsons and Pacifics i use BLI or Rivarossi and an quite happy with them.
Bachmann needs to quicken the pace on new models if they want my cash.
Bob
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.
If their toolmakers are worth their salt and very clever, they should be able to make the Belpaire firebox area an interchangeable set of inserts in the tooling for a basic, high-quality Heavy Pacific. The raised headlight and domes should not present any significant problems. Us Pennsy fans can't be the only ones screaming for a nice Heavy Pacific, can we?? Put me down for 2 or 3 when reservation time rolls around! :-*
It's definately not PRR fans... although starting with a K4 is most logical... as even non PRR modelers will probably buy one. (i.e. GG1)
I'm a B&O guy, and the B&O P7 is almost identical in height, weight, driver size, and length. There are little differences, but I'm sure that most of us would be very willing to kit-bash a little, or accept the little things to have a nice heavy pacific.
I use the heavy mountain to represent B&O's T class. They aren't perfect, but they are a lot closer than the nothing I'd have otherwise!
Hello in-edan,
I may be wrong, but didn't the Pennsy own the B&O at one time? I kinda remember someone telling me the B&O actually had an E-6 or two or three. (Maybe wishful thinking, or looking at the new Lionel catalog with their B&O E-6) Any who, I wouldn't be too offended myself being a B&O fan too. Having a K-4 with B&O on the side. I buy what ever N scale steam I think is appropriate or can get away with.
I have a Heavy Mountain in N&W and can see what your saying about the T class. It's so close I'm surprised Bachmann hasn't lettered a Heavy mountain for the T-3. No matter, a plain old K-4 in Penn would serve me well. And just think the boiler could be used for at lease 5 road numbers of L-1 mikado's.
Regards, Dave
The B&O did indeed have E6's. There is one still at the B&O Muesum in Baltimore. The B&O was a pilot customer for E units, starting with EA's. They had FT, F3, F7, F9's as well, but their bigger passenger units were always E units.
The T3's were near balwin heavy mountain clones purchased from the Boston and Maine... T4's were rebuilt using old S class boilers, hence the taper. B&O mountains used a larger tender, with 6-axle buckeye trucks, but again, beggers can't be choosers.
I'd take a heavy mountain... period!
If they were smart, they'd make the Belpaire fire box an add-on detail that coul be easily left off... and make several without. B&O, Boston and Maine, Erie, NYC, Southern, IC, Milwaukee Road, AT&SF... just to name a few... could all be made using nearly the same boiler. The differences were details... steam pumps, domes, headlights...
but you can superdetail yourself.
You NEED the basic structure first!
Quote from: in_eden on September 22, 2010, 04:46:12 PM
The B&O did indeed have E6's. There is one still at the B&O Muesum in Baltimore. The B&O was a pilot customer for E units, starting with EA's. They had FT, F3, F7, F9's as well, but their bigger passenger units were always E units.
The E6 he was talking about was an PRR E6 Atlantic (4-4-2) and yes the B&O did have an Atlantic with a Belpaire fire box but it was nowhere as large as as PRR E6. The loco's were ordered when PRR had some control of the B&O for a short time. The B&O loco more closely resembles a PRR E3.
B&O A2 Atlantic - http://photoswest.org/cgi-bin/imager?00002424
PRR E3 Atlantic - http://www.northeast.railfan.net/images/prr3014s.jpg
PRR E6 Atlantic - http://photoswest.org/cgi-bin/imager?00014261
A PRR E6 was a much larger loco than most any other Atlantic made.
You're correct Skipgear, thank you for the correction.
I was refering to the Pennsylvania E-6 4-4-2 Atlantics and the L-1 2-8-2 Mikado steam locomotives.
I'm normally an HO man, but I saw this, and remembered having a thread on this subject for that scale. Some of the comments and observations may be useful here, both for the Pennsylvania subject and the USRA light 4-6-2, which is currently available from Model Power (and is also the same prototype as the long-awaited Athearn engine in HO).
http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/board/index.php/topic,14020.0.html
It seems very strange that there is no N scale heavy pacific produced... at all.
It is more odd that no K4 exists.
In any scale, there are a few steam models that just have to exist... if for no other reason than their historical significance and/or presence in excursion service for many many years.
A N&W J
A SP G-4 Daylight
A UP Challenger
A NKP Berkshire
A Reading T1
A NYC Hudson
A PRR K4
Once you've made those basic models, you've got a platform to work with for about a million variants and road names (esp. the 4-8-4 and 4-6-2 platforms... EVERYONE ran one!)
Classic Iconic locomotives would find themselevs a home on many layouts... even layouts set in modern times...
Despite my modeling the B&O in the mid-late fifties, I have purchased a J, a Daylight, a GG1, and am awaiting my Hiawatha set.
Beautiful classic trains are simply to good to pass up. So what in real life the Capitol Limited never passed a Morning Daylight between DC and Pittsburgh... It also didn't occur in my basement...
Now that N scale steam is getting good... and in many cases REALLY good... thank you Mr Bachmann for your 2-8-0, heavy 4-8-2, and N&W J... it's still startling that some of the staples of mainline railroading across the country are so poorly represented.
Mikados are poorly represented.
Pacifics... Model Power USRA light...
Hudsons... a 25 year old Con-Cor model
It seems that the entire market is out there for the taking...
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.
(http://i415.photobucket.com/albums/pp233/eric220/bfd0dc89.jpg)
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.
I have a little more on this subject; yes, the Kato Broadway Limited is a later era but now Centralia is producing the earlier cars for the Broadway AND the 20th Century. They NEED a K4 for these cars. And if a K4, why not an E6 Atlantic which shares a lot of parts with the K4?
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.
Popular thought?
http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/board/index.php?topic=15264.0
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.
I'd love to have some K4s from bachmann spectrum, great looking and im sure great running if theyre a spectrum. Also, who can forget their adaptability to most American railroads?
I hope that whoever makes a K4s in N scale makes a modernized version. The K4s's were modernized in the 1930's with stoker equipped tenders, and some were further modernized post WWII with visible changes to the locomotive, especially the front end. The Trix version is of an "as built" K4s, and is good only from the 20's to 30's.
In other words, I'd like to see a K4s with either a 110P75 tender or (preferably) a 130P75 tender. The latter is a bit bigger (which can only be good) and was in use from the 30's to the 50's. The 1361 has such a tender, and Bachmann (or whoever) would be wise to model it.
As far as using the K4s for other roads than the PRR, the model would have to be built with different options for the cab, the smokebox, the firebox, the pilot, etc., so I really don't see that happening. The mechanism would be useful for other more generic boiler shells, and maybe the already manufactured USRA tenders would be appropriate.
i really cant agree more, a k4 available in a wide array of railroads from spectrum would really be a great product. hopefully we'll hear more in the coming months about a new loco.
Could it be? Could it be? :D
http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/board/index.php/topic,16759.msg135259.html#msg135259
I know, I know, I'm getting my hopes up...
Quote from: eric220 on April 12, 2011, 02:45:43 PM
Could it be? Could it be? :D
http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/board/index.php/topic,16759.msg135259.html#msg135259
I know, I know, I'm getting my hopes up...
I don't intend to dash your dreams Eric, but I asked the Bachmann a somewhat similar question last year. Got the same basic response and a 4-6-0 announcement at the convention.... :'(....(a silent tear falls)....Maybe, just maybe the Bachmann has been hard at work on a "super wonderfulistic" K4 I'm keeping my fingers and toes crossed.
I have just joined this forum and would like to echo everyone's chorus for an N-scale PRR K4. I'd buy at least 4 if they were available, plus a streamlined version if one was made.
I have however just purchased a Kato C55 Japanese loco to try to convert to a K4 with a Minitrix shell, I'll see how it goes!
I have also seen a lovely E6 atlantic made by Hans Starmans from Holland who has also done a nice B6. For videos of these pulling long trains check out:
http://www.youtube.com/user/anguswright48
Incidently Bachmann UK have announced they are doing an LNER A1 in n gauge, a British 4-6-2 for those that don't know. This had 80" drivers like the K4 and it will be interesting to see how big they can get the wheels when taking into account modelling tolerances and the flanges. It will be 1:148 so I wonder what that chassis will look like under a Minitrix shell. Could be an expensive way to get one though!
Angus
Nottingham
England
Quote from: dtpowell on April 13, 2011, 12:57:27 PM
I don't intend to dash your dreams Eric, but I asked the Bachmann a somewhat similar question last year. Got the same basic response and a 4-6-0 announcement at the convention.... :'(....(a silent tear falls)....Maybe, just maybe the Bachmann has been hard at work on a "super wonderfulistic" K4 I'm keeping my fingers and toes crossed.
Oh, I thoroughly expect to get let down... But then again...
80" drivers at 1:148 scale would work out to about 86" drivers in 1:160 scale, so I'm not sure the LNER A1 chassis would work. I'll probably go the Kato C55 route.
This is worth bumping this thread.
http://youtu.be/tvuABS6WWWM
So much for the "a K4 couldn't haul for crap" argument.
Well it looks like Bachmann is going to finally produce the K4 in N scale! I know I will be in line to pick up several of these in the near future! Can't wait to see them. I hope that many of you that posted on this thread are as eager to get your hands on them as I am.
I'm ready to hand over my money whenever they are available for purchase.
Many thanks Bachmann!
Dang Bachmann...I was hoping for a NYC J3a Hudson....Err...well , I have been wanting the K4s for a rather long time too. ;D Maybe for just 35 years or so. I sure didn't expect it with sound.... Bachmann, this made my day, Thank you! (J3a Hudson next year? ;))
Quote from: dtpowell on April 13, 2011, 12:57:27 PM
Quote from: eric220 on April 12, 2011, 02:45:43 PM
Could it be? Could it be? :D
http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/board/index.php/topic,16759.msg135259.html#msg135259
I know, I know, I'm getting my hopes up...
I don't intend to dash your dreams Eric, but I asked the Bachmann a somewhat similar question last year. Got the same basic response and a 4-6-0 announcement at the convention.... :'(....(a silent tear falls)....Maybe, just maybe the Bachmann has been hard at work on a "super wonderfulistic" K4 I'm keeping my fingers and toes crossed.
I forgot I wrote this. Looks as if Bachmann is coming though with the "Super wonderfulistic" K4s at last. I am happy.
I hope the boiler is close to the size of the GHQ shell so that it looks simular to the L1
The boiler, firebox and cab on the prototype K-4 and L-1 were the same.
In fact, many parts of various classes of Pennsylvania steam locomotives were the same.