I’m looking for some feedback on Bachman products.
Oddly enough, the local Ace Hardware around the corner has a little corner of the store dedicated to Model Railroading. Mostly larger scale stuff, but they had a display case of HO loco’s and rolling stock. They had some GP-38/40’s that were priced @ right around $70 bucks and it says they were DCC equipped.
I have a few Athearn Genesis locos, and the the detail of the “Ace” locos looked good, but not as detailed as my Genesis stuff. Things like I couldn’t see through the fans, the handrails were scale in apperance, but seemed flimsy, no grab irons, etc. Other than that, I think they could look pretty respectable (good enough for me anyway) with some additional detailing.
The price tags said nothing about a manufacturer, but I’m assuming they were Bachman because that’s what all the other, labeled products were. They were all new in the box, but 70 bucks for a new, DCC equipped loco seemed a little too good to be true.
Anybody have any advice/warnings/thoughts or otherwise?
10 PRINT “Bachmann is utter trash like Tyco! It’s bad.”
20 PRINT “Bachmann has actually upgraded their stuff since the old days. It’s good.”
30 PRINT “Bachmann does quality control with a dartboard. Some is good and some is bad.”
40 GOTO 10
I don’t really have enough experience with newer Bachmann to say. Their older trainset stuff was about like other older trainset stuff, but Lifelike’s pancake motors, though almost identical in design, seem to hold up better. Don’t know why. But I don’t know if they make any of the Kadercakes any more; they might have gone to all 8-wheel-drive.
There entry level large scale line is good stuff to start with. Trains in all scales of course are like Scientology, the more you pay, the holier you get, better quality products/reliablilty/etc, but the starting level stuff has to me proven very reliable, at least in G and in On30. I have heard from the smaller scale guys that all there newest stuff across the board is reasonably good stuff for the money.
I can tell you already, avoid the FT’s, I’ve had nothing but problems with them. I have several of the GP’s (two GP40’s (not counting my thirty year veteran) and a GP35) that have provided me with great service. $70 is a little higher than regular retail. Walther’s carries them for $60 to $65. The decoders in these units are very basic, simple motor control and directional headlights on/off. The can be addressed in either two digit or four digit mode and CV’s are very limited.
From what I been seeing out of the newer DCC equipped locomotives are very smooth running as are the newer Spectrums…
Autobus is correct…The Bachmann bashers will come forth judging all Bachmann by the older train set stuff not fully realizing the improvements Bachmann has made.I was in that camp till I watch these newer engines run at the club…
CV’s are variables that you can set with the better DCC systems. The Bachmann EZ-Command syatem won’t do it. The variables include lighting functions, sound functions on locos that are so equipped, speed settings, etc. The choice of variables on the Bachmann DCC-OnBoard locos are shockingly limited.
I have seen and purchases DCC onboard Bachamn Geeps for $30-40 dollars. $70 seems abit steep, and runnin the DCC onboard locos on a non-DCC system requires very well maintaind (i.e really clean) track. They stall on dirty spots and the decoder takes a second or 2 to re-boot the unit before pulling again. Other than that my 2 run very well…
BACHMANN (or as some have called it, ''Botchman") gets mixed marks: I personally have had 6 engines. I now have 0. 'Nuff said.
‘Spectrum’ steam has been fairly well received. EZ track has not. Their DCC effort is geared for the beginner, and to move (their) engines, period.
Some newer products seem OK, but too many older products stank. Their focus has always been on cheap. For some that’s enough.
Most of their products have been 'Borderline. Their warrantee repair is non existant, preferring exchange products - regardless of age - Sometimes for a fee.
Their products are aimed at the ‘low end’ of the market, so what do you expect?
NO! That’s about twice what they normally cost. $35-$40 is typical for a Bach GP-XX with DCC on board. They’re not too bad. They have nice shell detail for the $$$. No flywheels. they rely on DCC momentum.
Unless this is some new Spectrum GP that I haven’t seen yet, the price is WAY too high.
But what about the decoder/DCC issue? Can it be swapped out with a more sophisiticated unit, maybe even add sound? I mean, I know anything’s possible, but would it be practical?
ModelTrainStuff is one of my steady on line suppliers, I have bought a fair amount of items from them, fast shipping and what is advertised as in stock - is. Never had a back order from them.
I for one am also very happy with my Bachmann Spectrum steamers, only wish I had not bought the Proto steamers first as they are next to useless for pulling power. In addition the Proto Heritage units cost twice as much as the Spectrum units.