How would you rate this model? I want an H16-44 and I want the later body like the Bachmann but know it can’t run as well as the Atlas. Anyone swap bodies with these two? Maybe a brass one would get me both operation and the body I want.
Roger Huber
I always have felt that the ends of the Bachmann H-16-44 need to be reworked. The headlight and angled number boards seem quite crude. The sides on the other hand are quite acceptable; remarkably, they even got the handrail stanchions correct with the change part way along the side. But then there is the piece that represents the wire grill over the radiator fans, which doesn’t blend well with the rest of the body. It all depends on what you are prepared to accept. It makes a tolerable model, and will provide a good base to make it better. I can’t comment on operations since I have yet to rebuild a layout.
John
It runs fairly well. The link below shows how to add a DCC decoder, the article is a bit old, but the process has not changed.
http://members.shaw.ca/sask.rail/dcc/tmaster/tmaster.html
Your other low cost option for a ph3 H16-44 is Bowser’s die cast shell.
I have one and wanted to put the P1000 Canadian version of the C Liner trucks on it but it has a split frame like N scale, so it is tough to do.
It is an OK runner but some of the detail, notably the fans/screens is rather poor, but as its really the only thing for a CP H16-44 it will have to do.
It would have been wonderful if the truck side frames had been easily interchangeable between the two models. The H-line has the standard FM cut-plate drop equalizers, and of course as you know both CPR and CNR models should have the Canadian forged versions. On the other side, all the Proto C-liners sport the forged drop equalizers. These are correct only for the CPR C-liners, not CNR or US roads. In fact, the first order of CPR C-liners and the two demonstrators also originally had the standard FM trucks; photos suggest they were converted about 1955 if you are picky about your era.
John