Just read the review of the Bach. Baldwin SHARKNOSE in the April MRR mag. Seems it’s not a Spectrum but It has a decoder, grabirons, all wheel pickup & flywheel. I usually shy away from bachmann standard line, but it looks good. Sounds like it has everything that a Spectrum has except the price (about $45 at Micro Mark). What would a Spectrum have that this model doesn’t have? Does anyone have one of these? thanks. Jerry
Contrary to what most think, the line between various parts of Bachmann lines are very blurry. Models have moved from one part of the line to another. I think the big difference is Bachmann’s expectation of sales. Lower volume items are “Spectrum” at a higher price and high volume are regular. There is no more “plus”.
I have a set of the sharks and they are more than satisfactory for the price. They are not Atlas but don’t cost nearly as much. I personally don’t think the “grabs” are anything special as they are pretty much flat against the body so really don’t look any better than ones molded on the body. On the PRR units, they are black rather than body color. The die work is sharper and crisper than the old Roco/Model Power units, but they don’t really look any better, especially on a layout. Two things-the Bman units are not numbered - nice for multiple units but the printing is a very dark yellow orange which probably can’t be matched by decals. Also the fuel tank detail is forward (towards the cab) while it is to the rear on the prototype.
I have 2, I was a little hesistant because of the Bachman name;
but the only other choice are the ER models (hard to find and $$)
or the ancient ROCO (cheap but @#%^**)
I got an AB set for $80, The Brunswick green/ black looks off to me
and the stripes very yellow. Also the coupled spacing between the
units is huge, I installed Kadee #153 couplers to bring them closer.
Overall a very nice loco for the money, slap on a set of train phone
antennaes, # decals and your good to go.
I’ve pre-ordered and waited on a PCM set of RF-16 for over two years,
I think I’ll repaint and detail another set of Bachmans instead.
Want sharks but don’t have sharks. Every review I have read of all the ones so far are the same problem as all the F units for many years. There are disrepencies in the shape of the nose and overall dimensions. How many did MR say we should buy. Did the review say something like, “I am sure modelers of XYZ will want…”.
I bought an A-B-A set of these…in NYC scheme…found them at a local show for $35.00 each…yes…that cheap…some vendor had a zillion different Bachmann engines…for the price you cannot really argue about it…I have run the consist almost every other day since last November and they run like they are brand new…yes…many simple details are missing but that is what is cool…superdetailing is the fun part…even the number boards were blank so you can add whatever number you want…the trio had no problem pulling freights of at least 30-40 cars on any grade we threw at it at the club…it all depends on how much you think you should get on the money you spend on a product…Im getting exactly $105.00 worth out of em and I think they were worth it…just my opinion…Tim
Stop worrying about the Abchmann Name.
I have the full Demo set ABBA. The Bs need to be retimed with the As, as they push each other up and down hills. But tghey’ll haul like a Big Boy