This review is on Bachmann’s newest version of the Spectrum DASH 8-40CW.[:D]
The new 8-40CW is a huge improvement over the older ones. The painting is improved slightly, with sharper color seperation and better coloring. Two of the vents are now very finely made see-through parts, with a DCC socket visible inside. The small exhaust vent looks a lot better, with a large square opening and bolts or rivets (I’m not sure which) going around the top. The large vent on the top rear of the engine looks much better than the old one and can also be easily removed, but I don’t know why, because all that’s under it is a black bar holding the rear LED in place. The grab irons are finer and straighter than the ones on the old version, and the two large grab irons on top of the nose are wire. Bachmann is still making the grab irons black instead of painting them, but adding a little paint isn’t hard.(I painted the grab irons and truck piping on mine) The railings going around the engine are flexible plastic with yellow painted on. The yellow paint chips off easily, and I had to repaint it on mine. All the steps on the ends are seperate parts, and while I was looking at them I noticed that the grating can be seen through.[:D] The fuel tank is improved and has much better detail than the older ones. The windshield and most of the side windows are mounted flush with the shell, instead of being a single piece that doesn’t even make it to the window frames. The two windows by the crew can be slid open and closed, which I think is pretty neat.[:)] There are two clear optional wind deflectors included to be installed by the modeler. They press into the holes very tightly, but not so tight that they’ll break while you’re trying to put them on. Windshield wipers
that’s all fine and dandy- but the dynamic brake vents (behind the cab on the left side) should be black. It sticks out like a sore thumb to me. I can’t believe it runs as good as an Atlas DASH8-40CW. While i’m complaning the letters BNSF look too large. (although it’s prototyical for some units)
Sounds better than the older one I’ve got. I wish mine had coupler pockets like that. My pockets are so small you can’t really mount a KD centering spring in them.
If I modeled the modern era and had a sizable layout I’d use these engines to fill in gaps in the power-pool, they arent crappy permformers and they arent katos, they fill a niche as workhorses. Plus they have good detailing.
I just bought one of these in Chicago Northwestern paint new for $30.00 to run on the club layout. Quiet as a whisper and easily tackles a 3% grade with a healthy consist in tow. Will soon be adding a DCC chip.
The picture does not show the right hand side, but from the left picture, I can’t see much difference from the first run. The one problem I have with this model, at least the first run, is they sit to low on the frame.
Can you post a right hand shot of the tank details??
From your review, it probably does run better than the older runs. The rear vent you have referenced as being removable is the radiator. It can be removed and replaced with the detail associates proper detailed radiator parts for the screening.
Are you saying you didn’t like that squeek the plow made when it hit the rail head?[:P] I waited to file my plow down till I found all the high and low spots on my track work.
Well I am really impressed with my 2 GP38’s that I’ve had for a year now (one I just got about two months ago and haven’t ran yet). I think I am going to put DCC in these 2 locos and take my life likes and sell them on eBay or something. And I might consider a CSX Dash 8 as my first DCC equipped loco, and it will probably be Bachmann because I am well satified with my two current locos. Great review, by the way.
“The couplings on the shafts are very tight, and need to be loosened a little so the mechanism can move freely around curves.”
How do you do this? Sorry to revive a post from 2005 but I just bought one of these and I think the hesitant running at slow speeds might have something to do with what you are saying above. Again, sorry, new to the hobby at the age of 50
The couplings are made from Delrin and have some flexibility, so I was able to use some pliers to gently bend out the “fingers” a little at a time until they could still pop on but not add resistance around turns. It still runs like new 15 years later!
