This review is on Bachmann’s HO scale Spectrum DC 2-10-0.[:D]
This 2-10-0 is so far one of the best detailed engines I’ve seen, and has so many separate detail parts that you might wonder if you can pick it up without breaking anything![:O] There’s not an inch on it without a separate detail part, but it’s actually more durable than you might think. About half the detail comes from blackened wire piping, and only the thicker parts are made from plastic. The bell, whistle and pop valves are all solid brass, and look much nicer than brass colored plastic. This is the first engine I’ve ever seen that actually has the boiler connected to the frame with the piping, which makes it look more realistic, but if you ever want to take it apart for anything, than good luck with that! It took me 20 minutes to find out how it was put together, and another half-hour to put one of the little pipes back on, with no success in actually disassembling it.[:(] There’s a very slight seam going across the top of the boiler, but it’s so fine it’s hardly noticable. The cab is the correct Western Maryland design, and has a full interior with a crew, and the front and back windows all have glass. The tender is also very well detailed, with separate grab irons, cut levers, steps, ladder, and a coupler lift bar. The coal load is pretty flat and smooth, and almost looks like soup with the high-gloss paint. Some real coal sprinkled on top should help it look much better. The siderods and valve gear are all very well detailed, but the right eccentric is backwards. The belt/gear drive lets the engine have a full firebox, and allows you to see between the boiler and frame, but the worm housing is too thick and sticks way out (they could have easily made it show up less). The walkways are metal, which helps add weight and a little durability. The paint is all very smooth, with perfect separation
The “slight seam” you mentionon the top of the boiler is intentional. On the prototype, that is where the lagging sheets were joined, a detail that only recently has been showing up on mass-produced steam engines. You may also notice that it doesn’t show up on the smoke box portion.
There is indeed a seam at the top of the boilers in steam engines.
Good review.
I owned one of these after winning it from a ebayer who used it to pull about 12 coal cars. It was to spend some time on my workbench until I re-sold it to seed a new engine.
They say the belt drive is the same as used on Satellites in orbit that probably endures conditions much harsher than a home. At least that is what I hear.
Are you sure this has a 3-pole Mabuchi like the FK-130? I’ve put that motor in a number of locos and they crawl, but usually Bachmann uses a 5-pole skew-wound in their Spectrum products.
best reveiw yet, now if any of the coments turn out to be true you can edit the original post and make it perfict. How about a review of the other spectrum steam???
steemtrayn, I didn’t know steam engines really did have a seam on top. I guess you learn something new everyday.[:D]
By the way, the seam on this one does go across the smokebox. I wonder if it was intentional or not?
Safety Valve, that’s what I’ve heard about the cogged belt drives. I think Harley also uses them on their motorcycles, but I could’ve heard wrong on that one.
SteamFreak, I’m pretty sure this one does use the FK-130SH motor. I’ve opened my 2-8-0 a number of times, so I know for sure on that one. Bachmann doesn’t make any medium sized motors of their own that I know of (there’s the large HO motor and than large and small N-scale motors, used in some HO stuff).
Its a shame they don’t see the engine with sound in the Nashville, Chatanooga, and St. Louis road name. Thats one of the leased engines the Smoky Mountain Central runs that I planned on having, but I can install a sound decoder in it, no big deal.
Does anyone know how much this little engine can pull up, say a 2% grade? Not much I’m guessing, unless Bachmann starts making traction tires for their Spectrum locomotives.
Interesting. I knew they had replaced the slot car motors in their standard line with the Mabuchis, but didn’t know they were in these locos as well. In that case, these steamers should run forever. Nice review! [:D][tup]
…and just when I thought I might have all the steam locos I ever wanted, now I have to figure out how to buy one of these (and not let the wife find out). I was always rather anti-Bachmann, until the Spectrum line came out. Now there is room for a few Bachmanns in the old steam roster. Enjoyed the review!
Cheese, I have 2% grades with 26" radius curves. I don’t recall the standard compensation formula, but I think that works out to the equivalent of about 2.8% for straight track.
My Spectrum 2-10-0 pulls 5-6 cars up that grade. My answer is to double-head, which BTW my visitors always think is awesome.
Regarding the lack of your desired roadname, Bachmann sells a painted-unlettered version that is easy to decal, which is what I did for my second loco (the first one is the Western Maryland version).
