I’ve been looking on Bachmann’s website at Spectrum HO scale steam locomotives.
Is it safe to assume they all have smoke units? It’s not on the list of features, but all of the non-Spectrum steam locos have smoke units.
Short answer: No!
Long Answer: Keep away from smoke as it is problematic as it will dirty track and engine, fill the air with an oil mist, overall giving you grief!
Besides it looks Hokey.
I know this as I owned a 0-6-0 and it worked reasonably good for the first 1/2 hour and then the performance went down hill.
This has been a topic ogf discussion in the past and the overall concesus was; smoke wasn’t worth the trouble.
Fergie
Out of curiosity, how much more practical is real steam at larger scales like O and G?
I’d agree with Fergie - smoke is really more trouble than it’s worth. Apparently some smoke units can overheat and melt bodywork, apart from the oily gunk they put out over everything. I think any smoke-equipped loco I bought would either get the wires snipped or have it wired as a DCC function, so it could be turned on if really wanted!
Edit, I have three G scale locos with smoke units - I’ve only tried one of them out, and wasn’t hugely impressed. There wasn’t much smoke and it left oily dots over all the cars behind. Luckily these were easily wiped off, but I’ve not filled it since. Running dry doesn’t appear to be a problem.
Yep, I knew I forgot something as I have two 0-6-0 bodies, one with hole, to prove it.
I know of no Spectrum grade Locos with smoke units
Fergie
Wow, I had no idea! Thanks!
That’s why it’s so nice when you can learn from other’s mistakes. I just hate when it’s me making them[:(]
Fergie