With Bachmann releasing their BL2 last year, I thought it would be interesting to compare it with previous models from Life-Like Proto 2000 and AHM. And so, after quite a bit of work and taking a close look at each part, I managed to get a video together while doing my best to keep things unbiased!
4 Likes
Thanks for the review. Directional lighting issues on the Bachmann might be a CV issue. Otherwise, your review appears to be very objective. The value for money score that places the AHM on top might emphasize the price too much. I would have guessed that the Proto would have won in that category.
Simon
1 Like
I wondered if maybe it was a CV issue, but Bachmann doesn’t provide any instructions on programming with the model or online. The videos from Bachmann and jlwii2000 show the same thing, so I can only assume this is how it normally is for these.
Value’s a hard one to score. It’s more useful for models in a similar price range, but in the end, I don’t consider it a part of the model’s total score. In this case, it’s mostly there to say you can get 2 or 3 AHMs for the price of a Proto, or 3 Protos for the price of a Bachmann.
The capacities of the Bachmann decoders are limited on their low cost engines. It’s probably part of their “secret sauce” to lower prices. At least on the new market.
Simon
I enjoyed the review quite a lot. The BL2 was a polarizing unit- ya either love it or hate it. I model a railroad that owned about a quarter of them, the C&O in Michigan.
A few things I’ve learned about BL2 models in HO were:
-
No BL2 received the modern Blomberg type “M” trucks the Proto 2000 models had. There was a communication disconnect between the Proto team in Baltimore and the crew in China that led to these models having the wrong sideframes. Thankfully, these will easily take Blomberg type “B” sideframes available a few years ago as spare parts for Athearn F7s/GP7s/GP35s.
-
If you want to change the wheel bearings to look like the actual C&O (and Monon) ones, which had Hyatt roller bearings as delivered, you need to scrape off the entire axle bearings on the sideframes and replace them with Detail Associates parts #2805 and #2806, one of each on each sideframe. It’s easiest to do on the Proto 2000 models. Less easy to do on the Bachmann, but it looks like it can be done.
-
Putting a decent sound unit in the Bachmann BL2 is probably best done using a Decoder Buddy board with a 21-pin plug. I’ll use an ESU decoder so it matches my two existing Proto 2000 BL2s. I’ve assembled a sound project with the right steel bell and the Wabco “blat” horns that’ll I’ll load into it. I haven’t done much more than test-run my Bachmann BL2 yet, but I’ll probably give the number boards their own function to turn on and off.
I’ll finally have a 20’ by 25’ room for my layout, hopefully later this year.
That’s for sure. And I’m grateful that the NYC didn’t partake. 
Course, if they had…and had outfitted them with lightning stripes?..I’d likely have a more positive opinion of them - LOL. 
Tom
I don’t know, they look a bit better in that scheme.
Even if the AI did mess up the “chain guard”… and mis-painted the lightning stripes.
And don’t look too closely at the trucks.
1 Like
See the Baldwin near-equivalent, the DRS-4b. Like a Gravel Gertie with B trucks… but it’s got lightning stripes on at least part of the carbody…