N Scale Model Power or Bachmann Steam Any Good?

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

Hello,
I’m still of the mind set that Atlas and Kato are trustworthy, but when I think of Model Power or Bachmann I think of the old quality of the locomotives where there’s shoddy performance and awful detail.

That being said, I’ve read many good reviews of the steam locomotives. Are their steam locomotives good? Does anyone own one and love it or hate it? I have a Kato Mikado that looks and runs amazingly. How do they compare to that locomotive which, from what I understand, is what many consider to be the top N scale model steam locomotive? Any opinions are welcome. Let me know what you think. Thanks!

2

Bachmann has some good steamers as long as you stay within the spectrum line. The standard line in N scale isn’t up to snuff as most of it is split frame that is a bear to convert to DCC. Model power has a pacific and a Mike available. They art bad…but feature wheel wipers that bend out of place easily and 3 pole motors. David B

3

The N scale Bachmann steam locomotives for the 4-8-2 light (newest version), 2-8-0 (newest version), 4-8-2 heavy, K4 4-6-2, 2-8-8-4, 2-8-4 are all outstanding locomotives and will easily outperform the Kato Mikado.

4

I have Model Power’s 4-4-0, 2-6-0 & 4-6-2 And for the most part am quite pleased with them. Then run smoothly and quietly. However, unless you equip them with traction tires, they lack pulling power. They can also be difficultly to disassemble. My suggestion would be to replace their tender trucks with those from Bachmann or Kato.

5

Bachmann steam is great if you run DC like I do. The 0-6-0 mech might need some tuneup out of the box, but otherwise is excellent.

6

Instead of replacing the trucks, just replace the entire tender. The Bachmann tenders are more detailed too.

7

I don’t have much steam, but I do have a Bachmann Consolidation and a Model Power Pacific and I find them both to be excellent runners with very good detail.

Unfortunately, Bachmann seems to have abandoned the “Spectrum” moniker. It’s been a while now since I’ve seen any new releases from Bachmann with the Spectrum label, even though many of their newer releases are as good or better than their older Spectrum models. From what I have read about Bachmann steam, their newer releases for the most part will not disappoint. An excellent resource for reviews on particular models is http://www.spookshow.net/

8

OK, In reading all of what has been said, good or otherwise rating these engines, the question for me is, are they DC or DCC converted or DCC equiped when you mention how they preform? Seems to me that is the important factor. Doug

9

Mine is DC, as I operate the old fashioned way. Command control is waaaaaaay out of my budget.

10

I’m brand new to N-scale after having dine HO back in the 70’s as a teenager. I was told by a lot if people to be wary of DCC because it was complicated and expensive. But i have JMRI DCC running on a Raspbery PI and an arduino and it cost less to set up, including the decoder I needed for my one Fox Valley ES44AC engine f or about $100. It works fantastic! There are many how to DCC yourself that ere helpful, as was my son who is a computer network specialist :wink: I’m sure you know some youngin’ who would get a kick out of setting you up with DCC++if you were interested. The cost of a quality steam engine in N-scale DCC with Sound is way more than setting up the DCC system.

11

We can say steam model locomotives in N scale offerd before 2000 are generally poor runner with many flaws and not well detailled; most of them are from the prehistoric age of the N scale locomotives; the Atlas-Rivarossi family is great but really out of age against a today N scale steam model.

On the other hand, generaly, any N scale steam locomotives which are produced after 2000 are excellent runner for the most and extremely well detailed.

Kato opened the road with their mikado in the 90’s.

Bachmann Spectrum line since the release of the consolidation has offered a N scale steam locomotives family which are outstanding in details and the most of the family run well out of the box.

Model power had athonished everybody with their N scale steam locomotives; they run well and are well detailled; they have no good electrical contact on the tenders but Bachman Spectrum ones offered separetely are an excellent alternative.

Life Like-Walthers had offered also exquisite N scale steam locomotives which are perfect runner; the Life Like N scale line of locomotives was buy by Atlas in 2017 but since the deal none Steam locomotives of the Life like Proto 2000 Heritage were offered by Atlas.

Unfortunately, the model of the 0-8-0 switcher which is a real jewel will probably never offered again since tools and molds of the model have dissappear in china.

Atlas has offered an exquisite RTR shay in N scale which is a excellent runner.

Athearn has offered some models too, the Challenger and the Big boy in N scale are outsanding models which run particularly well.

Fox Valley and Intermountain N scale steam locomotives are oustanding and perfect runner.

BLI N scale steam are also perfect runner with outstanding details, all are DCC with sound.

Most of the models from Bachmann Spectrum, Model Power and Life like were offered in a second run and are DCC , some with sound.

Hope to see more steam models to come in N scal