hello…i have be rebitten by the train bug (last bite was 1966)…i am sure every thing has changed…my question is which manufacturer…bachman or life like has the best selection of accessaries…is one better than the other…i read that walters bought life like trains…will life like trains still be available in the future…i know i’m crazy for getting back into trains…i already have a hobby…(rc airplanes)…that consumes all my free time…thanks for any advice…tishman
Welcome.
Both brands have low-end lines and high-end lines. Bachmann’s low end line is in my opinion better than the life like low end line. However, I think Life-like’s high end line(Proto 2000) is better than bachmann’s high-end line (Bachmann Spectrum)
My advice would be to get a Walther’s catalog at your local Hobby Shop (LHS as you’ll see it abbreviated on here) Then you’re not limited to either of those companies because there are many others out there.
Greg
Both are good and bad in diffrent areas.
Best answer is ignore Bachman and Lifelike and go for Kato, Atlas, Proto 2000 and maybe BLI (haven’t tried that yet).
You get what you pay for.
Then again… it’s your money, your choice.
Have fun!
I can’ t agree entirely with David. Bachmann Spectrum line of steam locos seem to have a strong following on this forum. Particularly their 2-8-0…it is a sure-fire winner.
Life-Like’s Heritage steam are regrettably light pullers, but their operation and looks are without peer in the plastic market, in my opinion. You can’t go wrong with Heritage steam, and the detailing on those locos is amazing for the price.
Speaking of price, internet prices are usually 15-40% cheaper, depending on the source. For example, Trainworld has super blowouts. Ebay, if you are comfortable in that domain, can net excellent prices for the successful and savvy modeler.
Broadway Limited Imports is a relative newcomer to the HO world, but they have blown the socks off the competition, if not in running and detailing, then in sound. Other manufacturers have quickly caught up, so you can take your pick of a great selection these days.
If you have a few bucks set aside for good locos, try Kato and Trix.
You will see numerous debates here about the support vs. non-support of the LHS’s with their usually higher prices. Essentially, you can walk in and try out anything to satisfy yourself of their worth at an LHS. Also, supporting local business is always a good idea. On the other hand, the buyer sets the price, and the internet is highly competitive.
I hope that helps you sort it all out.
By the way, things really have changed. You don’t need to run locos nose-to-tail on your DC track anymore. With the new digital command and control (DCC), the trains darned well do as you tell 'em. Bells, whistles, chuffs, pumps, squeel, hissing, reverse and foward on the same track…at the same time! Learn about DCC before you commit to a loco purchase. You will not have wasted your time.
-Crandell
Low end Bachmann will be far nicer than low end Lifelike. Their newer standard range diesels are very nice runners - the drive is almost up to the standards of a Lifelike Proto except for the lack of flywheels, and with that big motor there’s no real problem - they’ll still creep like a snail although you do need to clean track regularly to ensure this. I’m not sure I’d advise buying the DCC-fitted examples now - I bought one of their DCC-fitted GP30s and while the loco itself is excellent (nice detailing, good drive system) the decoders they fit are decidedly noisy. This one will probably get a TCS decoder at some point as apart from that it’s a very nice loco.
These guys brought up something I forgot to mention. DCC is definitely the way to go if you’re just getting back into mrr. It will simplify your wiring on the layout, adn make running much more fun. You can always change to DCC after your DC layout is built, but the wiring for DCC is simpler to begin with and will eliminate some DC headaches. Also, you don’t have to buy a locomotive with a decoder already installed. Sometimes to get exactly what you want you are better of to visit your LHS and talk to someone who knows about DCC and can point you in the right direction.
Here’s a forum link that may help you decide which route to take: www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=49375
Greg
If you don’t want to spend the additional $$ in the beginning for the better Atlas, Kato, Heritage, BLI or Stewart, Athearn BB( older blue box) and their newer RTR locos are a good buy. Occationally, you can find excelent deals on older runs of Proto 2000 (SD-7 or 9, SW switchers, first runs of GP 9s and their E6-7 or 8s). I have found many of the P2K deals running about $30-40 on selected models.
Don’t overlook the Bachman Spectrum steam- but stay away from their diesels.
Good hunting and welcome back to the hobby.
Bob K.
I would stay away from the lowend LL engines, you will not be happy with them. The lower end Bachmann line is pretty good stuff for the price. The P2K engines are really good to, you may consider the Spectrum line of Bachmann to they make really good Steam and diesel for a fair price. Then there is the RTR Athearn line, these are good lococ’s at a fair price to.
Ebay is a good souce for used loco’s at a cheap price, just watch you don’t buy somelses problem, that will happen sometimes.
IF it were me getting back into the hobby and have been bitten by the bug, I would go to the LHS and seeinf you can see different loco’s run and learn something about them.
Everybody,
We don’t know what scale this gentleman is modeling in. The asumption I see here is that he is modeling in HO. But we don’t know. What if he’s talking S scale?
He may be in HO, and that’s fine, but if he’s really a newbi and he’s trying to do N or O or something, then he’s gonna go running to the LHS and be very confused when he can’t find any BLI’s in N scale, isn’t he?
I suggest that we find out what we are talking about first, and then give advice.
tishman,
If you are modeling HO scale then the advice given by this very experienced group is excellent advice indeed.
If you intend to model in another scale then it would help to know what scale you have in mind so that we may address your questions properly.
You see, some manufacturers make excellent products, but limit the scales that they offer them in. For example, BLI and Stewart, to my knowledge, don’t make anything in N scale. They do make excellent HO products though.
So you see, it would help to have that piece of the puzzle.
hello again…thanks for the responses everybody…there is alot of catching up for me to do…i will be getting back into H.O. scale…my 18 y.o. daughter has moved out into the world…her room will be the train layout…my local hobby shop is primary rc planes…the owner has been a friend for 15 yrs now and was a model rail roader…it won’t take much to get him back into trains… he has always been competitive with the big suppliers…
one more question…are the tracks (life like and bachman) compatable …are there adapters do do this…also will the couplers from the different brand (bachman,life like) cars and locomotives fit with each other…thanks …tishman
[#ditto]
Before you buy anything, go download Atlas’s free program for designing layouts, run about halfway through the tutorial, and you save hours, days, weeks and years upfront. There’s another free program out there, but I haven’t used it and don’t know the name.
You have four general options on track, there’s snap together sections complete with roadbed, which I know nothing about, there’s snap together sections without roadbed, which is noisy, and generally offers more electrical problems and derailments, there’s flexible track in three foot sections, and laying your own rail, which I know nothing about.
Design your layout using snap together sections, to start with, so you get a better feel for proper radius and clearances. Then buy turnouts and flexible track to put it all together. Laying rails is for the hardcore, EZtrack is for the kids, sectional track is for the unwary, and flexible track runs a buck a foot.
As you buy locos and cars, you will find that you have more of one kind of coupler coming stock than the others. You can go with that on a temporary basis, either replacing the oddballs or setting up a couple cars with one type on one end and the other on the other. I recommend option two to start with. It’s cheaper, easier, it allows you to run everything from the start, and buys you time to figure out what you are eventually going to switch all your couplers too.
You could buy on the basis of coupler alone, but right now, you don’t know the ins and outs of the various types. Most folks seem to prefer the Kadee number 5, but there is talk of a new gold plated standard coming soon, so that takes us back to option two for now.
If you like working on a model railroad, do it any order you please. It will never get done, but you will have fun. If you want a basic, undetailed but finished looking product, design first, acquire track second, build benchwork third, lay track fourth, wire track fifth, test track sixth, tweak track seventh, cut and p
Start with MRC controllers or command systyms (Im shure you know about them) careful
DCC, DCS, AC, & DC are different. for
(Z scale)(DC) you should try micro trains, marklin, or AZL,
(N scale)(DC & DCC) Atlas, athrean, lifelike, bachmann, kato, BLI( I’ve seen 2), or micro trains.
(HO scale)(DC, DCC, DCS) Athrean, athrean genesis, KATO, lifelike proto, BLI, hornby, Atlas, bachmann spectrum, & or MTH.
(S scale)( Im not shure if it is DC or AC) AF & lionel.
(O scale 2 rail)(AC & DCS) Lionel, MTH, & Atlas
(O scale 3 rail)(AC & DCS) Lionel & MTH
(On3 scale) Bachmann, atlas, & MTH
(G & LGB scales {1:24- 1:32}) Bachmann, MTH, LGB, there’s one other good manufacturer But I forgot the name.
(ALL scales) Have fun, lots of fun, very…
For HO, Woodland Scenics most likely has the best accessories like trees, Telephone poles, roads, buildings…and more.[:)]
Bachmann’s lower end engines are much better than the Life-Likes, and are also cheaper for some reason.[:D] Life-Like’s Proto 2000 series of engines and cars is better than Bachmann’s Spectrum line.(except for maybe the Spectrum HO Shays. I hear that those are extremely good!) Life-Like’s Proto 1000 series isn’t as good as the Spectrum stuff, but it’s still good. I’d say a step above Bachmann’s lower end diesels.
If we are talking Steam (I don’t know much about diseasals), I would strongly disagree here! I think the Bachmann Spectrum is the best compromise between detail and running qualities of any of the manufacturers of steam. I will be adding several more Spectrum engines to my roster. Great pullers, smooth runners, and good (not great) detail. I would agree with all those that say stay away from the low end products. they are a waste of money in the long run no matter what brand you buy.