I was reading locomotive reviews on “The N-scale Locomotive Encyclopedia” (google it…) and was intrigued with a review for a Bachmann product. It was the newer version of the Spectrum SD45. He actually gave it a good review! I say that because the way he slams certain locos can be down right brutal. Anyway, my question is this: How much better is this locomotive compared to the older Spectrum SD45. It may be rare to find someone on the forum with both models so just tell me how the older version suited you (if you ever owned one.) I’m torn which one to buy. I want to convert one into a dummy for a double-headed coal train but I don’t want to demolish a perfectly new $60.00 loco to do it.
Yes, Bachman has had a poor track record with plastic diesels and they keep trying to “get it right” so some of the products like the SD45 has gone through several improvements. It started life as a Bachman Plus SD45 (which was very crude) and upgraded to a Bachman Spectrum (significantly better but still falling a bit short if you wanted a high fidelity model). The Spectrum SD45 has since gotten at least one further upgrade - and that might be a “decent” model by now. I haven’t purchased anything except the Spectrum F40PH which I unloaded in liu of the Walthers cheaper but better F40PH. So I can’t speak authoritatively about the improved SD45.
If you are concerned, get a consensus from people who have gotten it. I’ve found that some people who buy Bachman diesels often don’t seem that picky. Maybe more will post here hopefully.
Thanks for your reply rio. I’ll probably use the old spectrum (from ebay or somewhere). I have a little experience in improving cheaper locomotives…adjusting gauge, lubing, trimming shims off gears, ect. This train won’t be a major one on my layout anyway. By the way, like the name. Is 5761 a loco on the rio grande? My numerals are U.S. track gauge.
#5761 was one of the latter day F7’s regularly assigned to the California Zephyr, and the only F7 to be used on the Rio Grande Zephyr in its earliest years.
FTs 5400 series
F3s 5521-24,5531-34,5541-44
F7s 5551-54 … 5761-5764
F9s 5571-74 and 2 extra B units 5763, 5764
GP30s were 3001-3027
GP35s were 3028-3050
GP40s were 3051-3093 and 3131-3153
GP40-2’s were 3094-2130