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Video: Bachmann Trains HO scale SD70ACe and ES44AC Norfolk Southern heritage locomotives
A very interesting review. The Bachmann sound budget chips have a really good sound to them (I own the NS F7A/B). was also great to see them work so smoothly. Starting & stopping with virtually no jerking or lurching. Keep up the great work Dana.
The sound value are alright for sound and quality as they are for the economy minded, budgeted model railroader. The sound of the units is not too bad for Tsunami sound value. The locomotive shells lack some of the detail found in the earlier dd40x units, as the grab irons were not cast on, like the es44ac, and sd70ace are. Overall for the money, they are alot better than Bachmanns old stuff. they run quite smooth however, compared to the old equipment. You could scrape off the cast grabs, and replace them with wire grabs pretty easy. Hand paint these after a base coat of primer. Overall not a bad locomotive for the money. I gave it three stars for lack of added details for the price of 275.00 each, Bachmann should have added the wire grabs, not cast them on the locomotive as is was molded. You can find them cheaper online at The Favorite Spot out of Lewisville, Texas.
I would also give these units a 3-star rating for the same reasons Messers Brooks and Coombes stated, keeping in mind that these are Bachmann units. With that said, these are the best Bachmann’s I’ve seen. If one is building a fleet of modern day diesels, this would be one way to do it at a reasonable price.
I still question the need for “umpteen” variations of the same locomotive by every manufacturer on record.
Spectacular sound! I’m wondering if there will ever come a time when we N-scalers can also have decent sound in our locos.
when running both trains is only one running with power or are both and how do you control them so there not fighting each other
Very nice locomotive power and the sound is great.
I have been replacing my older Bachmann Locos with Newer sound value locos not so much for the sound which is great but because the Soundtraxx chips are superior to the chips in Bachmann Standard Line locos they are smooth and quiet.
Howwever I would never pay full price I have seen street prices at the $169 or so level.