What do you think about Bachmann China diesels ?

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

I am wondering if anyone has had experience with Bachmann China diesel engines namely DF4B or DF4D ? How good is their detailing ? How do they run compared to Kato or Atlas ?

Those engines remind me of the one’s I saw in Russia and for the lack of real russian diesels I was planning to get chinese.

Thanks !

2

I havent ever run them, but I did stumble on some HO scale Russian diesel on a website awhile back, plastic and not brass and they looked good. Prices were decent to. I will have to try to remember what that site was called. I think it was either one of the folks that carry Marklin trains here in the USA or a link from one of those sites.

3

I’ve not seen one of these locos running, though I was in a hobby store/bookstore at the weekend where they had some in a glass case, so I’ve had a good look at them. Detailing looked pretty good - I’m not familiar with the prototype so can’t comment on accuracy, but the loco looked convincing enough and had a good standard of finish. I do have a couple of their Chinese boxcars which I can say have very fine detailing - they even have seperate coupler cut bars that can move freely.

I would guess the running qualities will be much the same as their British diesels - assuming they use the same chassis design (diecast frame, flywheels, can motor, drive to both trucks). Their UK-outline models run very well and have made other suppliers upgrade their ranges to keep up! In my experience, these run as well as Proto locos. Best idea would be to find a store willing to demonstrate one before you buy.

4

Well finding a store especially in Canada that has any of them in stock is impossible :slight_smile: My only bet is online stores.

So if I understand you correctly you have british engines made by Bachmann China ?

5

I have British diesels made by Bachmann - their UK arm. These are sold as either “Branchline” or “Blue Riband” (Blue Riband are the more recent improved locos and cars). Take a look at www.ehattons.com for some pictures, they have a good range. One of the best in the range to my mind has to be their Class 24/Class 25 locos - 4-axle small diesels. These come with a full set of bufferbeam details (which can be fitted while keeping the original coupler system - I made up a simple bar coupler using brass wire which is very unobtrusive and also protects the finer details.

6

All of the current Bachmann items (world wide) are made by thier parent company: Kader Industries in China.

7

Huh… So them I can assume that they are of the Spectrum quality ?

8

I have a DF11 in red and cream. I’m not that familiar with the prototype, they’ve been built since I was last in China, but the trucks are the same as the DF4 series that I did see in China. It is very heavy, and runs as well as any of my Proto 2000 units.

If you want a Russian locomotive, you should look at getting an M62. These were also used in Hungary (with the same class) or in East Germany as the V200, later class120. These are still available from German sources. Another possibility is the TE109, used in Germany as the 232. These are made by a number of German manufacturers in HO, N and even TT.

The German locomotives would have to have the buffers removed, and the numbering changed to accurately represent the Russian version.

Peter

9

I’ll check them out, thanks !