New Bachmann engine coming?

The K4 had the same boiler as the L1 2-8-2. I think the H 8,9,10, 2-8-0's had the same boiler as the E6 4-4-2. I don't know about the cabs.

 

Yah, for the H and E class you really need the cab off the B-6 switcher model.
So you need 2 shells for the conversion, not always easy to come by. Been there...
There are/were a lot of various MiniTrix "bashes"around that I think you just don't see anymore.
The oldest published H class bash I remember was in a 1984 issue of the N-Trak newsletter.
Back then, the author used the old B'mann Reading consol; the only thing we had. I did one of those too...
I know mine are too old and too "average" for todays modelling, one on the reasons I'm a "retired SPF".
But it's still one of my 2 top favorite SG roads...

 

I believe there are four window cabs and appropriate tender bodies available on Shapeways, so slicing up a Minitrix B6 is no longer necessary for bashing late model Pennsy 2-8-0s. I don't think anybody has a drop-in boiler, though.

If Bmann wanted to make an H8, 9, or 10 as an RTR model on their existing 2-8-0 chassis, it would need new valve gear as well as a new shell and tender. It's close enough for a bash as is, but if you sat one next to an accurate model, you'd be able to tell the difference right away. Here's a BLI H10:



...and here's the HO version of the Bmann Connie:



The Bmann is actually the longer of the two (not counting the cab roof overhang); I couldn't find a picture of the two models next to each other. But, again, the difference is about two scale feet in length, and the H10's fatter boiler would fit comfortably over the Spectrum mechanism.

 

So... if I noticed correctly... there is another model announced by Bachmann... a GG-1
Not to much fanfare because it is a model done by Kato as well.
It's very interesting that now there are two of the same models of these rather unique and regionally specific locomotives.

 

making it an odd choice for production. I dont think sales will be too stellar. Should be focusing that energy on popular locos that have NOT been made before or at least ones that have been made but in crap quality. A modern upgrade. I doubt the Bach GG1 can even match the quality of Kato's.

 

Not to start a war, but I have run Bachman Spectrum, Model Power and Kato steam. All of the newer offerings from the first two run as well as the Kato Mike and have comtinued to do so with no troubles to speak of. So, just my observation. And all are are way ahead of the older stuff, no complaints here.

 

+1,000

 

The GG1 won't be the first time Bachmann has gone head-to-head with Kato on the same locomotive, They have done it recently with the NW-2. Similarly the Bachmann NW-2 is priced a little higher than the Kato unit, albeit with DCC already installed. I own several of the Kato locomotives, but I don't have any of the Bachmann ones, so I can't compare them directly. What I have seen in photographs leads me to believe the Bachmanns are not as nicely detailed as the Katos, but it seems that Bachmann has been successful with them nevertheless.

 

Time will tell. I tend to think that the price of the Bachmann GG1 will need to come down quite a bit before it would start to look like an attractive alternative to the Kato model. Even after you deflate Bmann's crazy MSRP to retail price, the DC-only model will still be more expensive, and I'm going to go out on a limb and say it probably won't run any better. Maybe if you wanted one of the paint schemes that Kato never offered... otherwise, it's a strange choice on their part. The market was already saturated with a model that nobody really had any complaints about.

They should have made an L1s instead, to pair with the K4s. They could have re-used some tooling for that instead of having to develop two 100% different models... or if they really wanted to do an electric, they could have done a P5a or P5a modified. That's something I'm pretty sure nobody's got.

 

My Bachmann GP7 runs MUCH better than my Atlas. Much smoother and starts slower too.