Just a few thoughts from a guy who has bought a lot over the last 20 something years, run them over that span, repaired and maintained probably over a 1000 or more locos. First, to answer your question, Bachmann quality has improved greatly over the past few years. And then really took off when it introduced the Spectrum line. When I met Lee Riley, chief designer at Bachmann, I practically begged him to make the Spectrum line unique hobby oriented designs, and not include the old line rehashes, and he assured me that would never happen. Then the J, and of 2, seen one work. I have many of the Consolidations, Mountains, and prairie mallets, and they have all worked fine and performed beyone my expectations. But their Spectrum F's were a dud, again, Lee what happened? But, I still have some of my original late 70's and early 80's diesels that still work, so whatever. My last observation is that plastic insert axles will be the thorn in our collective sides until the minute they find a better method to insulate wheels and axles. It seems that every loco coming out now experiences some glitches, and thanks to this and other forums, is caught in a New York minute, and proved by the miracle of digital photo technology. Then invariably the next production batch corrects those glitches and we generally end up with a higher quality loco the second and other times around. As for Model Power, in 2002, they considered me Public Enemy #1 when I blasted their first Pacific, how do I know, they emailed me and told me. But cooler heads prevailed and today they make a pretty darn fine fleet of locos, of which I am a proud owner of about 15 excluding the 2-6-0 which I haven't been able to get yet. Looking back to me, the consistently worst overall manufacturer of locos was Mehano Teknika of Yugoslavia which basically made noisy, wobbly, underpowered locos over the years for just about every reputable distributor over here. I know thanks to this board, they are still in business but obviously cannot or will not compete with the products coming out of Japan, Korea, and China. I do however, have one RSD15 with all wheel drive, 5 pole motor and runs quietly and smoothly, and on the fuel tank it says made in Yugoslavia, and I keep it to remind me of my newly formed lifetime axiom. I do not or cannot make generalities about any one company anymore either by overall adulation or by ripping their entire rep to shreds. I judge each loco on its own merit, and obviously by the vehemence in the boards regarding differing opinions, all manufacturers are struggling today with consistent quality. What works for some guys just doesn't work for others. My friend was over today and we spent a considerable time running a wide variety of locos, both steam and diesel. He commented that everything coming off my main storage shelf ran well. Only if he saw my project shelf next to my workbench with locos that couldn't make the cut, and those problem boys ranged all manufacturers. They will return with new parts and be running ok,but it gave me some perspective as to overall quality. Hope someone at least gets something out of these comments, and I would suggest everyone when they buy any new loco to break it in and resolve any problems asap. If you buy used, test run it where you got it, or even make and take your own test track. My portable test track is a wooden yardstick sawed in half, and 18" of track glued to it. I keep it clean, and buy a new 9v battery (the square kind with the poles on the top) and those poles match the rail's gauge. It is pure 9v and if the loco runs, it runs on this track. I carry my stuff in my properly equipped tote bag for each swap meet. Ken "FloridaBoy" Willaman
If you have been an N scaler from the beginning you probably owned one of their early F9 and GP40s. They were slightly better than that Mehano junk, but not by much. The Northern they still sell to this day has to be the oldest continued designed N scale engine out there. The mechanism has been improved but the shell has never changed. Talk about getting your moneys worth out of that mold! When Kato and Atlas raised the quality bar Bachmann stayed producing their trainset junk for years afterwards. Even the spectrum line was pretty much an embarresment given all the problems with the diesels. I will say that in the last few years they have finally come around and raised the quality standard a good bit. At one point I started a threat about if I continue to buy Bachmann is it a mental disorder? I do have their SD45 and it is a decent runner. Not Kato quality, but I only paid around $20 for the thing new and am well satisfied. I remember having an Atlas SD45 from the late 60s and man was it a pile of junk! It was the Mehano mechanism from Yougoslavia. But darn it, it was a train and I had fun with it. At least for the half hour or so it lasted until the plastic around the bearings in the motor got hot and melted and it became a dummy engine. At least Trix made some decent stuff back then. And thanks to MRC for those steamers back then.
I think too that more people who unhappy with a product or service write letters of complaint than those who are satisfied write letters of praise, it's human nature to be loudest when you are dissatisfied.
http://www.visi.com/~spookshow/ll060.html 1969 Mehano 0-6-0ST, still made by Life-Like/Walthers. And no useful improvements in that time, which I believe gives it the status of most obsolete N scale locomotive still in production.
Bachmann Model Power Athearn (or whatever name they are using today) Life-Like Atlas Kato All of the above make steam. Bachmann always had a great service department. Its problem was initial quality control. It appears that has been tightened up. A few suggestions, most of which have been stated above 1. If you are purchasing through a LHS, make sure you are there to inspect and have them test run it before you pay for it. 2. If an e-tailer, make sure it is one you trust implicitely. One particular advertiser here will get the train delivered and test run it for you and then ship if all ok. I have done this serveral times with this seller without complaint. 3. Make usre you know return policy of both manufacturer and retailer before you order. 4. Read reviews and post here with your questions about a particular engine you are considering. The Bachmann 2-8-0 has been mentioned above. Ask about old and newer versions of whatever you are looking at. For example, Bachmann has the old line and the Spectrum line. They have another line of much more recently manufactured engines of this model. You will be told to stay away from the non Spectrums and to go for the newest line of 2-8-0's. 5. With whomever you are dealing, make sure what you are purchasing is New In Box. You might see ads for very discounted prices. You don't want a refurbished item that was returned by someone else.
Thanks to all alot of mixed rewviews on bachmann. I do wish that kato would of made more steam though I like the way they run. I did buy a 2-6-0 mogul from atheran the drgw runs very well. kenny.
Kato make a 2-8-0, 2-6-2, 4-6-2, 4-6-4, 2-8-2 and a 2-6-4T, only problem for you guys though is they are Japanese prototypes.
