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Ollie
Engine Wiper
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 Posted - 05/31/2012 : 09:30:27 AM
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Over the years Bachmann as the same as not so great quality, so I was a bit supriced over how great the S4 of theirs look. They have omitted some standard details like the grab irons and road specific details but straight from the box it looked really good. It does not have any cab interior but with the features, this might be asking too much.
In my opinion much nicer than The Atlas S4.d made by Roco in the 1990s. Mine came with Santa Fe.s Zebra stripes and DCC sound. As I have misplaced my powerpack,(don't ask how!)I have nor given it a test run. But in over all it looked like a great bargain on the market today, even on its stock price. So I am to get another once I have road tested this little engine.
So this little unit has given me back the interest of Santa Fe, so I ordered a GP 9 from Bachmann and unsounded version of Genesis GP 7, both in tiger stripes. I guess I might besuprised if I will not schetching on a switching layout.... I intend add DCC sound in the future in all of them as I believe that the decoders will be cheaper and better in the future. At the 150-170 dollar range the B-mann S4 is a bargain.
Ollie
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| www.olaviahokas.com/trainstuff |
Country: Sweden
| Posts: 340 |
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Ollie
Engine Wiper
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Posted - 05/31/2012 : 09:34:15 AM
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This is not a review of the unit but just a thought on some issues that may change the hobby. Finally a decent looking unit is offered with DCC & sound without costing a fortune. Hopefully this release will bring down the costs on decoders and sound decoders as I believe they really can not cost a fortune to manufacture in numbers.
Ollie
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| www.olaviahokas.com/trainstuff |
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Country: Sweden
| Posts: 340 |
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brakie
Moderator
Premium Member
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Posted - 05/31/2012 : 10:36:01 AM
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As far as the missing grabs some old fashion modeling will cure that problem.
The only one I seen so far I was impress by the way it ran and the sound was great-it even has the turbocharger whistle!
I see one in my very near future.
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Larry
Engineman
Slate Creek Rail.
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Country: USA
| Posts: 6942 |
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cajon
Engine Wiper
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Posted - 05/31/2012 : 11:35:17 AM
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Have 3 of them. One is the Santa Fe zebra stripe w/ sound renumbered 1531 , one stripped to make it Los Angeles Junction S-2 #1 & one SP tiger stripe. Have to change the truck side frames from S-4 to S-2 type on the LAJ. They do run great!
Here's some pix of the Bachmann renumbered & of LAJ #1 in original paint & later zebra stripe:
https://picasaweb.google.com/107389354387456095061/ATSF1531LAJ1?authkey=Gv1sRgCJnnqdz_5ZLyVg
Will have to change the stacks on the Santa Fe & LAJ ones as Santa Fe's were rectangular & taller. The LAJ's were round but taller than the cab. The SP one is OK. Also the Santa Fe's had a Wabco A2 whistle but the Bachmann comes w/ E2 that can't be changed. Listening to sound files there is a difference but will probably live w/ it as only way to change it is by putting in new sound decoder as per Soundtraxx.
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Edited by - cajon on 05/31/2012 11:49:28 AM |
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Country: USA
| Posts: 136 |
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nhguy
Fireman
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Posted - 05/31/2012 : 2:49:24 PM
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I have a friend that has two of the RS3's. Very nice looking and running units. No Sound. I am waiting to see if Bachmann comes out with a New Haven painted version of either the S4 or the RS3. But I won't hold my breath. A little old fashion painting and lettering may have to be done. But I'm not in a hurry.
Hi Andy!
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Bill Shanaman
Superintendent, New Haven RR in the 1948 to 1952 era
PMRA President 2013-14, OpSIG Member
NCE User Since 1999
Sugar City, Colorado |
Edited by - nhguy on 05/31/2012 2:51:07 PM |
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cajon
Engine Wiper
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Posted - 05/31/2012 : 3:10:46 PM
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Bill
It wasn't that hard to strip the paint off using Scalecoat Wash Away. Did a quicky check looking for NH S-4s & only came up w/ McGinnis schemes which is NOT you're favorite!
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Country: USA
| Posts: 136 |
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SteveH
Engine Wiper
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Posted - 05/31/2012 : 8:13:48 PM
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My LHS buys these Bachmann S-4s in whatever paint scheme and strips them. They are then painted into Canadian schemes. CP, CN, ONR are some of the roads done.
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Country: Canada
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BigLars
Fireman
Premium Member
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Posted - 05/31/2012 : 9:48:30 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by SteveH
My LHS buys these Bachmann S-4s in whatever paint scheme and strips them. They are then painted into Canadian schemes. CP, CN, ONR are some of the roads done.
Which one? I may have to take a look.
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Ollie
Engine Wiper
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Posted - 06/01/2012 : 02:13:40 AM
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I got carried away enough to get another one which will get a another road number. And I allmost forgot an Genesis GP7 and a bachmann GP9 both in same paint. It will be interesting to see how much difference there is with a more expensive unit with road spec. details and the basic one that will be spruced up. As a measure stick, I will compare them with a Kato RS-2 and a Kato made Atlas GP7....
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| www.olaviahokas.com/trainstuff |
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Country: Sweden
| Posts: 340 |
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Craig W Nelson
New Hire
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Posted - 06/01/2012 : 09:40:31 AM
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I recently put the MRC sound into an Atlas S4 as it was the only easy option. That decoder is workable but very rudimentary and the sound is not overly correct although its generic enough and works ok. The Bachman just blows what I put together away. The sound is much more prototypical, the decoder works better right out of the box (the MRc one makes the engine run like a scared jack rabbit, although you can tame it a lot, just not perfect though)
As far as the engines themselves, they are both pretty nice runners, but as I said once DCC'd the Bachman blows the other away.
Craig
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| HO, G, CPR, CN & ONR in the North Bay area |
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Country: Canada
| Posts: 13 |
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bxcarmike
Crew Chief
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Posted - 06/01/2012 : 10:32:50 AM
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For what it's worth. the New Haven did not have any s-4's.mike h.
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jbvb
Fireman
Premium Member
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Posted - 06/01/2012 : 11:09:17 AM
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I'm glad to hear positive comments; I know a number of modelers who've been disappointed by detail and operational problems with fancy new engines.
I don't think I'll buy one unless they do a B&M paint job. Not that I can't strip and paint, but I have enough diesel switchers to operate my layout and a dozen or more painting projects that have sat for 5 years now while I've worked on benchwork, track, wiring and scenery.
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Craig W Nelson
New Hire
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Posted - 06/01/2012 : 3:41:03 PM
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I'll paint your engines, you come do my layout, lol.
Craig
(p.s. You don't want to take that deal)
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| HO, G, CPR, CN & ONR in the North Bay area |
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Country: Canada
| Posts: 13 |
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Ollie
Engine Wiper
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Posted - 06/28/2012 : 08:57:30 AM
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Just got to know that I am getting 3 Genesis GP 7.s painted in zebra stripes The first of these is allready underway. These will not be having DCC or sound, well not yet, as I am still in progress to evaluate this thing. Besides the sound equipped S4, I have an alligator in the Santa Fe.s freight paint. Maybe I can E-bay another Alligator in Zebra in the future, time will tell.. Also I am eyeballing on more Walthers Santa Fe cabooses (got 2) as they are well detailed and being with wooden bodies perfect for the transfer runs on a future layout...
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| www.olaviahokas.com/trainstuff |
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Country: Sweden
| Posts: 340 |
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nhguy
Fireman
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Posted - 06/28/2012 : 12:37:51 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by bxcarmike
For what it's worth. the New Haven did not have any s-4's.mike h.
True Mike H., But the body style of the S-2 and the S-4 are the same. The only difference is in the trucks. The S-2 has Blunt trucks the S-4 AAR Type A switcher trucks. The horse power (1000HP) and 539 engine/turbo charged are the same. The NH unit would be an S-2 with a truck side frame change. If the body is as good as the RS3 I'd use it instead of the Atlas. Just a truck change and us New Haven fans would be good. I was more impressed with the body casting and the way it ran right out of the box.
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Bill Shanaman
Superintendent, New Haven RR in the 1948 to 1952 era
PMRA President 2013-14, OpSIG Member
NCE User Since 1999
Sugar City, Colorado |
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Country: USA
| Posts: 3665 |
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cajon
Engine Wiper
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Posted - 06/28/2012 : 12:49:05 PM
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[/quote]
Just a truck change and us New Haven fans would be good.
[/quote]
Hi Bill
Is there an easy way to change the trucks? Have tried bashing Atlas to the Bachmann w/ limited success.
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Country: USA
| Posts: 136 |
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