New Bachmann Box Car

[wm3798]

I think you have to look at this car through the lens of Atlas Trainman stuff, not Intermountain or even MicroTrains.  The price point will put this thing on the street for $10, and it's clearly targeted to model railroaders who don't give a rat's patoot about the accuracy of the details. 

It's a cheap fleetbuilder that provides a slightly improved level of detail, and will look adequate looping around a Christmas tree or an N trak layout.  With the metal wheels and reasonably good couplers, it might also help me make a 20-car train 25 cars long.  They just won't be front and center when it's time for a photo shoot.

Lee

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I think you have to look at this car through the lens of Atlas Trainman stuff, not Intermountain or even MicroTrains.  The price point will put this thing on the street for $10, and it's clearly targeted to model railroaders who don't give a rat's patoot about the accuracy of the details. 

It's a cheap fleetbuilder that provides a slightly improved level of detail, and will look adequate looping around a Christmas tree or an N trak layout.  With the metal wheels and reasonably good couplers, it might also help me make a 20-car train 25 cars long.  They just won't be front and center when it's time for a photo shoot.

Lee

Oh yeah, definitely, but I can't imagine getting it right would've adjusted the price point by that much.

[bbussey]

... But those tank cars look schweet.

Definitely so.  While I wish they had done a generic black UTLX or SHPX, I did order one of the orange Simonin tanks.  I can justify a Philadelphia company's equipment in Connecticut.

[cv_acr]

  

Besides the other issues already mentioned, I don't think I've ever seen a raised-panel roof with the panel stampings on the end panels.

[Dave V]

Some day I may need fleetbuilders, but Enola's already choked full in both eras...  In fact, I'm "thinning the heard" of foobs as the good stuff comes out.  At some point, for example, I will have ESM X58s to phase out the MTL and Roundhouse foobs.  Same for the 50' MicroTrains gons.

[6axlepwr]

It's a cheap fleetbuilder that provides a slightly improved level of detail, and will look adequate looping around a Christmas tree or an N trak layout.

Lee

I'm sorry Lee, but is there any difference between a Christmas tree and an N Trak layout?

Brian

[Puddington]

I'm sorry Lee, but is there any difference between a Christmas tree and an N Trak layout?

Brian

Sure Brian, there is; but at the end of the day both keep a specific group of people happy.... take this thing for what it is, a $ 10.00 sort of box car not intended for the Railwire community, except in the aforementioned "fleet builder" category for those so inclined..... "maka da fix, weather the sucker and move on...."

[Chris333]

Looks like they got it right:
http://a248.e.akamai.net/origin-cdn.volusion.com/ztna9.tft5b/v/vspfiles/photos/BAC-17056-2.jpg?1324616496

 

[bbussey]

... At some point, for example, I will have ESM X58s to phase out the MTL and Roundhouse foobs...

Click HERE baby.

[sirenwerks]

Right now for good early 40' boxcars I will stick with MT and IMR.

Don't forget Atlas.

[Sokramiketes]

I don't have my references available to me at this moment, but NH did acquire their AAR boxcars from two builders, one of them being P-S, and the ends were different.  I thought, although I won't swear by it, that the P-S built cars had those ends.

PSC and P-S, all W ends.

http://www.steamfreightcars.com/prototype/frtcars/1937aarpdfmain.html

[PGE_Modeller]

PSC and P-S, all W ends.

http://www.steamfreightcars.com/prototype/frtcars/1937aarpdfmain.html

While the site quoted does not state whether the cars had dreadnought or early P-S design ends, it does show
the following PSC and P-S built cars of the 1937 AAR design with square corner posts:

Road        Series              Class              Builder       Lot #         Date

ATSF  136000-136499     Bx-26                 P-S          5522        5/1936
ATSF  136500-137999     Bx-27                 P-S          5547        6/1937
C&O       4500-4999                                   P-S          5531       1936-37
KCS      17000-17499                                P-S           5543       1/1937
SOO   136000-136198 (even #s)              P-S           5535       1936
SOU    10000-12022 & 13043-13063        P-S           5590        9/1938
SOU    13064-14395                                  P-S          5592        1/1939
SOU   261000-262036 & 306000-307021 P-S           5575        1937
SP        32770-33269       B-50-18             P-S           5537        10/1936
SP        33520-34019       B-50-18             PSC                          1936-37
SP        37840-38089       B-50-19             P-S           5549         1937
SP        38090-38339       B-50-19             PSC                           1937
T&P      40000-40499                                 P-S           5581         1937

Photographs would sort out the style of the ends.

Cheers,
Greg Kennelly
Burnaby, BC   

[Guilford Guy]

Looks like they got it right:
http://a248.e.akamai.net/origin-cdn.volusion.com/ztna9.tft5b/v/vspfiles/photos/BAC-17056-2.jpg?1324616496

 

Ah, the infamous blue stirrups that I've never seen pictures of on a BAR car... And the least of my worries is that it isn't a reefer.

[sirenwerks]

I think you have to look at this car through the lens of Atlas Trainman stuff, not Intermountain or even MicroTrains.

Well, I was looking at the cars in context - the context of what I want, which is what we all do.

But let's step away from my particular wants for a moment... A model that follows a specific prototype didn't need to go outside of the price range mentioned, nor would a prototypical body style hinder the manufacturer from selling it with all the foob paint jobs said manufacture wanted to which would appeal to the market. The car could have served two masters - it could have brought in fist loads of cash for Bach as the blind, revolting masses bought up the brightly colored geegaws to have their fleets of cars all with the same road number; and simultaneously a secret society could rise up that used the car with only slight detailing and repainting to fill an important niche in the prototype modelers roster need. I mean, come on, Bachperson went so far as to offer separate ladders and working doors (which the masses don't care about), why not go the "extra mile" here and make sure the car resembles to a decent degree something that actually appeared on the rails (besides it being a box with general characteristics)? It's a real head-shaking moment, a waste of effort that could have moved a mediocre model into a special category with market appeal from both sides of the track.

[Brakie]

sirenwerks,I agree that car reminds of the train set boxcar blobs of the 70s from AHM,Model Power,Life Like and Bachmann.

As far as "fleet builders" I would use Trainman cars and the older Roundhouse cars.

In this case you get what you pay for.