Bachmann Alco S4

[Bob Bufkin]

When they do some PRR ones I will be in for a couple.  I'm a sucker for switchers.

[cjjd6901]

Very glad to read that the S4 is coming.

  I agree that current Bachman products are very impressive.  I had received a 2-6-0 DCC steamer in PRR for Christmas, and it is a fine running jewel.  Will have to find an image of the WMry #200 (?) to reletter it.

Looking forward to having the Western Maryland S4 at home!

Chris 

[up1950s]

How hard is it to un letter the Bachmann lettering ? I just need to do the cab without damaging the yellow much so I can re-slogan it 50's style .

[Philip H]

How hard is it to un letter the Bachmann lettering ? I just need to do the cab without damaging the yellow much so I can re-slogan it 50's style .

According to Randy, its an easy job with 91% Isopropyl alcohol

https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=20200.msg298715#msg298715

[packers#1]

My big issue with them is that they sell them with a DCC/DC board in; I remember when the first run of B23/30 locos came out they were DC and at MBK for $40. I still run DC and don't need DCC, at least yet, so it's a bit of a pain...but that won't stop me from hopefully getting one

[C855B]

Starting with the DDA40Xs, the Bachmann DCC boards in my experience have been transparent on DC. It's a really cheap chip without features*, so there is apparently nothing to accomplish by making different with/without versions. I know some guys have removed the boards for slightly better DC starting response on their 44-tonners, but, frankly, in my tests with the Centennials and the 44-tonner, DCC vs. DC was nearly a wash.

* - I was going to say "without bells and whistles", but that would imply it was a sound chip missing important functions, right?

[lock4244]

Have no use for an S-4 in my modeling (except maybe as an RCL switching the quarry, but more likely a job for an S-2), but if I did I'm not sure the B'mann S-4 matches the MLW production. Regardless, it is nice to see the S-4 coming to N, and with the Atlas S-2, a huge, gaping gap in N scale is being filled. The 44T and 70T are nice models, so very likely this will be a good unit, too.

Now if only we could get a nice RS-18... oh wait, we've got those.
If only we could get a nice M630... oh wait, we've got the pieces to make those.
If only we could get a nice M420, oh wait, we've got a great kit for those.

Not a bad time to be an N scaler... except for the GP40-2L.

[packers#1]

Mike, I was referring to the extra $$$ that comes along with the dual function versus just a standard DC unit; if I did run DCC I'd be thinking sweet, but I don't, so oh well.

[C855B]

I guess that's what I was trying to say. The DCC module Bachmann uses is so cheap and so basic - I'd be surprised if they cost them more than one or two bucks each. Even with markups, the price difference between DC and DCC models wouldn't be worth the extra cost of cataloging and inventorying. As heavily as Bachmann is discounted, I just consider it free DCC on a DC model.

(Truthfully? Free temporary DCC. I've been changing out the modules on my Centennials to TCS M4's because of the lighting functions and motor response curve programming.)