dirty rumor from Bmann

[draskouasshat]

I heard a dirty rumor that bachmann was retooling the santa fe northern. Has anyone else heard any news of the sorts or did anyone hear anything at Trainfest?

[peteski]

Didn't they do that already, few years back?

[draskouasshat]

kinda. they updated the mech. i heard someone mention a while back that a bmann person said its getting a complete retool. its probably rumor but figured id ask.

[SkipGear]

It was retooled about 2 years ago or so. The frame had a minor retool to accept new mounting screws for the boiler. The boiler was completely retooled but it wasn't a major change. The detail on the new shell is crisper and cleaner and there are two screws under the cab that mount it to the frame now but the changes were so subtle that many didn't notice. Technically, it was completely retooled because the boiler is coming from a new mold, but it is the same basic design, just fresher and maybe a bit more accurate.

Mark has pictures of the differences on Spookshow. I helped him with the photos to see the difference.

http://www.spookshow.net/loco/bach484.html

[arbomambo]

...concerning this rumour...
or, rather, the existing versions of this locomotive...
is the body shell and tender accurate in scale and shape?...can they be used as a basis for a nice detail job?...I imagine 'superturbine' and those, here, who do such beautiful work on building accurate steamers, could chime in on this...
and, to add another question, which ATSF 4-8-4 class does Bachmann's version better represent?..3751?...3765?
...I'd love to have a super detailed ATSF steamer available for helper service from Belen to Mountainair...summer of 1957!
~Bruce

[spookshow]

Dunno if this applies to the N scale model, but their HO version is supposedly based on the ATSF class 3776 Northern (also similar to the class 2900).

Cheers,
-Mark

[Cajonpassfan]

Bruce, this comes up every once in a while....arguably the most often retooled and updated steam N scale loco since first introduced in the seventies. Unfortunately, in my personal opinion, even the lastest version is just not up to par, especially in its appearance, there arejust too many compromises. IMHO, Bachmann should have thrown it out and started from scratch and give us something comparable to their excellent Spectrum line. I hope this "rumor" has some basis but I'm not holding my breath.

As to the prototype, the loco is based on the 3776 class (3776-3785) and the virtually identical wartime 2900 class (2900-2929), 40 engines in all, all with the long eight wheel truck tenders. With a little work and a different, 20K tender on six wheel trucks, one could backdate this model to represent the 3765 class (3765-3775), the most significant spotting difference being the lopsided single pump arrangement on the pilot. This engine is not quite right and too chunky for the original Santa Fe Northerns, the fourteen engines of the 3751 class. Those were all very individualized throughout their careers with different  appliances and didn't have a "standard" appearance; major customization would be required.
Regards, Otto K.

[superturbine]

Thanks Bruce,

Very well said Otto!

[SkipGear]

I don't know if they will ever bring it up to "spectrum" level of detail, it is sold under too many different road names. It seems the lines are blurred between what makes a loco a Spectrum and Standard line anymore. I think Bachmann is following the course of Atlas with their Master and Trainman product line. Spectrum items are now only those that are road specific. The name is no longer relative to the amount of detail, DCC compatability, or running quality but more the correctness of detail. The 4-6-0 and 2-6-0 are as detailed as most Spectrum releases but they were put in the standard line because they don't represent any one prototype exactly. They are more of a blend of a couple different loco's so that they can be close enough for multiple roads. The ATSF Northern is sold under quite a few different roads so they aren't going to put the effort into making it exact for ATSF because then it is even less correct for the others, although it is really nowhere close for anything other than the ATSF, but they don't know that, LOL.

I really thing the only thing wrong with the loco, besides the lack of freestanding details (which is easy enough to fix), is the lack of undercut on the bottom of the boiler. The boiler is more upside down U shaped than round. The other big thing to fix would be the plastic blob they claim is valve gear. In all reality, I look at the loco and know that it is a ATSF 3700 which is much more road specific than a lot of the stuff out there.

[wm3798]

I started bashing a WM Potomac Class 4-8-4 on one of the new drives.  The overall proportions were good, if the dimensions weren't.  It would be nice if they would do a solid drive that could be adapted to a variety of 4-8-4 shell/tender combinations to pick up more variety in this arrangement.  A Reading T-1 would be fun to see, too.

Lee

[davefoxx]

A Reading T-1 would be fun to see, too.

Especially if decorated in the Chessie scheme.  Right, Lee?   

[eric220]

I wonder if Bachperson is going to bring their K4 to N.

[arbomambo]

Jason, Otto, Tony,
Thanks...I have no problem shaving detail and manufacturing freestanding parts, adding detail, etc...but I'd much rather start with something basically accurate in shape and scale...
any steam I end up building/detailing would be weathered 'properly'...certainly wouldn't appear the way the rebuilt ones on the railfan circuit appear today. I was just curious if this one could be 'saved'...
 I truly can't see any of the major manufacturers doing this one-although it's a classic (to ATSF fans, at least)...there are too many other quintessential steamers that would have more appeal across a broader customer base (too many, in every hobby, fail to understand the relationship between their 'wish list' and the need for manufacturers to make decisions  based on profit....)
The Kato GS-4 and Mikado have broad appeal...the Athearn Challenger and Big Boy also make 'sense' in a broader market...IMO, although I wouldn't buy one, the NYC stramlined Hudson seems like a candidate for a 'broad appeal' loco...even the oft rumoured UP FEF seems more logical...
I can 'wish' all I want, but I truly feel the only way I'll have a proper ATSF Northern is to build it...
Thanks,
~Bruce

[VonRyan]

I wonder if Bachperson is going to bring their K4 to N.

And like the EM-1, there are plenty of versions to produce.
It's not like the fact that they were only operated by a single road is stopping them...


-Cody F.

[superturbine]

And like the EM-1, there are plenty of versions to produce.
It's not like the fact that they were only operated by a single road is stopping them...


-Cody F.

Ahhh snap!  I know where this is going!  The K4 war starts again!

RUN FOR COVER BOYS!  I AM GLAD THIS AINT MY THREAD!