Bachmann 2-8-4 Berkshire/Kanawha in stock at M.B. Klein

[SkipGear]

I just wish ours would show up so I can join in this conversation. The distributor had them slated for 3/17 arrival at their warehouse which means another couple days before they get to the shop.

Edit: Tracking says they should be in tomorrow. Yeah.

[victor miranda]

well, I guess some one returned a pair to klein's.

I'll have one on Saturday...

[Mike C]

 Hey Tony , did you order from Walthers ?  Bill up here in Columbus ( Hobbyland) ordered one for me from ( I assume ) there and I'm still waiting too .  They haven't updated their site yet , it still shows preorder .  Can't imagine why they have not received them yet .....

[nickelplate759]

I got one yesterday - it seems to run pretty well on DCC.  I haven't tried to see how many cars it will pull.
It's pretty, but not quite as pretty as the Life-Like version.   The over-wide white-walls have GOT to go - wonder if that's a job for Neolube?

The sound is OK - it's my first noisy steamer, and after a while I was happy to mute it.
One thing bugs me - the backup light "dims" when running forward, but it's still REALLY bright.  Gotta figure out the CV to change that.

George

[mmagliaro]

I got one yesterday - it seems to run pretty well on DCC.  I haven't tried to see how many cars it will pull.
It's pretty, but not quite as pretty as the Life-Like version.   The over-wide white-walls have GOT to go - wonder if that's a job for Neolube?

The sound is OK - it's my first noisy steamer, and after a while I was happy to mute it.
One thing bugs me - the backup light "dims" when running forward, but it's still REALLY bright.  Gotta figure out the CV to change that.

George

Don't try to cover up the whitewall paint with Neolube.  It won't work very well.  The Neolube probably won't penetrate the paint well, and as that white paint flakes off, it will take the Neolube with it.   In photos I've seen of this engine, I thought the whitewalls were way too wide as well.    There's been a post in here that the white paint flakes off too easily.
Maybe you can run an Xacto blade against the spinning driver edge sitting  on its back on your workbench,
and peel that white paint right off.  Then you can darken the outer driver edges with Neolube.

[SkipGear]

Hey Tony , did you order from Walthers ?  Bill up here in Columbus ( Hobbyland) ordered one for me from ( I assume ) there and I'm still waiting too .  They haven't updated their site yet , it still shows preorder .  Can't imagine why they have not received them yet .....

Ours were coming from GP. They are usually about a week or so behind on the Bachmann releases.

[jdcolombo]

I got one yesterday - it seems to run pretty well on DCC.  I haven't tried to see how many cars it will pull.
It's pretty, but not quite as pretty as the Life-Like version.   The over-wide white-walls have GOT to go - wonder if that's a job for Neolube?

The sound is OK - it's my first noisy steamer, and after a while I was happy to mute it.
One thing bugs me - the backup light "dims" when running forward, but it's still REALLY bright.  Gotta figure out the CV to change that.

George

I don't know if you have JMRI's Decoder Pro, but fixing the backup light is easy with that - apparently Bachmann programs the backup light on at all times, with the dim function active on forward (although I agree that there isn't a whole lot of dimming doing on!).   If all you care about is having the backup light on ONLY in reverse, then with Decoder Pro you go to the function mapping tab and uncheck the rear light on Fo Foward function.   

If you are stuck with programming individual CV's, then I think you can get to the same place by entering "1" in CV33.   

John C.

[SkipGear]

They arrived. The white walls don't look nearly as bad in person as they do in photos but they are still a bit much. Will run when I get home.

[Frisco Larry]

I don't know if you have JMRI's Decoder Pro, but fixing the backup light is easy with that - apparently Bachmann programs the backup light on at all times, with the dim function active on forward (although I agree that there isn't a whole lot of dimming doing on!).   If all you care about is having the backup light on ONLY in reverse, then with Decoder Pro you go to the function mapping tab and uncheck the rear light on Fo Foward function.   

If you are stuck with programming individual CV's, then I think you can get to the same place by entering "1" in CV33.   

John C.

I tried this and the function mapping change just turned off the rear light all of the time, but changing the CV33 to 1 worked perfectly

[Mark5]

MAJOR restock at MBK at the moment ... 

[nickelplate759]

I got the lighting fixed.

I also tried running it some more.  It's pretty smooth at modest speeds, but SLOW speed just flat binds up one per revolution.  Absolutely will not crawl more than one driver revolution.
On the plus side, it walked away with 33 Microtrains hoppers (with coal loads) + caboose with no difficulty at all. I didn't try more, as they weren't handy.


Debating if I should try and fix it or just set it off to Bachmann.

<edit>

I reread the notes on quartering in this thread.  D4 is definitely out-of-quarter relative to D3.  D2 is even worse, but since it's geared and not attached to the side rod it doesn't matter much, and you have to look closely on the right side to see it.

I'm debating whether/how to fix it.  I admit to being attracted to the twist-and-test method, but am nervous that I'll screw it up and it will become twist-and-shout (swear).  I DO have green loctite, so if I get it right and can lock the driver in place.

I also noted a big hunk of flash on the #2 tender axle right-side journal, but that was easily trimmed.  It was long enough to foul on a switch.      The paint job is good, EXCEPT for the white striping on the wheels and running boards, which is sloppy.  They even got some white on one of the air tanks under the running board.

Over all, I'm not as impressed with this engine as with the Bachmann 4-6-0.

George

[w neal]

Does the mars light actually work on the NKP 759?

[nickelplate759]

The Mars light lights up along with the headlight, but it doesn't flash or even blink.

George

[w neal]

Ta.

[mmagliaro]

The Mars light lights up along with the headlight, but it doesn't flash or even blink.

George

I consider that a plus.   I would find blinking (like the Kato GS4 does) distracting and toy-like.