Bachmann Announces N NYC J3a Hudson

[nickelplate759]

Ah, the old saying of “If you kit bash it, they will build it next year” applies to me here. With this release I’ll buy one (or two?) and save my concor for a conversion into a Nickel Plate Hudson with smoke deflectors.

Start with a USRA Heavy Pacific rather than a NYC Hudson.   You need spoked drivers and the NKP 4-6-4 had smaller drivers than the NYC.

BTW this release from Bachman is conventional outline...not Dreyfus or ESE.....yet.

Charlie Vlk

The challenge here is that the only USRA Heavy Pacific in N scale is the old Rivarossi model - and it's drivers are under sized and over flanged.  Also, the mechanism needs a fair amount of work - if you are lucky enough to get one with a good frame.       A Model Power/MRC light Pacific has better sized drivers,  but shell is metal and integral to the mechanism and the whole thing is both a beast to work on and infinitely finicky.

<edit>  It appears that BLI is going to do a USRA Heavy Pacific.  That might be a good starting place. </edit>

[SkipGear]

The streamlined Hudson's pulled streamlined lightweight cars in 1938.

Wrong scheme, close cars. It would still look very good.

http://www.trainweb.org/fredatsf/NYC20th38.htm

[dougnelson]

Time to recreate the J1-K4 race each evening at Englewood.

[ChristianJDavis1]

The challenge here is that the only USRA Heavy Pacific in N scale is the old Rivarossi model - and it's drivers are under sized and over flanged.  Also, the mechanism needs a fair amount of work - if you are lucky enough to get one with a good frame.       A Model Power/MRC light Pacific has better sized drivers,  but shell is metal and integral to the mechanism and the whole thing is both a beast to work on and infinitely finicky.

I think @UP4-8-8-4 used the MP Pacific as the basis for his Commodore Vanderbilt here (https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=49765.0), so the shell might not be as integral as you think. It is the entirety of the weight, though.

[Point353]

I had this model since they were originally released back in the '90s, but I didn't have enough funds back then to buy the matching brass train that was released at that time.

You could still use it to pull a train of heavyweight cars:

[PJPickard]

I haven't seen the ad and can't find anything online, but #5404 is not a J3. 5405 was the first J3. And this might be what gets me back into N scale modeling rather than just collecting cars!

[Leggy]

[PJPickard]

Thanks...yeah I'm going to have get one of those...

[Chris333]

Trainworld has them for $79.99...     just kidding 

[prr7161]

Boom!  Someone was going to do these eventually, kind of thought BLI would have been the one.  I'm in for one or two for joint P&LE passenger runs into Pittsburgh.

Also hoping there are lots of spare tenders available as these tenders, less track pan scoops and with a shorter coal bunker, are needed to update the BLI heavy mikes for P&LE post 1930.

 

[jdcolombo]

Did the NYC J1's have spoked drivers?  Or were they all disc drivers?

I'd love to have a couple of NKP Hudsons, but the disc drivers are a big problem.  Driver size I can overlook, and the tender can be modified or replaced.  But disc drivers won't do it. 

John C.

[Chris333]

Says Boxpok drivers in the ad.

[Nick Lorusso]

I was trying not to model NYC!!!! but I have a soft spot for the Hudson's

[dougnelson]

Did the NYC J1's have spoked drivers?  Or were they all disc drivers?

I'd love to have a couple of NKP Hudsons, but the disc drivers are a big problem.  Driver size I can overlook, and the tender can be modified or replaced.  But disc drivers won't do it. 

John C.

I believe J1 and J2 Hudsons had spoked drivers. J3 had Scullen and Boxpok drivers.  The road numbers in Bachmann’s Ad are all J3s.

[garethashenden]

Did the NYC J1's have spoked drivers?  Or were they all disc drivers?

I'd love to have a couple of NKP Hudsons, but the disc drivers are a big problem.  Driver size I can overlook, and the tender can be modified or replaced.  But disc drivers won't do it. 

John C.

Not a NYC expert but quick research shows that: J1s have 79" spoked drivers, J2s have 75" spoked drivers, J3s have 79" disc drivers, either Boxpox or Scullin.

The wheelbase is spot on for a B&M P4, just need to change the trailing truck and cut 4' off the rear. I wonder if 3D printed centers would work, reuse the tire and axle, probably the crankpin too. It may be worth trying, particularly if someone can tell us how the drivers/axles are assembled. Actually, that won't work, they're almost certainly diecast, rather than plastic centers with pickup strips. If they use the standard bearing block they have used on the K4 and 2-8-0 then 2mm Association wheels could work. They have offer conversion bearings that are the same outside dimensions but fit their wheels, but they're only available to members...