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In Praise of Bachmann Older 00 Models.


robmcg

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Hi All,

 

Just a word in praise of some of the older 00 steam models by Bachmann, split-chassis notwithstanding.

 

I bought a Royal Scot model LMS 6106 'Gordon Highlander' made I think c1996 and weathered, £99 from Gostude of all people, and it really is an impressive model to my eye.  Robust, and smooth running,

Similar pristine versions go for about £60 I think on Ebay, good value, the weathering on mine is very good.

 

Here is the model, enhanced perhaps by my digital editing, it really is a very nice model. I have similarly nicely weathered 1990s Lord Nelson. Good stuff. I just wanted to say how these quite cheap models can be made to look good with perhaps extra detail and or weathering

 

With the fragility of some newer models, it can be quite refreshing to take a model out of a box and nothing breaks. :)

 

post-7929-0-64971500-1453260029_thumb.jpg

 

Cheers,

 

Rob

 

 

 

 

 

 

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...With the fragility of some newer models, it can be quite refreshing to take a model out of a box and nothing breaks.

Ah yes. Now consider that I come at this from the perspective of an enthusiastic operator of a model railway.

 

They were indeed typically decent looking and readily capable of being further improved in appearance, and arrived in good condition. Sadly it was the mechanism that proved fragile when operated, something Bachmann effectively acknowledged by the availability of complete spare mechanisms as a separate piece, while these models were current in their catalogue.

 

Contrasts with the current product, where the fragility is exterior due to the finer detail, but the mechanism keeps going, going, going. For this operator the current product is preferable: on the real railway steam locos could regularly be seen in service with minor damage, so exterior fragility is actually quite realistic.

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As I said before on another thread, I wish someone would make replacement chassis for the old Bachmann and Mainline models. The bodies were good, but the mechanisms were rubbish and the wheels had big, shiny silver rims.

 

It could be Bachmann's answer to Hornby's RailRoad range.

 

Really like the picture of the Royal Scot, too.

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... I wish someone would make replacement chassis for the old Bachmann and Mainline models...

 It didn't work commercially when Bachmann were doing it is the sad answer. It seems the market for the prodigiously difficult technical task of removing the screws, withdrawing old mechanism, inserting new mechanism, replacing screws, is very limited: essentially to experts in the delicate art of screwdrivering. (Sarcasm fully intended.) And then there was the price sensitivity, the mechanism spare typically at roughly half the cost of the complete model, was perceived as too costly according to retailers I spoke to at the time.

 

My attitude is that there are suitable replacement chassis freely available retail. They just happen to come in a box with the body, tender etc as applicable attached. It's no trouble to wait for a suitably low price on such an item, extract the mechanism, and flog the resulting spares. The current shortage of spares makes this a relatively easy sale, and typically the mechanism nets out between a third and half the retail price of the complete model: probably averaging less than the price that would be asked for a separate mechanism spare at retail if one were to be made available.

 

There is the little matter of DIY whittling away at the body interior to fit the new drive in and secure it, which is usually necessary. That is a step up from simple screwdrivering, and will probably put many off attempting this method. I imagine this is another factor militatiing against provision of many mechanism spares for older Mainline and Bachmann. Quite simply the very narrow body opening in many of these models, which then places constraints on the current drive design. My old J39 body is now 'waffer-thin' in the firebox area to enable the J11 mechanism to be inserted. But it has gone in, and my J39 runs sweetly once more. (The J11 body sold in a flash, and the tender was wanted for another project.)

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No argument here.

I started buying RTR steam a couple of years ago and was pleasantly surprised to pay not very much at all for J39s. A handsome beast and viable in decent quantities. Though currently I've been looking to increase the variety in terms of sub classes, I know not enough (and am sans notes) but am I right in thinking putting a K1 tender on would make one of them, 2700gall?

 

I'll shy away from split chassis on these but upgraded undergubbins didn't seem to greatly increase the secondhand market value.

The K3 is a favourite, a well proportioned machine, undersized drivers notwithstanding, faithfully reproduced and a bargain if found for under 70 notes.

 

And before Bachmann's price hikes, B1's at 74 quid a pop each from a certain Merseyside retailer? You'd be daft not to wountcha?

 

C6T.

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New chassis a good idea Mike

 

Better include opening firebox door and dampers - and a working blower - the shed man has really soled and heeled that fire! Bet the crew left him a box load of clinker on their last turn, it looks like he's done a runner too!

 

Phil

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The K3 is a favourite, a well proportioned machine, undersized drivers notwithstanding, faithfully reproduced and a bargain if found for under 70 notes.

I couldn't agree more. To my mind Bachmann's K3 is a lovely model, unfairly unsung. It stands muster with many more recent introductions, and is a wonderful workaday locomotive.

 

Terrific photo, Robmcg, as ever - many thanks for sharing it!

 

John

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Whilst not steam I think the Bachmann Class 42 is still an excellent model, the upgraded mechanism made it a lovely runner and you can find them at bargain prices. Not bad for a 1970's Mainline model.

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Mi have to Lord nelsons lovely smooth runners and good detail for the time. Most of these older models don't get the praise they deserve. Also I would like to add fantastic picture by the way.

 

Big james

 

I have now converted two Lord Nelsons to DCC, as they are still decent runners and look good too. So far (touch wood) they have not suffered from the wobbly wheels and split gears that have afflicted some other split chassis models.

 

I also converted two Ivatt 2-6-2 tanks, an 04 diesel shunter and a pannier tank but these all waddle a little, although they still run smoothly and quietly.

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While the K3 is nice, it is a recent introduction. I think mine was the last Bachmann LNER loco I have brought C1 excluded.

Eleven years ago I should think for the K3's arrival. But yes, it is one of the post split-chassis era models, same mechanism design in essentials as the most recent releases.

You weren't tempted by any of the GCR trio or A2?

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Eleven years ago I should think for the K3's arrival. But yes, it is one of the post split-chassis era models, same mechanism design in essentials as the most recent releases.

You weren't tempted by any of the GCR trio or A2?

If that's a recommendation,then it's one I endorse wholeheartedly.As I recall,the K3 has a somewhat chequered reputation as not being one of Barwell's finest ?

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The strangest issue that affected some of my split chassis Bachmann models, was expansion of the plastic spoke inserts in some wheels of steam outline drivers. Had this on 2 B1s and an Ivatt tank. This tended to manifest itself by jerky running, traced to one wheel insert having 'blown out' from the middle and catching the coupling rod. Can be resolved by removing the rod and taking out the insert to file down. Can only assume that oil contamination caused the expansion. Was peeved about the Ivatt chassis as that was heavily modified to power a super detailed Hornby Ivatt tender loco. It took a long time to slice the chassis weight on the tank chassis so that it would fit the Hornby loco body.

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....As I recall,the K3 has a somewhat chequered reputation as not being one of Barwell's finest ?

The reduction to well below scale of driving wheel diameter - I think done to maximise weight in the cast footplate for traction - perhaps taken a little too far. Otherwise it is fine for appearance.

 

Also this model is the only Bachmann steamer I have purchased with a definite assembly issue. Because it is a useful wheelbase for Doncaster types, I filled my boots when Hattons offered them at a very low price (their one time usual heavy discounting in Aug/Sept to maintain cashflow) and the soldering was terrible, endless dry joints. Remade every joint in all of them; completely reliable ever since.

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Sorry Rob. There is something seriously wrong with that mechanism if it's issuing that amount of smoke!!  :jester: 

 

p.s. Very nice picture.  :good:

 

Thanks, I bought another Royal Scot, 6130 and although it appears undamaged it is a jerky reluctant runner , slight waddle from rear drivers I think, looks warped, yet to investigate.  And at 20 years old it may need a lube and/or running, a short period of running and it smelled of warm oil , not good, might have had that smoke you speak of!  :).  I have an old split chassis LNER B1 and no amount of running has cured it of seriously poor jerky running, so I rather gave up on it...

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Eleven years ago I should think for the K3's arrival. But yes, it is one of the post split-chassis era models, same mechanism design in essentials as the most recent releases.

You weren't tempted by any of the GCR trio or A2?

Eleven years ago I should think for the K3's arrival. But yes, it is one of the post split-chassis era models, same mechanism design in essentials as the most recent releases.

You weren't tempted by any of the GCR trio or A2?

Was it really 11 years ago? Time does fly. Hmm... Yes I did get the A2 and a ROD 04 but did not realise they appeared later.

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Thanks, I bought another Royal Scot, 6130 and although it appears undamaged it is a jerky reluctant runner , slight waddle from rear drivers I think, looks warped, yet to investigate.  And at 20 years old it may need a lube and/or running, a short period of running and it smelled of warm oil , not good, might have had that smoke you speak of!   :).  I have an old split chassis LNER B1 and no amount of running has cured it of seriously poor jerky running, so I rather gave up on it...

 

One suggestion, Rob, although not guaranteed to fix the problems: remove the baseplate and pull the axles out of their slots in the chassis, then thoroughly clean the journals as built up gunk and hardened oil/grease can seriously affect the running and the electrical pickup. I had to do this to an early Standard class 4 4-6-0 to restore decent running - that's one I still haven't converted to DCC but one I would very much like to do eventually.

 

The plating on the axles where they contact the chassis can also wear off, but I don't have an answer for that.

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Thankyou SRman, I ran it for about 20 secs with wheels slipping and holding the body to partially relieve weight and it became smoother... almost acceptable, with a smell of warm electrical or oil odours or both..., and a slight waddle from rear drivers not quite as bad as at first, yet to check it on a layout, but thanks for your suggestions,  never a dull moment with these older chassis!  Above all it's a lovely-looking model, and as others point out, a chassis change is not difficult.

 

Cheers,

 

Rob

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I have a class 04 which had not been run for years. One day I decided to run remembering how well it did run. My god, it had become the most awful runner in the fleet. Surely I had not brought such a bad runner?

 

Opened it up, stripped it down and cleaned it up, now it runs beautifully.

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...The plating on the axles where they contact the chassis can also wear off, but I don't have an answer for that.

That's the life limiting factor on the UK Bachmann split chassis, the plating wears through on all of the axle 'journal', stub axle, wheel tyre, and whichever goes first that component is all used up. (Takes out the heavier locos much faster than the light ones for an equal amount of operation.)

 

But what you can do is cannibalise: take the wheelset that still has most of its plating out of the chassis that's lost it, and transplant to the mechanism where the plating on the chassis halves is fine, but the wheels have lost their plating. There's a lot of variation in the plating in short, and combining the parts that happened to get more heavily plated can eke some extra life out of them.

 

I have a class 04 which had not been run for years. One day I decided to run remembering how well it did run. My god, it had become the most awful runner in the fleet. Surely I had not brought such a bad runner?

 

Opened it up, stripped it down and cleaned it up, now it runs beautifully.

Nothing better than keeping a  loco on the layout, and running it regularly. More fun than it being in a box too.

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