Radio control Bachmann

[SNOWSHOE]

I was going through some of my old N scale trains the other day and in one of the boxes for my N scale old timer set I found a card for a Bachmann G scale radio control classic Big Hauler.  it was priced at 32.99.   If they still made this set today I wonder what it would sell for.  There is no ex date I wonder if I send it in now what they would do.  I just though it was funny I found that.  Is this one of their first G scale sets.  If I remember I bought that old timer set in the late 80's.    

[kstrong]

Given the quality of the 1st Bachmann R/C trains, I'd say $32.99 is probably asking too much. They were plagued with problems, and very few are still running today. Many people bought the old sets for the rolling stock, as the price for the set was a bargain even just for the cars. Fortunately, Bachmann learned from experience, and 5 generations later, we have the "Anniversary" edition--released on the loco's 10th anniversary--which looks and runs worlds better than the original.

Most of Bachmann's "Big-Hauler" sets use at least the latest drive unit, if not the "anniversary" level of detailing on the locomotive. They're a bit more than $32.99, but only by $100 or so--still a bargain for what you get.

Later,

K

[Curmudgeon]

I am still amazed at the folks who think they are going to get into the Large Scale Radio/Battery portion of the hobby by picking one of these up on evilbay.

And generally they are missing many parts, do not function, or no transmitter.

When they spend a lot of time, effort and sometimes money trying to find that missing part or transmitter, and get it running, they discover the cars supplied with the set can be a pipe dream as far as pulling ability on any kind of grade.

As Kevin said, most of us got them to use the cars, pitched the track, stripped the locomotives for parts, and were done with it.

[vsmith]

Well I for one just LOVE these battery powered Bug Maulers

 

I love to tear them apart for parts that is, wow are they a treasure trove for kitbashers, cheap to buy and they are always around. I have a prestine condition 1st gen Bug Mauler on display above my workbench, I got it at a show, for $15.

I got a chuckle at a train show when someone is selling one of these, I ask the price and I got $99 as a reply, I asked did he dropped a winning lotto ticket in it? I then added that I wished him luck selling it as I wouldnt pay more than $20 for it, and that was only for parts value.

I just recently tossed out the remaining bones from 3 Bug Maulers chassis that I had stripped of everything usefull. A basic $40 Scientific R/C Xmas tree trainset is a better choice than trying to resurrect one of these, if you want to go down the uber-cheap R/C route that is.

[altterrain]

I picked up a R/C set about 10 years ago at a second hand shop for $40. Got it home and it did not run. I sent it to Bachmann as part of the lifetime warranty and they sent me a new loco. It mostly sat in the attic until 2 years ago where we were hosting the family for the holidays. It got me interested in large scale trains reviving my dormant model railroader. The loco and gondola got bashed into the Dunkirk. The caboose got bashed into my logging caboose.

It's been madness since... ...

 -Brian

[vsmith]

I picked up a R/C set about 10 years ago at a second hand shop for $40. Got it home and it did not run. I sent it to Bachmann as part of the lifetime warranty and they sent me a new loco. It mostly sat in the attic until 2 years ago where we were hosting the family for the holidays. It got me interested in large scale trains reviving my dormant model railroader. The loco and gondola got bashed into the Dunkirk. The caboose got bashed into my logging caboose.

It's been madness since... ...

 -Brian

Hey Brian, did Bmann send you a replacement battery engine or a replacement track powered engine?

I'd be surprised if they still had any battery Bug Maulers left, even for 10 years ago.

[altterrain]

It was a replacement battery engine but not it the same livery (which I can't remember what it was). The replacement was in the circus livery and looked new.

-Brian