Bachmann 1:20.3 scale Shay

[Anonymous]

Just getting started in garden railroading, lots of reading at present, but know that the garden will host a lumber line as my primary interest and with the rolling stock being pulled by a Shay. Ran across a website that was excepting deposits for Bachmann's to be released 1:20.3 Shays. Does anyone know what the approximate release date may be? Plan on running a battery operated wireless Shay using CVP Products new AirWire 900 system. I think I the bug has taken a big bite. I may have reached the incurable state already. [:)] I have all winter to study before starting any out door construction since I live in Galesville, WI. My better half has made me promise that I will not buy anything until after Christmas. Man!

[Curmudgeon]

They are out.
Reports on MLS and the Bachmann site indicate there is at least one dealer with them in stock.
The GR Reviewer has not received one for testing, and I have heard some folks are waiting for the review or selected parts of the review prior to purchasing said unit.
After the last Shay, I think they might be a little cautious.
These are allegedly the same as the old one, except a 38 ton vs. a 36 ton, with steel cab and modern appliances, and metal trucks HOUSINGS.
Do not confuse this with metal gears.
TOC

[Anonymous]

Would there be other manufacture's Shays that I should put on the consideration list?

[bman36]

QUOTE: Originally posted by patseale

Would there be other manufacture's Shays that I should put on the consideration list?

[#welcome] Hey there. Glad to have you join us on the forum. Unless you are ready to spend a lot more money, the Bachmann Shay will be your only choice. I own one of the last releases of this model. It is a terrific model to run. Anyone who has never seen one run before will be very fascinated by it. The detail is excellent. Enjoy the forum! Later eh...Brian. [8D]

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by bman36
Glad to have you join us on the forum. I own one of the last releases of this model. It is a terrific model to run. The detail is excellent. Enjoy the forum! Later eh...Brian. [8D]

Thanks very much for the welcome Brian and your comments about the Bachmann Shay.

Pat

[vsmith]

QUOTE: Originally posted by patseale

Would there be other manufacture's Shays that I should put on the consideration list?

Sure, but be prepared to fork over the proverbial arm and leg!

Accucraft sells a terrific MichCal lumber Shay but at $1350.00 + shipping costs, I wont be buying one anytime soon![;)]

[Anonymous]

Show me the money, Show me the money. I wouldn't send any one any money at all for something I didn't know for sure what it willbe and be very sure of their credentials.

Ian the ex Sydneysider

PS A Sydneysider is one from Sydney, the capital of NSW and a very big and tricky city where you can lose the fillings out of your teeth if you are not careful. Australias answer to New York or London.

[Anonymous]

You would think that with the success of the Bman shay and climaxs that some other manufacturer would build a few to sell. Ahem Aristo...... maybe LGB hummm?

T Ranes

[Curmudgeon]

LGB did make one. In association with ASTER.
I used to tell folks they could buy 10 Bachmann units, never take them out of the box and throw them away and be money ahead of ONE lgb unit.
And, I know folks who hadn't seen their german unit in 9 months or more.....seems when there were problems they had to go back to country of origin for repair at some elevator outfit.
TOC

[Anonymous]

Well gents, the die is cast so to speak. Walked into my favorite hardware store yesterday and was greeted with "your Shay has arrived". So, now I am the owner of a Bachmann 38-ton Two-truck Shay. Now, one of the next things on my list is deciding which r/c system and battery I want. Another is finding out which Kadee G scale couplers I will be able to use. Well, I guess I'm really hooked now. Back to my GR plan #68 reefer car. It may become my tow behind battery and electronics vehicle.
Pat

[Curmudgeon]

Really?
I have done MANY Shay conversions, batteries, RCS and Sierra, all on-board. NO trail car.
TOC

[Anonymous]

TOC,
Notice if you will that I said "may" and not "really". Number one - I'm new at this, number 2 - when I decide on the r/c equipment then I'll know space requirements, and three - it might save me some expense if I use a trail car that can be plugged to different locos there by allowing the use of one receiver, speed control,etc. and battery system for multiple engines. Don't know that I'll ever run more than one engine at a time.
Pat

[Curmudgeon]

True.
However, depending on the system, if you have loco specific sound or not, lights can be run off the throttle....full intensity, auto-reversing, and sound triggers.
That's one of the reason's I do it.
You have chuff contacts in the loco, that's 2 wires out. 2 to motor, that's 4. 2 for head, 2 for tail, that's 8. So far.
Hard way to do it.
TOC

[bman36]

Pat,
Haven't seen one of these yet. What do you think??? Sure looks nice in the photos I have seen. Have you run it yet? Let us know how you like it. Later eh...Brian.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by bman36

Pat,
Haven't seen one of these yet. What do you think??? Sure looks nice in the photos I have seen. Have you run it yet? Let us know how you like it. Later eh...Brian.

Brian,
I hate to admit it but have only seen it out of the box for a short time at the hardware store with the bags of parts and no stack. Since I have two young felines, that live in the workshop and love to check things out and help, I have been setting up a secure storage area before starting to assemble the engine. Maybe today! It is the unlettered version and have been thinking about what stack to mount which will decide which version of the tender I assemble, oil or coal. It came with the tender set up for oil. I'll be happy to post my thoughts for you as I go along. At this point and to the eye I think it's grand. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.... eh? Cheers

[vsmith]

Hey Brain
I got to play around with a new Shay at the LHS, and all I can say is Wow, I'm impressed, a definite improvement, detail looks crisper, mechanism looks more durable, and the steel cab is a definite improvement. It now looks more like the most typical latter Shays that sported the steel cab. But at +/- $400 though I'll have to hope for a lucky raffle number at the BTS to get one. If I had the spare $$ I'd get one, a West Side version, definitly.

[Curmudgeon]

The unit is shipped with the stack off. I have the review written for Marc, it will be submitted this week, with photos.
Boiler, frame, tender shell, domes, cylinder assembly are identical to previous versions.
TOC

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Curmudgeon

I have the review written for Marc, it will be submitted this week, with photos.
TOC

TOC,
Would that be Marc Horovitz of Garden Railways? I look forward to reading your review.
Pat

[bman36]

Pat,
From what I have seen Dave (TOC) does all the Bachmann loco reviews. Very thorough job too. Now I'm looking at getting another! Later eh...Brian.

[Curmudgeon]

When I get one, I generally write the review, check the operation, and tear them down to the frame to see what ticks (or doesn't). Since this one is so close to the old one, I won't be pulling the boiler off the frame.
It is highly interesting to see the things gut and feathered all over the workbench.
TOC

[Anonymous]

When I think about taking the Shay apart, even with the exploded view draws, I start getting a bit nervious. Man, lots of no-see'm-parts to lose. I'll make sure I have a towel under the chassie to catch things. I just received the VHS video from Bob Hartford "Modifying the Bachmann Shay" with Alan Olson that I'll watch before tampering with the 38T Shay. Since TOC mentioned the similarities between the old and new Bachmann Shays the tape maybe a big help to me. Among other things, the boop sheet states that it "demonstrates the step-by-step installation of an RCS Radio Control, Battery Power and a Sierra Sound System". I'm hoping this will keep me out of trouble along with you all on this forum.
Pat