My experience with Bachmann China DF-4B

[Anonymous]

Just wanted to share my experience about Bachmann China DF-4B locomotive. I remember when I noticed it and could hardly find any info on it let alone decent review. So in case someone else becomes interested, they'll hopefully fing my info usefull.

DF-4B (or DF-4D which is just different shell) is a prototype of populae chinese locomotive. It isn't prototypical to anything in USA (well duh !) but I just became interested in it for its looks.
The quality of it is allegedly like Spectrum, but from my experience with Dash-40C Specrum, the DF-4B is better in many respects. It is DCC ready, comes with dummy plug for DC. It is very heavy thus good traction. And it is very stable on non-perfect track, only other as stable I have are Kato's. Also because of the weight it is a lot less succeptible to dirt on track. I guess weight gives it better contact. Whereas Kato in the same situation is jerky.

The engine also has front head light and ditch lights (not sure if its proper term, I am refering to two side lights. It also has red marker lights on the oppsite side which light appropriately to the direction.

What else... well, it's top speed is less than Kato, but it also has lower slowest speed.

The noise varies slightly between specific units but overall it is a bit noisier than Kato.

Here are some pics http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/gallery/album53

Just wanted to share this as this unit is pretty much unknown in the west. Again I am surprised that these are overall quite a bit better than american Spectrums. I wish Bachmann uses the same quality for western engines.

Just to add. I've had these engines for over 3 month and never went back to Kato's. Pulling power, no wheel slipping, stability and even the feeling of weight when rails bend under it - Kato doesn't give it to me :)
The only thing I am missing in Kato are its excellent lights.

[Anonymous]

I've been looking at these on and off for a while now - have a couple of their Chinese boxcars but nothing else from this range. Sounds like the drive system is much the same as their British diesels - these are very heavy and have decent flywheel drives. www.ehattons.com/Stock.asp?SID=8372 is a good example of one of their British locos - I have one of those which has had the detail parts in the box added, and the coupler system changed - now has a brass wire bar mounted on the loco frame rather than the truck which means I can fit the mini snowploughs it came with.

[lyctus]

I too have been pondering these models, interested because I have ridden behind some of the beasts. I saw a model in a HK train shop (or is that the HK train shop ? sure have never seen any other MR store in that city) and was impressed with the detail. Didn't purchase because price was at least twice that being advertised by Trainworld and also because my real MR interest was showing signs of needing a government grant to maintain its procurement rate. But sure looked nice. Glad to read the "review" Dimastep

[lyctus]

I too have been pondering these models, interested because I have ridden behind some of the beasts. I saw a model in a HK train shop (or is that the HK train shop ? sure have never seen any other MR store in that city) and was impressed with the detail. Didn't purchase because price was at least twice that being advertised by Trainworld and also because my real MR interest was showing signs of needing a government grant to maintain its procurement rate. But sure looked nice. Glad to read the "review" Dimastep

[rtstasiak]

I wonder if a DF-4B mechanism (or a BR Deltic) plus a couple of Walthers or TM Alco FA shells, new sideframes, pantographs, and detail parts could get you to a New Haven EP-5 'Jet'? Sounds like this chassis would be a better ride than the E=33 'bricks' in Bachmann's US prototype line.

Rich

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by rtstasiak

I wonder if a DF-4B mechanism (or a BR Deltic) plus a couple of Walthers or TM Alco FA shells, new sideframes, pantographs, and detail parts could get you to a New Haven EP-5 'Jet'? Sounds like this chassis would be a better ride than the E=33 'bricks' in Bachmann's US prototype line.

Rich

Well, if the truck wheelbases are right, and the diecast frame is the right width and length, this could work well. I have one of the Bachmann BR Class 37s, which has a lot in common with the Deltic (both English Electric designs, both use 3-axle trucks, similar shapes) and is excellent - will haul pretty much anything I can hook behind it - it handles 10-car passenger trains without noticing (I ran out of room at that point!).