Arguement for product of the year.

[RMax1]

I see these ballots for voting on products of the year and this is the first time one product has really stood out to me. The Bachmann EZ Command is an excellent product for what it is intended to do.

Here are some of the main complaints about entry model train sets and people that start with them.
36 inch circles are boring and no matter how far you stretch them they are still basically boring. Running 2 trains at once was semi complicated. Now you can have better operations and point to point with less hassle. Cost of traditional DCC and decoders was expensive not to mention intimidating.

Now a basic 4x8 layout can be made point to point with multiple engines running at the same time on the same track for well under $100. Maybe this will eliminate the "Oh Model Railroading is Boring!" and "They only go around in circle ideas". This could draw new interest into the hobby by making interactive.

There are several people that ba***his product but let's face it, this product is not for the club layout, huge layouts, bolt and rivit counters, techno freaks, model railroading snobs and I've got 10 brass engine people. It is designed as entry level and does a great job at it. This is for those people that want to get into the so called World's Greatest Hobby and have fun!!!.

DCC under $100, $25 locomotives and doing away with the circle tracks, sounds pretty revolutionary to me and sounds like the future. There are a lot of snobs in this hobby and they cause a great deal of new people lose interest quickly. This product simply helps to create interest and some people bash it for what it can't do. Comparing apples to oranges shouldn't happen here.

RMax1

[Anonymous]

I agree. The Bachmann system is a good choice for beginners, my only reservations with it would be the limited programming and that it can only handle 9 locos. Over here, Roco offer digital starter sets for not a lot more money that are more expandable and can program more.

However, Bachmann seem to be slightly ahead on the "extras" - example their £20 DCC fitted locos (compared to £60 for the Roco equivelent, £40 loco and £20 decoder) are likely to be more affordable to younger modellers. I'm certainly planning to order one of their FT A/B sets with decoders installed in CB&Q paint when they're next in stock, mainly due to the cost saving though I've been after an FT for a while. Bachmann are offering decoder fitted locos for little more than the cost of a decent decoder, which has to be good. Looking at my three fairly new Bachmann GP40s/GP50s I can't decide whether to bother fitting them with decoders or just buy new ones pre-fitted, the cost would be much the same.

I would urge anyone looking at these locos to spend the few extra pennies for the DCC-chipped version, they're set up to run on DC and it'll be effective "future proofing" should you decide to go DCC in years to come. I now wish I'd done this! Cost over here is an extra £4 for the DCC version, a decoder to buy seperately is at least £10.

[Anonymous]

I'm not so sure about the Bachman EZ Command station being so stand out to be product of the year, sure its cheap - but cheapness isn't always everything. It has some big draw backs - not only a lack of programming but function control is very limited. Its completely unexpandable, it really is a throw-away item.

With some of the other "entry level" DCC systems such as the Digitrax Zephyr or Lenz Compact (Atlas Commander) there is a much higher level of functionality and at least you can still use them as a booster or throttle if your layout grows. I guess the Roco Lokmouse system is the same - I think it uses the Lenz XpressNet bus system?

I think its wrong to assume that people coming new to the hobby can't recognise what is a good quality product and pay that little bit more for it, nor always assume that the budget train set is always the entry point to the hobby. Many budget train sets are sold for every newcomer to the hobby, I'd hazard a guess that lots are used a few times then packed away.

If you want to name a product that will attract newcomers I would say Bachman's ultra cheap DCC equipped locos are a better candidate than the command station, at least they can still be be used when the layout grows, and super detailed as modelling skills increase.

For this year though the product of the year for me has got to be the Lenz Gold Series decoders - dirty rails have been the bain of a modellers life for years, and now here' s the technology to cure it - and at a reasonable price too!

[dinwitty]

I bought the Bachmann EZ Command more for a test throttle and to get my feet wet into DCC.

It will be good for the small layouts. But I will end up with a solid DCC system with wireless walkaround especially since I like to get up close to the action and switch, especially my design is a shelf multi level, its the only way.

I did block control and its wire haven mess.

DCC adds a lot for the MR experience.

my vote for product of the year...

BLI N&W 2-6-6-4

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by JamesT1



With some of the other "entry level" DCC systems such as the Digitrax Zephyr or Lenz Compact (Atlas Commander) there is a much higher level of functionality and at least you can still use them as a booster or throttle if your layout grows. I guess the Roco Lokmouse system is the same - I think it uses the Lenz XpressNet bus system?

Yup. Roco's system was developed working with Lenz and they share the XpressNet bus. A Lokmaus can be added to a Lenz Compact as a hand throttle (something I plan to do) and a fair number of the accessories are compatible - www.mgsharp.com has information on which Roco bits will work with Lenz