quit bashing Bachmann !!!!!

[grayfox1119]

Every manuafacturer in a competitve market, tries to find a "nitche" section to gain market share. If you look at the entire MRR age group as one parameter, it is fair to say that the age group spans approximately age 7 up to 90, with the largest grouping in the age 40-70 bracket. Now take a look at disposeable spending money by age bracket. The young group from age 7 to say age 24 will for the most part, not have a great amount of money to throw into the hobby. And, the age group from 70 to 90+ will not have a great deal of money to throw at their hobby because they are on fixed income with prices of everything from medical to oil & gas killing them financially. So if you are the head honcho of BLI, LifeLike/Walthers, Bachmann, etc., you pick a segment of the market where you want to target your efforts, where you feel you will reap the rewards of your effort. Excellent design engineering and high quality means higher prices, so you target the age group that can and will spend the higher bucks on a real nice locomotive. And for those who see that money can made in the 7-24 and 70 to 90+ age groups, the build to serve and PRICE this market segment.
There will always be the exceptions to this as with anything in life, in otherwords, the rich kid at age 7 that gets whatever he wants, and the retired CEO, Doctor, Lawyer, or Lottery winner at age 75 that can buy whatever the price is. But they are the exception, and do not influence the market that much.

[davekelly]

Bottom line. "Junk" and "fine runner" are in the eyes of the beholder. If you like Bachmann equipment and it makes you happy - then good for you. No matter what it is that you like there will be people that run stuff that is more expensive and higher quality that will call your stuff junk and those that run stuff that is less expensive and less quality that will say you have more money than brains.

Of course I would never expect a Yugo to run like a Lexus, but if the Yugo is what you can afford (or want to spend) and does what you want it to do - isn't that what matters? It is funny, we'll call people's model railroading stuff "junk" to their face, but would we walk up to a neighbor or co-worker that just bought a Dodge Neon and say "Man, that car is junk - you ought to buy a Mercedes."?

I'll admit that things such as Bachmann standard line and Tyco aren't the best out there, but if it weren't for those two companies, my dad and I wouldn't have had anything to run way back when - the time when that was all we could afford and my love of this great hobby began. Although these two lines don't fit my requirements or wants anymore - there is a place for them and people who will think they are just fine.

Just my opinion.

Dave

[Anonymous]

When modeling my logging operation, I first bought a Life-Like Shay and soon found it was junk. I then bought the Bachman Shay and this little loco is a shear delight. The side cylinder arrangement is very well engineered and she runs like a charm. I intend to buy another Bachman Shay. As for the Life-Like, it stays parked in the trees. By the way, I model in HO.

[slotracer]

There's a reason one sees many "bashing" bachmann, it's not some conspiracy or group motive, it's becasue they are known to make JUNK. It is fair and it is true for many people, because of repeat after repeat experience with POOR QUALITY. To say it is ome of the best modeling products ever either must come from a company plant, someone who has gotten a few unussually good pieces by chance or someone who really has no clue about what quality equipment is.
The Standard line, some of the best products ever ? you have to be joking seriously. That's like saying a yugo is every bit as good as a lexus, you are either joking or you blow your credibility right out of the gate with a statement like that.
I have never had any bacchman standard line stuff, but had some friends who did and they gave up on them, parked them as filler engines in the loco terminal or scrap line.
I had several spectrum diesels, the best ones were coffee grinders with 30 mph min speed, pooor tractive effort, fat details and would surge even at mainline speeds. The spectrum GP30 sat high and ran HORRIBLY.....it was not even worth teh time and expense to convert into a credible dummy unit.

[Anonymous]

but its so fun to bash[:D][:D]
bachman the bashful railroad line

[Anonymous]

I love bachmann's spectrum steamers, espicaly the revamped PRR K4, while I would love to have the BLI all diecast K4, current bills and high gas prices dicatate otherwise. You all should see the quality and detail of thier Briti***rains, it rivals BLI on every level except for factory sound.

[TrainFreak409]

I'm a Bachmann supporter![:D] Bachmann's products have treated me good, and so has their customer service! I love the Spectrum series, and I love the prices of the standard line. Sure, the quality may not be as good as an Altas or Kato, but where else can you find a 4-8-4 Northern that cheap? And I've heard good about the latest production run in N scale. I'll be getting one soon.[;)]

[robert sylvester]

[banghead] I agree with those who support Bachman. Early on, the products were shakey, even for mass production, that is in the HO Market. Poor runners, not very good when it came to speed control, and stopping and starting. In fact many were like that, Life Like, AHM, Mantua, Model Power, Walthers; even brass, some of those were the worst, yet still cost a fortune.
Then the bet was made between the presidents of Bachman and Life Like. When I was at the 1996 NMRA Convention in Atlanta, the Vice President of Production was there from Bachman, and we talked about the quality issue.
A bet was made between the two presidents as to which company could produce a plastic engine of detailed quality and ran smoothly, [8D][:D] at a reasonable price. That bet was in the eighty's, it took some time but Life Like won the race and Bachman with spectrum was right behind. I still have my originals and they both run great. By 1996 that same Vice-President was demonstrating to me the correctness of the bull-dog nose of their F-Units and how close their Bachman Plus and Spectrum Engines were to the prototype.
Since then they have produced a line of accessories, Especially the Spectrum buildings, and Bachman Plus line. And Life Like too has produced cars and buildings. Take a look at their Proto 2000 rolling stock, excellent work. And for the most part their costs are below Kato and Atlas, with Athearn in between.
Bachman has allowed many into the hobby with good looking and good running products, at reasonable prices.
And the Life-Like 1000 products are doing the same thing.
Sure, it's a wonderful thing to have Kato, Broadway Limited, or an Atlas running on the Pike[8D], that's cool, but thank goddness for Bachman and others who have tried to keep it affordable with parts of their line. Even the new Tower Line, plastic with the brass look, without the prices, demonstrates that Overland sees a market of those who want the detail but won't pay the brass price.
Robert
WTRR
HUb City Division[;)]

[davekelly]

QUOTE: Originally posted by emdgp92

Another annoyance was that the black "Amtrak" lettering on the side...rubbed off just by handling the unit!

Sounds like they need a new PR person. "NEW - Self Weathering Lettering."

[:D][:D][:D][:D][:D][:D][:D][:D][:D]

[Darth Santa Fe]

I love Bachmann!![:D][:D] I have a lot of Bachmann stuff and the only thing that's failed me is an F9A. The F9 is 1 of 4 Bachmann 4-wheel-drive diesels I have and it's the only one that hasn't run well. I think that the Spectrum AND Standard engines are great!! And I don't even have one of their Spectrum steamers yet!!

[rudywa]

I'm with you Oklahoma, Bachmann has done me right for years, since 1972 or so and I don't care what others think, their price is affordable, their warranty unbeatable and their products are mostly great!!!!!!!![:D][:D][:D][:D]

[emdgp92]

Some Bachmann stuff is crap, but some isn't bad either. For example, I have a pair of Spectrum F40PHs. I can't really fault them, since they pull well, and seem to be immune to the "dirty track" problem. One even took a dive to the floor, and once I repaired the bashed-in nose, it still runs great. What I *can* fault, is some of the annoying problems I've had with them. For example, the grab irons come mounted flat against the carbody, and the numberboards don't fit into the housing. We all know that the grabs should be slighty raised. I fixed the numberboards by filing them until they fit correctly. Another annoyance was that the black "Amtrak" lettering on the side...rubbed off just by handling the unit! But, even with all that, I'd still buy another F40 and will still recommend them to others.

I stay away from their older (non-Spectrum) F units though. I don't like how the frame is plastic, and the single powered truck bugs me. But, at least they *finally* gave that thing an 8-wheel power pick up. These units have their uses...they're great for "repowering" Tyco Baldwins :p

[Berk-fan284]

My first Bachmann: an ancient 4-8-4 Northern with the "pancake" motor and split drive gear (bought used and abused) became a Bowser repower kit project, rating so-so (it's used). I took the plunge a few months later and bought the Spectrum 4-8-2 Heavy Mountain(new), the USRA 2-6-6-2 and the the 2-10 Decapod, rating 2 thumbs up, A1, NOW WE'RE TALKING QUALITY!!!! I also picked up the regular line GS-4 War Baby not a Spectrum but better than the Northern.

[mmartian22]

just putting ing thought about bachman i used to ba***hem too but there spectrum series is a great inprovement .over their regular engines i have bought thier climaxas shays and heislers i have installed dcc in them and they are great running engines

[bikerraypa]

A Bachmann set is what got me re-interested in trains a few years ago. I still have it and still run the engine and cars now and again, and, although not rivet-counter perfect, I like them. In N, my first ever locomotive was a Bachmann Dash-8 and it performs superbly. So, all in all, I like their stuff.

I have, however, had two Spectrum Pacifics in HO. One could barely pull its own tender, and the other never really ran at all.

Ray out

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Oklahoma Train Nut
does anyone back me up here ????

sorry not me
nope no blotchman for me[:-^]

[Bob Hayes]

Twenty years ago when I worked in a hobby shop, when someone would bring a Bachmann train in for repair, even if we had sold it to them, we would have to tell them to return it to Bachmann, because Bachmann wouldn't reimburse us for the cost of repairs to their equipment. True, they have a life time guarantee, but you have to pay to ship it back to them. As a result, we stopped carrying the line. Their reliability was just too poor.

Bob Hayes

[Anonymous]

Deja vue all over again, May 2004? Someone hit the last page button of the forum to resurrect this one?
Will

[wctransfer]

First of all, there cars suck, most of the engines suck, specially the Dash 8 Widecabs, the windows make them look like crap, and what else is to say? I will never buy a bachman ever, have you seen the SD45 they did? The trucks dont even come close to what they look like in real life.

Alec

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Oklahoma Train Nut

here latley I hvae heard alot of people saying that Bachmann trains are terrible and low quality. THAT IS VERY UNFAIRLY UNTRUE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Bachmann products are somke of the best model railroading products ever !!! I don't mean just the spectrum line, the standard line is relly good to !!! does anyone back me up here ????

They made the BQ23-7, so they're definitely not completely worthless. I'd like to see Atlas do that.


uspscsx

[dave9999]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Don Gibson

The Original Bachmann product line WAS cheap.
Their 'Spectrum' line was 'uneven'... fair (GP-30's) to good (GE 44 switcher's).
The 'Heritage Series' is outstanding. An all-out committment.

We'll see what tomorow brings. The only thing I can tell you, is Reputation's are earned.

Actually the Heritage Line is made by Life-Like as part of the Proto 2000 Line. So I guess
this makes Bachmann just cheap and uneven [;)] Dave

[BRAKIE]

Don,The only IHC I ever own was a 2-8-0.Not a bad runner but lack details and one had to cut the wires to the smoke unit or remove it.If you didn't one ran the risk of the smoke unit over heating and melting a hole in the smoke box.
I only owned one MP.A RS11 that my late wife got me years ago.Only Bachmanns I ever owned was those N scale GP40s and 1 F7..
Never was a fan of Bachmann,IHC,AHM,Tyco,Mantua or MP..Didn't care that much for Varney(except the 2-8-0) or Revell..

[Don Gibson]

Larry: I wouldn't know. I've never had an IHC, Tyco, or a Model Power.

[BRAKIE]

Don,While I fully agree with you I must say that is like me comparing my Escort to a $30.000 car.Nooooo comparison..The real question can Bachmann be compared to any other brand except for IHC,Tyco and Model Power?

[Anonymous]

[}:)] quit bashing Bachmann???[}:)]

Awwwww,, c'mon,,,its so Eeeeeaaaaaassssssyyyyyyyyyyyy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
[;)][(-D][swg][:-,][C=:-)][C):-)][oX)][:-^][yeah][:)][alien][;)][(-D][:-,][swg]

[Don Gibson]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Oklahoma Train Nut

I am sorry that many do not share my support of bachmann. I still think they are great ! the standard line is awsome !

Oklahoma Train Nut:

What we are seeing is different points of view either lookin up, or down, on the same product. I guess everyone has a different idea of what 'GOOD' is.

OK TRAIN NUT: take a Bachmann FM HH1644 (one of their 'better' engines) down to a Hobbyshop and put it on the same track as the Atlas version, and sloooowly turn up the power. Forget for a moment the paint job.

[Anonymous]

Bachmann spectrum steam and electrics are some of the best models out there.


everything else they make is train set quality junk.

[Don Gibson]

IS BACHMANN really good - or just So-so?

Their product's have been 'Uneven', at best It's as though they have 5 different factories in 5 different countries making 5 different products, with 5 different quality levels - In just their 'Spectrum' and 'Plus' lines, alone.

It's your money.

[Anonymous]

I agree about them making good projects.
Like this one.
http://www.the-gauge.com/showthread.php?t=10856

http://www.the-gauge.com/showthread.php?t=10032

Anyone with a Bachmann they aren't happy with and wants to see it put to use instead of polluting our landfills with them, let me know I'll recycle them.