Affordable mallets& Whats with Broadway Ltd. ?

[Anonymous]

Now ,I understand Broadway Ltd.'s 2-6-6-4 is$500.00 because of it's sound system and that its DCC ready, but SOME of us can't spend that much$$$.
Especially if you need several of them. Yet, even if all the features were stripped off, you would still have a loco priced at $200 or so. Is it because they're bigger,
or is it the extra wheels, huh? Have you noticed all mallets seem to have to be
"superdetailed" or made by overseas companies that charge more because of import. Lets get a line of mallet locos that are simple, inexpensive,made in the U.S.A, and a DCC plug for conveinience.


P.S. spread the word.

[Anonymous]

Now ,I understand Broadway Ltd.'s 2-6-6-4 is$500.00 because of it's sound system and that its DCC ready, but SOME of us can't spend that much$$$.
Especially if you need several of them. Yet, even if all the features were stripped off, you would still have a loco priced at $200 or so. Is it because they're bigger,
or is it the extra wheels, huh? Have you noticed all mallets seem to have to be
"superdetailed" or made by overseas companies that charge more because of import. Lets get a line of mallet locos that are simple, inexpensive,made in the U.S.A, and a DCC plug for conveinience.


P.S. spread the word.

[Anonymous]

Actually you can find the BLI Class A for $399 if you look. The price of articulated engines is higher because of increased tooling cost involved with two set of drivers. The problem with a less detailed engine is that the market is demanding a detailed engine, not the less detailed engines of the 1970's. Also, the cost of producing an engine in the USA is much higher due to labor cost. As an example, the cost in producing an auto in the US is about twice as high as over-seas. If you want a articulated under $200 then you need to look on eBay for the old Rivarossi stuff.
Eric

[Anonymous]

Actually you can find the BLI Class A for $399 if you look. The price of articulated engines is higher because of increased tooling cost involved with two set of drivers. The problem with a less detailed engine is that the market is demanding a detailed engine, not the less detailed engines of the 1970's. Also, the cost of producing an engine in the USA is much higher due to labor cost. As an example, the cost in producing an auto in the US is about twice as high as over-seas. If you want a articulated under $200 then you need to look on eBay for the old Rivarossi stuff.
Eric

[Morpar]

I have a more recent Rivarossi 2-8+8-2 and it is no comparison with my BLI "A". I spent $180 for the Riv. The detailing is not as good, no sound, no DCC, no flywheels, and not as powerful as the "A". The sound alone is almost worth the price difference! I know that I am very pleased with my "A", now I just want another!

[Morpar]

I have a more recent Rivarossi 2-8+8-2 and it is no comparison with my BLI "A". I spent $180 for the Riv. The detailing is not as good, no sound, no DCC, no flywheels, and not as powerful as the "A". The sound alone is almost worth the price difference! I know that I am very pleased with my "A", now I just want another!

[ndbprr]

Latest reports coming in from buyers of the GG1 is that there are significant quantities arriving with stripped gears causing lots of whirring noise and no movement. This appeared on PRR-talk from several buyers. Don't know if it was one container that got rough handling or it is a unversal problem at this point.

[ndbprr]

Latest reports coming in from buyers of the GG1 is that there are significant quantities arriving with stripped gears causing lots of whirring noise and no movement. This appeared on PRR-talk from several buyers. Don't know if it was one container that got rough handling or it is a unversal problem at this point.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for shouting out folks but I forgot to explain something. When you're 12 and get
$7 a week, You have to save for a year to buy something over $100. Any ideas now?
Or, is there any hope of scratchbuilding?
Thank U: littlemon

[Anonymous]

Thanks for shouting out folks but I forgot to explain something. When you're 12 and get
$7 a week, You have to save for a year to buy something over $100. Any ideas now?
Or, is there any hope of scratchbuilding?
Thank U: littlemon

[Morpar]

If you aren't after a specific prototype, look for used locos to kitbash or strip parts from. I have built a freelanced articulated from 2 old Tyco 0-8-0 locos I bought for $10 each. They were by no means an "A", but they made a nice looking articulated locomotive that was fun to build. Since that time, I have passed on another 0-8-0 for $5, and did pick up a running Bachmann "J" class for $25! Could have had a second "J" for another $30, but since I had 2, I passed. The "J" used the same drivers as the "A", so the Bachmann seems a natural, but parts from them were a problem. I tried to order 2 sets of drivers from them and had nothing but trouble, even though I had the correct part number. I ended up buying them from Bowser, but the drivers for an "A" were $50. I had the frame mostly done and was to the point of making the boiler for an "A" when BLI announced theirs. At that point, I already had about $200 in my model, and it was far from done. In that light, $400 for a built loco with sound and DCC is a bargain. Please don't feel discouraged, at your age I was getting $3 a week and working my butt off for it! The nearest hobby shop was 25 miles away, and my parents wouldn't allow me to mail order even after I found out about it! Now at 36, I still don't have any room for a layout, so all these goodies that I can finally afford have to sit in a box and wait for a place to run them! Good luck!

[Morpar]

If you aren't after a specific prototype, look for used locos to kitbash or strip parts from. I have built a freelanced articulated from 2 old Tyco 0-8-0 locos I bought for $10 each. They were by no means an "A", but they made a nice looking articulated locomotive that was fun to build. Since that time, I have passed on another 0-8-0 for $5, and did pick up a running Bachmann "J" class for $25! Could have had a second "J" for another $30, but since I had 2, I passed. The "J" used the same drivers as the "A", so the Bachmann seems a natural, but parts from them were a problem. I tried to order 2 sets of drivers from them and had nothing but trouble, even though I had the correct part number. I ended up buying them from Bowser, but the drivers for an "A" were $50. I had the frame mostly done and was to the point of making the boiler for an "A" when BLI announced theirs. At that point, I already had about $200 in my model, and it was far from done. In that light, $400 for a built loco with sound and DCC is a bargain. Please don't feel discouraged, at your age I was getting $3 a week and working my butt off for it! The nearest hobby shop was 25 miles away, and my parents wouldn't allow me to mail order even after I found out about it! Now at 36, I still don't have any room for a layout, so all these goodies that I can finally afford have to sit in a box and wait for a place to run them! Good luck!

[Anonymous]

I run a few Rivarossi Y-6b's from the 1996 re-release, and I was satisfied with them because at the time they were the best non-brass articulateds around. Then a few years ago LifeLike produced the Heritage Y-3's and we had a much higher level of detail than had been previously available outside of a $2,000 brass articulated. I promptly added these to my roster. Now the BLI Class A's have the detail and sound. I dug deep and got one, and I can't believe the difference the sound makes! I immediately ordered a second one, and when it arrived with a detatched crosshead guide fouling the running gear, BLI paid for the UPS return and had a replacement unit back to me within ten days! Not bad service at all! I guess I'm a happy purchaser of these units. Now I need to get sound installed in the other N&W steamers I run before BLI releases the sound-equipped Y-6b I hear they're working on. Sure, I wi***hese locos cost half what they do, but all things considered, I am willing to live with the price especially when compared with brass, which most of us cannot afford.

[Anonymous]

I run a few Rivarossi Y-6b's from the 1996 re-release, and I was satisfied with them because at the time they were the best non-brass articulateds around. Then a few years ago LifeLike produced the Heritage Y-3's and we had a much higher level of detail than had been previously available outside of a $2,000 brass articulated. I promptly added these to my roster. Now the BLI Class A's have the detail and sound. I dug deep and got one, and I can't believe the difference the sound makes! I immediately ordered a second one, and when it arrived with a detatched crosshead guide fouling the running gear, BLI paid for the UPS return and had a replacement unit back to me within ten days! Not bad service at all! I guess I'm a happy purchaser of these units. Now I need to get sound installed in the other N&W steamers I run before BLI releases the sound-equipped Y-6b I hear they're working on. Sure, I wi***hese locos cost half what they do, but all things considered, I am willing to live with the price especially when compared with brass, which most of us cannot afford.

[joseph2]

Mantua used to make a 2-6-6-2 logger in the USA,I wonder if Model Power will sell it?Bowser makes a 4-6-6-4 kit.Bachmann has plans to sell a small Mallet .I prefer to buy things made in the USA too. Joe G.

[joseph2]

Mantua used to make a 2-6-6-2 logger in the USA,I wonder if Model Power will sell it?Bowser makes a 4-6-6-4 kit.Bachmann has plans to sell a small Mallet .I prefer to buy things made in the USA too. Joe G.

[cacole]

Model Power was advertising the former Mantua 2-6-6-2 logger and other models in the October 2003 issue of Model Railroader, but then I saw an announcement that production has been delayed (so, what else is new?) I notice that Model Power is not advertising in the November 2003 issue.

[cacole]

Model Power was advertising the former Mantua 2-6-6-2 logger and other models in the October 2003 issue of Model Railroader, but then I saw an announcement that production has been delayed (so, what else is new?) I notice that Model Power is not advertising in the November 2003 issue.