Mr. Bachmann,

I have decided I will bite the bullet and obtain one of the new On30 4-4-0s for my little common carrier/logging line.

I am going to obtain the steel cab version and detail it with the upcoming redetailing kit from Backwoods Miniatures, which Pete says will include the much needed cabbage stack casting in resin to give it the Argent Lumber Company look that a good Southern logging line needs to have.

I really like the look of the tender trucks of the early version of the 4-4-0 as opposed to the archbar trucks of the later, steel cabbed version.  Since my little line is struggling into the early 1960s, I have to have the steel cabbed version, but would really like to show the age of the locomotive via the older version of tender trucks.

Will any be available for sale?

Thanks.

Kevin

Contact Tony's Train Exchange.  I have nothing but positives to say about the service there - they have handled my business in an A++ manner.  Even handled a problem in my favor financially that most businesses, even though they were in the wrong, would have just walked away from.  Not Tony's.

Also, they are total experts in DCC and anything DCC related.  They have all the cutting edge DCC stuff and have a real feel for the pulse of the DCC industry and that aspect of the hobby.

Very willing to give advice, help, etc. in anyway they can.  Also, if they don't have it, probably no one else does.

Just do a search for Tony's Train Exchange.

A very happy customer.

Kevin S.

The article was by Charles Small and the 2-6-6-2 you have is a pretty close match to the prototype in question, the Angelina.

Go to Bruce Pryor's web site and you will find a builder's photo of this little Baldwin on the web site.

I do not recall which issue of MR the kitbash conversion is in.  Perhaps an e-mail to MR would get an answer for you and maybe you can by a backissue or at least get a photocopy of the article from them.

MMI, the die-cast division of Precision Scale Company, is going to produce in On3 and On30 both the Uintah 50 & 51 and the Sumpter Valley 250 & 251.  If you are interested, check their web site for dealers so you can reserve one.

From personal experience, I recommend Randy Lee, of Grizzly Mountain Engineering.  You can contact Randy through his web site.

Hope this helps for those who are interested.

The MMI locomotives to date are more expensive than a Bachmann locomotive, but they are essentially as detailed as a brass locomotive, AND, they weigh a ton so they pull a ton.

I am pretty excited about the impending arrival of the 4-4-0 but an still holding out hope for two items - a Heisler and a steel box car.

Does anyone know of the next major train shows where Bachmann might make their next major product announcement?

I know the new policy is to only announce new products when arrival is within a few months.

Thanks!

I agree that building kits is fun.  So is kitbashing them.

But given that the Grandt frameless tank car kits are essentially unavailable and the only narrow frame narrow gauge tank cars I have seen are brass and out of my price range, I would love to see Bachmann bring in one or the other of these famous narrow gauge tank cars, or at least something that was similar.

I just can't help but think that these would be good sellers.  Mr. Bachmann please take note!

I vote for a 24-25 foot steel box car based on an EBT design.  It would go well with the EBT 2-bay hoppers already in the Bachmann line.

Deerfield River Models is producing an EBT caboose kit so a steel EBT styled box would let you run trains that look like an EBT freight.

Scott,

Any way you can digitally bash the original 4-4-0 to have a cabbage stack, just so we could see what that would look like?

Kevin

Mr. Bachmann,

Would it be possible to post a clear photo of the 2-6-0 with the new 4-4-0 to allow modelers to get a feel for the exact size of the upcoming 4-4-0?

Thanks.

Kevin

Don Kralik of Xeodon used to, but the business is hiatus for awhile, Don has to focus on some other things.

I would try PSC or the Backshop.  You should order a PSC 1/4 scale parts catalog.  It costs about $23 but just looking at it and all the available parts is worth the price alone.  They have lots of different domes.

The Backshop I think has some fluted domes and the parts are all very high quality, not to mention Dave has lots of parts specifically for the Bachmann 2-6-0.

Hope this helps.

Kevin

Mr. Bachmann,

Given the new policy on announcing new products much closer to the actual arrival date for sale, can you give us a reasonable idea on when the 4-4-0s will arrive in the States?

Mainly, will they arrive in time for Christmas delivery to the modelers?

Thanks!

This will be a neat little locomotive to kitbash and detail.

Mr. Bachmann,

Will it be possible to obtain some of the "early" tender trucks that come with the early version of the 4-4-0 to use with the "modern" steel cab version?

Last question - any extra parts coming with this locomotive - a cabbage stack to convert it to a woodburner or an oil tank if it is to be an oil burner?

Cannot decide which it will end up as.

Thanks as always for the neat On30 stuff.

Kevin

Where can one find a photo of these 30 inch gauge 3 truck shays?

I have.  I used Tom Yorke's article in the Gazette, I forget which issue, as a guide.  I shortened a combine.

It is not difficult.  BUT, measure 3 or 4 times before you cut.  Think ahead and be careful.  Once the razor saw has been wielded you are commited.

Again, not difficult, just take your time and be careful.  The Yorke article, which would be worth getting your hands on, really makes the cuts, etc. that must be made very clear.

It turned out to be my best kitbashed piece of passenger equipment todate and I have about 10 or 11 pieces of passenger equipment kitbashed or detailed from stock Bachmann pieces.

If you don't want to got the razor saw route, Randy of Grizzly Mountain Engineering sells very nice kits for On30 coaches.  The On30 "Super Short" Combine kit is actually based on the Sierra coach and combine.  He has a web site, I just don't recall the address.

Hope this helps.

I have one that I installed a Tsunami decoder in.  It comes with a standard NMRA plug.  If you can solder up the speaker leads, your fine!

Great model.  Heavy.  Pulls a lot.