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Bachmann Spectrum HO J-Class problems

I would again like to express my appreciation for your quality publication. Your product reviews are especially welcome. As a retiree on a somewhat fixed income, (Federal Government annuity) I need to plan my railroad hobby expenses with care. Your very honest and impartial reviews are a deciding factor in planning additions to my collection.

Your review on the Spectrum “J” as well as the other Spectrum New Releases are very informative. Additionally troubling was to read a review of this model in the latest issue of The Arrow which is the Norfolk and Western Historical Society magazine. Three members, all experienced hobbyists, reported that the models they purchased all had similar defects. The models were prone to frequent derailment of both the trailing and pilot trucks, as well as problems with the tender. One of the test tracks used has an S-curved section with curves of 30" radius or better. After examination, it was discovered that all three models had both front and rear truck draw bars reversed! After correcting the problem, tracking improved. Tender problems were corrected by some trouble shooting, careful filing and the addition of extra weight.

Apparently the draw bar problem was a result of poor quality control at the manufacturer. The three members’ attempt to discuss the problems with Bachmann was unsatisfactory. The Bachmann customer service representative, when advised the model was derailing on a radius of 36", gave the reply “It’s supposed to run on an 18 inch radius curve!” (Bachmann E-Z track?) However, according to the report, Bachmann did offer to accept return of the models for repair.

I am submitting this information to alert other modelers of a potential “bad run” of these models, and how the problems were corrected, with or without assistance from the customer service folks.

Bob Laine
Manassas, VA
Thanks for the heads-up, Bob. I was personally involved in the testing of the Spectrum J on my own layout and saw no evidence of the problems you mention. We ran it through curves from 30 inches down to 18 and all was fine. We also worked it through crossovers which are, by nature, S-curves. I’m assuming these gentlemen checked wheel gauging; if not, that might be a source of some problem. I have dealt extensively with the service department at Bachmann and have always found them to be helpful, especially if you’re willing to send a product in so that they can see it. It is difficult for a manufacturer to catch and correct a factory problem until they see the situation in person. I know this is irritating for a proud new owner, but we are the final step in quality control.

As to your initial comments about using our reviews to help you make informed choices, that states what we want to accomplish. Hopefully, we help folks match up with products that are to their liking. —Ed.
The “Magnificent Seven” return!

John Sipple’s review of the Life-Like Products, Inc. Proto 1000 Budd RDC-3 in the May issue was very good, as far as it went! DCC capability was never mentioned, but in all fairness to John, the Operating Instructions, that come with the RDC-3, have no reference to DCC capability, either! (I have whined to LL, and a solution is in the works.)

My layout is DCC, and the RDC-3 runs DC great, whisper-quiet out of the box. If you remove the couplers, and the four screws holding the shell, you can gently lift the shell to see a magnificent circuit board, with “x’s”, to show you where to cut the traces to enable the “Magnificent Seven” solder points of DCC!

Although it’s not a straight DCC plug-in application, it certainly is a great DCC or DC product/runner, and has to be seen — you can’t really hear it without a DCC Sound Decoder!

Peter W Freeman
via the Internet
By golly, I never knew that Yul Brynner and his pals rode into the sunset on an RDC! Actually, Peter, thank you for sending us this information. I do many things, but DCC isn’t among them, and I have to rely on manufacturers and others to set the record straight. You’ll be pleased to see the successor to the RDC-3 reviewed in this month’s issue. The RDC-1 also makes no mention in its literature of DCC compatibility, but it should be at least as capable as the system you describe. Ours is a prerelease version, so perhaps some change will appear when they hit the dealers’ shelves. Let us know if that happens. —Ed.
Great feedback

You’ve come a long way baby. You can be proud of the Model Railroad News you are publishing. The format is great, the color is great, the reviews are great and now the “how-to” articles are great. The article on pulling power in the May issue and the series on the Large Scale Kadee couplers was great. No wonder the interest in Model Railroad News is on the increase in the Phoenix area. Keep up the great work.

Elden “Ellie” Barbieri
Phoenix, AZ
Wow, thanks, Ellie. At least part of our success has to be laid at the feet of the manufacturers who produce such wonderful products. I find it easy to write reviews about products which provoke enthusiasm within me.

I’d be interested in knowing if Phoenix area modelers have been following the series of books by David F. Myrick called The Railroads of Arizona? Jeff Saxton is reviewing the lastest installment, Volume 5, in this issue. It covers, among other things, the Santa Fe route into Phoenix. —Ed.
Larger View Coupler Article

To Larger View columnist John Sipple:

A great article about couplers! It states that this is “the final part of a 3 part series.” I got this newspaper at a model railroad swap meet in Simi Valley, CA two weeks ago and have read it cover-to-cover. How can I get copies of the first two articles you did on couplers? I have an HO layout with Kadee couplers; friends have given me odd pieces of rolling stock that need to be converted, and I am doing okay so far. Some are a challenge, and I seek help from a couple of railroader friends. Thanks for the help and again, it was an excellent article for a novice like me in HO scale. I am an old Lionel fan from the trains I had as a youngster in the late 1940s.

Bob Fitch
via the internet
You’ve hit the nail on the head, Bob. Some convert easily and others are a challenge. If you are doing okay so far, then you’re on a par with the rest of us! Some cars are designed such that Kadee #5s are a drop-in, others require more interesting solutions. The most important two things you need are a height gauge and a copy of their catalog which helps to show what all is available. You can get one from your dealer, at their website www.kadee.com, by phone at (541) 826-3883, or mail to: Kadee Quality Products, 673 Avenue C, White City, OR 97503-1078.

Of course, the Larger View series is a Large Scale-specific subject, but many of the ideas remain the same. For back issues, send $4 each to cover shipping and handling to Model Railroad News, P.O. Box 1080, Merlin, OR 97532-1080. You may call our number with credit card in hand: (541) 955-1096. While you’re at it, you can also start your subscription! —John Sipple
Detailing a Bowser Kit

I am working on the Bowser PRR T-1, and I am at a loss as to how to properly detail the model. The plans/diagrams supplied with the kit aren’t all that detailed as far as giving measurements for the various wire “pipes,” and the proper placement of same.

The drawings for the locomotive are not full size, and are hard to see the details on. I’ve contacted Bowser, and asked if they had a full scale size drawing of that engine. All they did was send me another copy of what I already had.

Do any of the readers of this magazine have any experience with this model, or know where I can find some good photos of the TENDER for this engine? I have many shots of the engine, but just one of the tender, which was a low angle shot with little of the top showing.

Any ideas will be greatly appreciated. Thanks

Dick Schweiss
Tacoma, WA
I personally haven’t run into this problem before, but I do know that there are a lot of photos on the Internet. Pennsy, like many other railroads, applied common features to tenders and other rolling stock, meaning that you could flesh out some of what you know with photos of other class tenders. Always check with the railroad’s historical society; you will often find some of the nicest and most helpful people there. The Pennsylvania Railroad Technical & Historical Society has a website at www.prrths.com You could also mail them at: PRRT&HS, P.O. Box 712, Altoona, PA 16603-0712.

Also, we can hope that some reader will emerge with yet another solution for you.—Ed.
Anybody wanna tackle a tank car?

I’m presently in the middle of enjoying the latest issue of MRN, especially as regards to the review of the Athearn SIECO 50 foot boxcars. I applaud the way that you provide a thorough and in-depth review of each of the major new models each month which provide additional information for us modelers. In particular, I would like to comment on the excellent direction that Athearn has chosen to take for their most recent freight car and diesel models which are not only accurate renditions in every way of their prototypes, but are also subjects that no one else has done so far. This all started with the beautiful Pullman Standard 5344 cubic foot flat roof boxcar model in their regular product line. It continues with the Genesis SIECO boxcar, the 60 foot boxcars and now their Trinity 5161 cubic foot grain hopper. I am one of the more old fashioned modelers who would rather work with undecorated kits and paint and decal their own, but I do understand the trend towards RTR for those who may have less time available. To close, I just want to again congratulate Athearn, Atlas and the other manufacturers who are making these fantastic new products! Now, I just wonder if someone would like to tackle Trinity/GATX tank cars?

Jim Mail
Egg Harbor Township, NJ
Tank cars are a bit big for me to tackle, Jim, but there is a good chance that one of our manufacturers will take a crack at it. As to the ready-to-run issue, I like having the option of building a kit or buying a car all set to go. Is this a great hobby or what! —Ed.
How to add DCC to the Bachmann 1:20.3 Consolidation

I uploaded a write-up on adding DCC and Soundtraxx Sierra sound to the Bachmann Fn3 (G) scale external frame Consolidation to my website: www.WiringForDCC.com

I am also working on the Bachmann Fn3 4-4-0 American. If it is not done by the time your magazine reaches your readers, they should watch my web page closely as it should be ready soon.

Allan Gartner
via the Internet
Thanks Allan. I’ve had a look and the Large Scale DCC crowd should find this very useful. Visitors should take time to check out the rest of the site; it’s a fun place to explore. Your public service attitude toward helping others with DCC is appreciated. —Ed.
Large Scale review paint update

As a custom painter and builder of G scale trains (I own Shawmut Car Shops (www.shawmutcarshops.com), I have painted quite a few of USA Trains’ locomotives. From stripping paint off the engines, I can tell you that they not only use paint, but also vinyl. Try removing the stripe on the Southern F3A with Remove-It or any of the other strippers. The lettering comes off, but the stripe stays. I usually use Walthers’ Solvaset and an ink eraser to remove lettering and wet sand the vinyl off. Also you can ship the GP38 with the handrails mounted. Some of early USA diesels such as the NW2 were impossible to ship with the hand rails mounted.

You can feel the vinyl on the new USA hoppers cars. I have an R car and can feel the vinyl. Aristocraft has used vinyl for years. CR U25B has a vinyl herald. Mobilgas tank car “Mobilgas” is in vinyl. You can get a real solid color using vinyl, and they also make a printable vinyl. I recently went out and bought a Roland Stika SX-8 vinyl cutter as I can not always get a solid white, yellow, or orange with my ALPS printers.

Cheers,

Jeff Damerst (Shawmut Car Shops)

P.S. Nice job in the June issue. I really like MRN. You have a very nice layout.
Hi Jeff, thanks for the kind words. I didn’t know about the vinyl letter process and so I hit the ‘Net. I came up with a place in New Jersey called Beacon Graphics at (800)-762-9205 (ask for Rick at extension 213). They have a website: www.signmaking.com which shows the Roland Stika line. You can mail them at Beacon Graphics, 189 Meister Ave., Somerville, NJ 08876. The vinyl material is 2 mil in thickness and is available in hundreds of colors. 10 yard rolls 15 inches wide cost $15. The design is cut into the vinyl using a carbide blade which is controlled by the machine via computer software which is available both for Windows and the Mac. The blade leaves the backing intact. You pull out the vinyl which will not be used in your design and pick up what is left with a low-tack tape, allowing you to transfer the design. Being vinyl, the material can be flexed into cracks and around rivets and such, especially with the help of a hair drier. If a person doesn’t want to cough up more than $600 for one of these machines, I imagine they can contact you and have you make up just the designs they need. Unfortunately for the modeling world, ALPS has discontinued their printer line. That makes this information about the vinyl cutter all the more interesting. The 2-mil material could be used down to HO scale, but is most applicable to Large Scale. —Ed.
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