Simon has probably been wondering why I've not yet asked him for money and sent him a loco. Well, in part I was checking that the loco stood up to further handling and scrutiny, also that it passed further running trials, but (perhaps most of all) I wanted to get a standard Bachmann A2, ready for my next conversion attempt, and do a side-by-side comparison of the "mint out of the box" factory item and my long-suffering converted loco.
The ever trusty Royal Mail delivered my A2 from Walton's of Altrincham yesterday. Their's was the best price I could find for a new loco, actually in stock (but 36 hours after agreeing the deal one went on eBay for about 12 quid less, of course.....). I'll try to post pictures later to illustrate some of the highlighted features and differences.
Having "roughly guessed" the original weight of the A2, only after hacking pieces off
, so that I could ballast my converted loco to a similar level for haulage trials, it was interesting today to put the two on the electronic scales.
A2, loco only, weighed 365g (13oz)
A2/3 weighed 395g (14oz), so it looks like my added lead in the front of the boiler and in the firebox more than compensated for the lost weight of the metal front running plate and backhead, but I don't appear to have gone so far as to impose a ridiculous extra burden on the loco's bearings and mechanism.
The A2, as supplied, will be fine for my butchery, but (although it has no doubt been said many times elsewhere) I found several failings of quality-control which would probably be a disappointment for anyone disinclined to do their own trouble shooting, and expecting a spot-on RTR item:
1. An over-oiling slick everywhere around the rear coupled wheels, especially on the left side.
2. Left front bogie wheel pressed way too far onto the axle, to a frame-nippingly-tight BTB gauge.
3. Left side of main long upper portion of running plate bent into a sagging curve.
4. Cab leaning backwards on the pulled-down-from-horizontal rear section of running plate.
5. One handrail knob on left side of boiler rattling around loose on the wire rather than glued into the boiler.
6. Top lamp iron bent back against the smokebox door.
7. Left cabside numbers not truly horizontal / not in line with the cab shape or the lining panel.
Pure coincidence that four or five of the defects appeared only/mainly the side of the loco that cannot be seen as presented in its box?
More later.....
I get paid next week anyway 
It does sort of confirm the A2/1 as the poor man's A2 in some respects, though I think they have a certain je ne sais quoi about them, with the V front cab and electric lighting.
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