New Bachmann Starter

x568wcn · Post by **x568wcn** » Fri Aug 24, 2007 5:58 pm

Anyone seen the new Bachmann starter model? I have a small board I want to built a little layout on, and this is making me look in to 00 gauge.
It has a DCC socket, which is making me also think of DCC.

http://www.bachmann.co.uk/image_box.php ... height=403 I don't care that it's non too real.

Bullhead · Post by **Bullhead** » Sat Aug 25, 2007 10:46 am

My instinctive first response is that the Bachmann starter set is a crude toy which doesn't even attempt to represent a recognisable prototype - even very early Hornby models had better levels of detail. I think that if the 00 gauge/DCC bug does bite you and you develop a more extensive layout and collection, you may regret spending money on the starter set. I'd be more inclined to buy one of the many DCC-ready Bachmann or Hornby locomotives available from eBay and stick a decoder in it myself (it's a simple plug-in operation) - that way, I'd have a proper model whose level of detail and running characteristics are more truly representative of what 00 gauge has to offer. A quick look at eBay a couple of moments ago revealed a new BR green Hornby 08 shunter with 5 hours to go, currently bid to £21 - this model has a high standard of detail and a DCC decoder socket as standard. Its running qualities are likely to be far superior to the Bachmann starter loco, too.

However, that ignores the golden rule with these things: it's your money, your hobby, your layout - it's up to you! If it brings you pleasure, there's no possible debate.

x568wcn · Post by **x568wcn** » Sat Aug 25, 2007 11:00 am

Thanks for that, but I'm an LNER man, and I only have a small space.

I know there's a long way to go, but I have one on Ebay for 10.05 at the moment, and there isn't much in the Small LNEr range.

My other option was to stick with N and make a shed in the Eastern Reigon, in BR era, which could throw up alsorts of visitors!

Mark t

Bullhead · Post by **Bullhead** » Sat Aug 25, 2007 11:07 am

x568wcn wrote:Thanks for that, but I'm an LNER man.

So why consider a fictional prototype whose only relationship to the LNER is the lettering on the saddle tank?

x568wcn wrote:I only have a small space.

The 08 is an 0-6-0 too, so I don't really understand the size issue. Still, like I said, it's your call and your call only.

Frazmataz · Post by **Frazmataz** » Wed Aug 29, 2007 5:39 pm

I noticed that quite some time ago, on the Hattons website. I would avoid it, unless you get it for a child or if you're a modeller who just runs trains to run trains, and is not bothered about prototypical locomotives... If you want an 0-6-0 Saddle tank, you can't go wrong with a Hornby J94 sprayed black and renumbered.

x568wcn · Post by **x568wcn** » Wed Aug 29, 2007 7:58 pm

my trains have to be blue or green

Bullhead · Post by **Bullhead** » Thu Aug 30, 2007 7:04 am

x568wcn wrote:my trains have to be blue or green

How about a Bachmann J72, then? It's small, has the requisite LNER pedigree, and has been available in several versions of green livery (LNER and the eye-catching BR North Eastern Region styles). There are plenty about - for example, I just counted 5 green J72s on eBay, and I expect you could pick one up for less than £20. The J72 also responds well to DCC decoder fitting, although this isn't a job for the novice (I have one with a Lenz "Gold Mini" DCC decoder and Uninterruptible Signal Processing [USP] module).

x568wcn · Post by **x568wcn** » Thu Aug 30, 2007 6:42 pm

I like it, but didn't win it!