N Scale Supply has an announcement for an N scale Alco S4 to be produced by Bachmann. Me thinks they'll have a winner. CG
They really slipped that one under the radar. What's the occasion? The Bachmann website says nothing about it. They DO show a new HO S-4. Anybody else find an announcement besides N Scale Supply? I see a P&LE and PRR in my future. What else can you make using an S-4 chassis? FS
Wow. I check NScaleSupply right now and they show it. I'm in for one SP and one Santa Fe (both are in the respective 1950s Zebra Stripes for those two roads). Mr. Wallet just sighed again (and has a happy internal smile as he does that).
Very interesting announcement, a big gap in N scale filled. I hope they are well done units. If the demand is what I suspect it will be, it won't be long before Bachmann is announcing additional runs. Most of the N scalers I know around here have been waiting for these.
I second this! I have wanted an Alco S series for a while now. I have passed up MANY opportunites in the Arnold S-2 due to runability/noise issues that they are prone to. If Bachmann does these locos to the same quality as the 44 and 70 tonners they will have themselves a hot commodity in my opinion.
Glad to see that a manufacturer has come to the play in the N scale switcher yard. That's 3 NEW switchers in the past 3 years for Bachmann. Obviously they see a market that other manufacturers don't seem to want to fill. Meanwhile... Atlas has not expanded their VO series to include the VO 660 and other Baldwin/Lima/Hamilton types that could use the mechanism. Is it 'possible' that Atlas lost their tooling to the Chinese when they changed factories (IIRC reading about tooling remaining with China's factories). Walthers has announced a new run of the former LifeLike SW switchers... but nothing totally new. I wonder what happened to the Arnold S2 tooling... albeit... outdated by todays standards. I do hope that this S4 turns out to be as good or better than their other two... and if so... that they do all of the other S1 the S3 versions.
Over on another N scale forum there is a lot of talk about this release. Paul Graff from Atlas chimed in and wrote: "I'm still going to wait for Atlas to do an S-2." and later wrote: "You know the NMRA show opens tomorrow and there are likely to be some announcements from Atlas...: Could it be that they are announcing an S2????
Who knows. But one thing is for sure. It would not surprise me one bit if Atlas decides to do it as well. How many times have we seen one mfg come out with say a beth gon and 2 mo later another mfg comes out with again...................a beth gon. Sometimes I wish mfgs would talk with one another about who is releasing what and when. Yes I realize this is a pipe dream as one mfg thinks their product will sell better than their competition. What I guess I am saying though is instead of someone say Atlas putting tons of time, energy, and who knows how much $$$$ into coming out with a product right on the heels of someone else, wouldn't it make more sense for them to come out with something completely different that NO ONE else has ever touched before? This to me would make more sense from a business standpoint.
One of our members here has Shapeways shells ready to go already for Alco S-2 and S-4 models. He even got the Blunt trucks for the S-2 as a conversion of the LL SW9/1200 donor mechanism's trucks.
Not really. Considering that if they tooled the mechanism right, it could be used for HH660's, SW1000/1500, Alco switchers, and even the EMD SW/NW series. Atlas would be foolish not to do it. Keep in mind that there is no official announcement from Bachmann (N Scale Supply is the only one I am aware of), why would you consider Atlas to be wasting their time? If they announce at the show tomorrow, Atlas would be the first to make it official. (not counting Paul's tease on the Railwire). The Bman hasn't even confirmed the rumor on their own board.
Atlas and Bachmann already both make H16-44's, but in different phases, so I don't see a problem with one doing an S4 and the other doing an S2. I don't see anything unusual about there being nothing on Bachmann's website yet, manufacturer's own sites are often the last place we hear of new models.
I hope so, I would rather buy from Atlas than Bachmann any day of the week. The details, undec availability, and the variety of roadnames they will end up doing will be plentiful. As far as duplication, well, the market can sort that out. Some people will be happy with B-mann, and some will be happy with Atlas. If I knew Atlas was really doing to put them out I would definitely wait for them. Your mileage may vary!
I anticipate that I would buy both. Odds are that the Bman will beat Atlas to the stores, and I would buy a couple just to check out possible uses for the mechanisms.
I'm kinda surprised that Paul chimed in with that rather cryptic and provocitive posting. Changing times... Cheers, -Mark
So now, after all these years of want, we'll be flooded with Alco switchers? It's raining Alco's! Bring'em on. Just pre-ordered the Bmann 2-6-0, from BLW. Hi again. Joe
Already have an S-1 and a S-2 but no S-4 on the horizon for me since my mainline road didn't have them unless I decide I need another logging loco. But with a decent fleet of SWs my wallet and credit card will probably remain undamaged. It will be a wait and see on the 2-6-0. Depending on the boiler configuration maybe one will get added to the steam fleet. Again my mainline road only rostered 2 with one being a Belpaire and the other a conventional boiler. Depending on the boiler configuration again maybe I will get the fodder for a closer 0-6-0 than the current offerings.
