It hasn't been all that long ago that we were expecting the same thing to happen with the Life-Like Berkshire back when the HO models came out with two different boilers, only to learn that such was not the case. For all we know these could be an application of reusing old tooling with possibly some improvements what with Walthers no longer desiring to do them in N (maybe the Bachmann Berk is why they chose to not do any more). While I do hope that this will mean that the correct C&O boiler will be produced until we actually see the models come out it will be purely a matter of speculation on any of our part with a healthy hope that they won't let modelers down.
And try they do! They put out more steam than anyone! Hope they keep it up. But, if they wanted to please everyone, they could do releases, on sone of thier smaller units with a variety of dcc tenders
Any idea what makes the NKP Berkshires a "Railfan version", other than the numbers (765 and 759 were used for railfan service)? I was about to try and turn an old Rivarossi S2 Berkshire into something worth running, but maybe I won't. George
In the HO version, the "rail fan version" is #765 WITHOUT the Mars light. The regular-service version has the Mars light. The Bachmann release brochure says that the N-scale NKP units come in two varieties: #759, railfan version WITH Mars Light and #765 railfan version. But the photo for #765 clearly has the Mars light (sitting right above the regular headlight; you can easily see it in the profile shot). So I think we'll just have to wait and see - in HO, "railfan version" means #765 without the Mars light. Personally, I want the Mars light, so if the 765 doesn't come with that, I'll just order 759's and renumber them as necessary. I don't see any other differences between the photo and the in-service 765 other than the Mars light issue and perhaps the paint - my recollection is that the in-service berks were all black, not black with gray smokeboxes and fireboxes, but I'll have to go look at my NKP books. John C.
I got burned on the Life-Like 2-8-4's I got 5 of the first runs and NONE of them pulls worth a D**N out of the box (after break in time). I won't buy another first run of anything now, I'll wait until SPOOKSHOW (Mark) does a review at the very least. I would like to have a couple of good running, and with sound would be a plus, Berks but I'm gonna wait until I see/hear how they run before adding to the INDIANA RAILWAY's roster. I'll just keep running my Con-Cor 2-10-2's and adding DCC/sound to them by & by. OLDRK Count me in on that ALLEGHENY wish.
Some very crappy photos here of the real N scale pre=production models: http://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=33393.0 (easier than reposting everything)
I'll bet that the prices at woo woo woo will be less than $300 when it first comes out and they will drop from there.
Without sending this down the wrong path, here's hoping China ends up playing on fairer ground and the pendulum swings back towards manufacturing in countries that thought they could have succesful thriving economies, without strong manufacturing. In staying on topic, I'm betting this release won't be the one where prices get higher.
Based on some previous model price discounts including the Yellowstone I think that this will range between about $190 to the Mid $200 depending on the discounter. And consulting my new crystal ball, just received from Madam Zacharitis, I am hereby predicting the Bamnn will make a foray into N scale geared steam in the next 3 to 4 years or sooner with a Class B or C Climax geared loco. Whether it is a B two trucker or a C three trucker will depend on just how much they want to invest in the engineering. But they already have the class C in three truck form in HO so my money is on a three trucker for N scale since usually HO releases are usually followed up by similar releases a few years later in N scale.
Top Hobby has the Berks on pre-order for $190.82. http://www.tophobbytrains.com/search.aspx?find=Pre-Order&log=false&manufacturer=5 Doug
I would have liked to have seen that HO Mikado at the start of the flyer in N along with a Pacific, or better yet the AT&SF Northern redone to Spectrum standards.
Code: (bachmann)HO releases are usually followed up by similar releases a few years later in N scale. Wouldn't it be nice if Walthers did that with their structures line? Don't those guys know there is a wide-open field for structures in N, since anybody's layout no matter what their home road is can use them? Sometimes even era doesn't matter.
