Bachmann S4 - Any pics?

jamesdewarinireland Aug 13, 2013

  1. mtntrainman

    mtntrainman TrainBoard Supporter

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    Just curious as I hadnt read anything here or other forums about this...or I just missed it.

    Are you saying the new Bachmann S4 actually has traction tires ? :question:
     
  2. John Moore

    John Moore TrainBoard Supporter

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    I should probably have written similar in size AND with NO traction tires like this one. In other words neither model has traction tires. And I am not an advocate of traction tires either especially on locos that place a small footprint on the rails. However that said and dispensed with I just happen to have a bottle of the old Bull frog Snot somewhere around here and I may just apply a very thin (note the key word thin) coat to one wheel of each truck on opposing sides on the inside axles then see what happens with electrical pickup and traction. Nice thing with the old Bullfrog is if it effects the pickup adversely enough it can easily be removed.
     
  3. mtntrainman

    mtntrainman TrainBoard Supporter

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    Thnxs John...

    Whew almost had me freakin out! TT's could have been a deal breaker for me...lol. I have an old GP20 with BS on one wheel set. Been going on 3 years and still pulls and runs great :)
     
  4. joetrain59

    joetrain59 TrainBoard Member

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    Ordered up some lead sheet at Hobbytown today. Thanks Tony.
    Joe D
     
  5. Westfalen

    Westfalen TrainBoard Member

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    Whether traction tires are good or not depends on who does them. I received a pair of Kato's new Japanese DD13 switchers a week ago, they have one traction tired wheel on the inner wheelset of each truck and they have no pickup problems. I don't have enough modules at home to do a pulling comparison but I'll see what each will pull at a train show on Sunday and report back.
    IMG_1191_resize.JPG
     
  6. John Moore

    John Moore TrainBoard Supporter

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    I did my last tweaking and modifying to the S-4. I readjusted the MT 1015 height by doing some more filing and am happy with the result. Applied a Very Thin (note very thin) coat of Bullfrog Snot to one wheel of each truck on the inside axle on opposites sides. Does not appear to have affected the electrical pick-up most notably through turnouts. The coating is so thin that I can barely see a slight green hue to the two wheels it was applied to. Back to the test track again and on level managed 24 cars of varying types. Very slight improvement on the 2% grade. Managed to get 8 cars up the grade. As compared to one of my SW-9s on level testing the SW-9 managed 20 cars or 4 cars less. I next compared an RS-1 with a total of 22 cars on level. For the heck of it I pulled out one of my FA-2s and it walked 40 cars around the track gaining speed. None of the locomotives had traction tires or any added weight. So without either added weight or traction tires the SW-9 and the RS-1 will out pull the S-4 on level. Also I tried again to see if anything would MU with this loco. Tried both the RS-1 and the SW in trailing and lead positions on the front end, and as a rear end pusher with unsatisfactory results. Both locos were spinning their wheels trying to either drag or alternately push the S-4. I have yet to find anything that will satisfactory MU with this loco except another S-4. Even my Class A Climax with 44 and 70 tonner chassis under them run away from this loco and both of my 6 drivered wood burning steamers out pull it on grades without traction tires or additional weight.

    So in summation out of the box 12 maybe 15 cars on level as has been reported. Remove some of the blackening from the wheels add additional weight balanced front to rear, and 2 wheels receiving Bullfrog Snot, and you may be able to get up to 24 cars, that is on 11 radius and absolutely level. So this loco will get patched for BN and spend it's life down on the waterfront pulling short cuts of cars on the level.
     
  7. joetrain59

    joetrain59 TrainBoard Member

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    Wish all our switchers were geared this low.
    Joe D
     
  8. JDG

    JDG TrainBoard Member

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    Received my S4 today - question - running it on DCC both the front and rear light are on in both directions - is that correct?
     
  9. garethashenden

    garethashenden TrainBoard Member

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    From what I understand, they are both on but brighter going forward.
     
  10. John Moore

    John Moore TrainBoard Supporter

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    Yes, although on mine I notice no difference in brightness although it may be just my old eyes.
     
  11. JDG

    JDG TrainBoard Member

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    Pressing F1 dims the lights in either direction on mine. Thanks guys.
     
  12. joetrain59

    joetrain59 TrainBoard Member

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    I believe I added some "substantial" weight to my S-4 tonight. Combination of lead sheet under/around motor, under circuit board and at front truck tower. Tungsten putty under/between side battery boxes(?) and tungsten discs on top of end weights. Have not run it, need to clean track. I can take/post pix later today if anyone wants. Just about ready to start decaling for D&H.
    Joe D
     
  13. John Moore

    John Moore TrainBoard Supporter

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    I've gone as far as I am going to in the performance upgrades and have patched my lone S-4 from a former NP unit to a patched BN unit. Still have some rust and dust to add for weathering but that is about it for a unit that lasted less than three years on the BN. May add the typical NP steam bell on the hood top as a last touch. When I took the yellow lettering off the loco I didn't notice that I had gotten some flakes in the grill. However looks like some fall leaves managed to get caught up in the grill so I will leave well enough alone since my modeling time frame is set in the Fall anyway.

    [​IMG]
     
  14. joetrain59

    joetrain59 TrainBoard Member

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    Highball Graphics are not the right color, lemon yellow v warmer yellow/orange. But already laid some on. The old NE decals I have from Lou are more like Guldens mustard in color.
    But what can you do, except try printing your own. Ooof, don't know if I'm up for that.
    Joe D
     
  15. joetrain59

    joetrain59 TrainBoard Member

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    The Highball Graphics decals are for RS loco's. Stripes not wide enough for cab end. Have M-K-T stripes that would fit, but much more oblique angle.
    Of course, when/if I finish this, D&H will be announced. :(
    Joe D
    Does the Arnold cab fit this lokie???
     
  16. urodoji

    urodoji TrainBoard Member

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    My LHS had one of the SP units in stock. I'm a sucker for tiger stripes. Anyway, I just had to know, so I had my dealer throw the loco on ye olde test track. It ran pretty smoothly and quietly, so now it's setting in the case next to three Atlas VO-1000s, three Kato NW2s, and an Atlas H15-44 in demo paint. I can deal with the headlight issue. I'm sure a lot of yard crews just left both lights on anyway since they move so much.

    Bachmann, if you're reading this, nice job on these. Next time, release two road numbers. I'm still mad about the Spectrum SD-40s.
     

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