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Post by sd80mac on Jan 21, 2017 19:02:49 GMT -5
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Post by backshophoss on Jan 21, 2017 20:58:30 GMT -5
Having a mixed"bag" of Bachmann,American GK/Walters 1st gen,and Walters 2nd gen Amfleet I and II in service, one of the first things I did was installing KD couplers and "rusting" the "chrome" wheelset centers. Bachmann on their latest runs finally uses a "darkened" wheelset center Attachments:
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Post by slowfreight on Jan 22, 2017 11:39:43 GMT -5
I agree...for the era of the tooling, the Bachmann cars look much better than I would have thought, having only owned Walthers fisrt-generation cars. Hitting the shells with Allclad would make a huge difference, as would a uniform grimy black on the underframes plus painting the wheel centers.
But for those of us using Phase II cars, the Walthers Proto cars have been available cheap enough that I wouldn't go looking for the Bachmann.
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Post by backshophoss on Jan 22, 2017 16:45:47 GMT -5
Both the current runs of Amfleets and Superliners,along with the "El-Cap" Hi-Levels,are being DSO'ed when the stock runs out at Walters. Bachmann just makes the Amfleet I coach at present. I would consider the earlier Bachmann coaches great for Kitbashing the Beech Grove and Corridor Clipper Biz Cars,unless you have a Amfleet II coach you are willing to use as a starting point for Beech Grove. Have a ph I Bachmann car I will use a a model of "Corridor Clipper",however made the window opening a "bit" too large  Hopefully can find another car at a swapmeet to use as a "parts supply".  Attachments:
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Post by backshophoss on Mar 24, 2017 23:06:21 GMT -5
Bachmann at the present time is not producing their Amfleet I cars,might be designing a new version to go with
their ACS-64 model.
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Post by thewizard on Apr 24, 2017 15:52:25 GMT -5
Bachmann at the present time is not producing their Amfleet I cars,might be designing a new version to go with their ACS-64 model. Is this a real rumor, or just wishful thinking? Because lets face it, I would love cars that run on 22" curves and, more importantly, roll. |
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Post by backshophoss on Apr 24, 2017 19:03:54 GMT -5
Having scanned thru the Bachmann Catalogs from 2016 and 2017,the Amfleet I coach was NOT shown,with a new model of the ACS-64
on the way later this year,and the Walters Amfleet I and II's tagged "discontinued when sold out",would not be surprised if
Bachmann was redoing their Amfleet molds and tooling to release when the ACS-64 is released.
They also no longer show the China prototype based Bi-Level coaches in the 2017 catalog.
At present Bachmann has been growing their HeavyWeight car line,and their "Old Timer" passenger car line,
the "Super" Domes would not be allowed on the NEC due to height and the CRC cars are used on the Alaska RR.
Wizard,welcome to the board,I have used "LaBelle's" grease on the Bachmann car's trucks,that seems to help,
if the car is lighted,the wipers will make the car harder to pull and be a big power draw on DC and DCC layouts.
Bachmann truck mounted the couplers to allow for 18" radius "train set" curves.
I have converted mine to body mount couplers(KD-5's) that should work for 22" radius curves,otherwise use the long shank couplers
KD 28's or 38's)to lenghten the space between cars.
Do you run your cars as Amfleet only sets,or mixed with Heritage Fleet cars?
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Post by rails4dmv on Apr 25, 2017 9:54:24 GMT -5
I'm curious if Bachmann did do another release of Amfleets, will there be a mass dump of the Proto Walthers cars. I love the Proto cars and have been buying them up since the prices have come way down. But if a manufacturer does come out with an Amfleet that rolls better, i.e., Kato, Atlas, Rapido, I might consider selling mine off. I've tried oil and silicone to get them to roll better, they run great for a little while and then a couple of days later, they run like bricks.
I would replace all the wheelsets on the cars with the Proto Amfleet replacement wheelsets that Walthers eventually came out with but I don't know if they are any better. I'm a little pissed about spending more money on what should have been a perfectly running car out of the box.
It also makes me wonder if anyone CAN make a perfectly running Amfleet. Hopefully, someone will eventually.
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Post by backshophoss on Apr 25, 2017 16:30:51 GMT -5
Unless Bachmann intends to go to the "Spectrum" level of detailing,figure on an"upgraded" model that can "run" on 18" radius curves.
As far as the Walters Amfleets,unknown if their will be another run,the current run is "Discontinued when sold out" mode.
It will depend if both manufacturers need to "renew" their "license" from Amtrak to produce the models.
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Post by backshophoss on Sept 8, 2017 23:49:01 GMT -5
Amtrak announced that the Amfleet I's,both the coaches and the Food service cars are getting an interior "refresh",
believe this is the fourth time the Amfleet I's have had interior "upgrade" done,believe this is the second time
the food service area is getting a reconfigure of the "kitchen" side,with Dunkin Donuts spec'ed coffee maker.
Unknown if the Horizon Fleet,due to to "shared" interior components with the Amfleet I's will get the "refresh",or,
any plans for an Amfleet II interior "refresh"
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Post by antoniofp45 on Sept 15, 2017 19:54:25 GMT -5
Hi guys, Interesting topic. Like the 1970's Bachmann "Metros", my primary complaint regarding Bachmann's Amfleet units is the spacing between the pleats as well as the pattern. No disrespect to the modelers that like the Bachmann's, but the fluting really bugs me because (to me) the discrepancy is quite noticeable when the shell is metalized. Years back I metalized a few Bachmann Metroliner shells. Something kept bugging me because I knew that my finish should have yielded a greater depth in reflectivity. Only the cab and window sections yield depth. The fluted sections did not. The reason finally dawned on me once I saw close up shots of prototype Metro and Amcan equipment. The pleats on the Bachmann's are too close to each other, which results in the flat panels being almost completely hidden (hence reducing reflectivity). Here's a few of my Metroliner shells:  Now, look at the fluted pattern of these two prototype "Amcans" which have the same fluted pattern as the prototype Metroliners:  Although I was skeptical at first, before their release, I have to compliment Walthers for getting that fluted pattern right. As a result, the depth of reflectivity of the metalized finish is high.
Not trying to discourage anyone, but I tend to notice stainless steel surfaces easily being that I've worked with it in my past career. |
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Post by backshophoss on Sept 17, 2017 0:42:30 GMT -5
Believe the ability to make better molds/tooling now than what was done back in the 1970's,Bachmanns Amfleet I's has held up as a model
while not quite accurate,it did fill the "need" of a modern passenger car for the Amtrak models that were available at that time
Antonio,Have you tried to apply a plated finish on a bachmann Amfleet bodyshell?
While the Metroliner bodyshells are not quite accurate,the plated finish will allow the Bachmann shells to "pass" in a set of Walters
Metroliners.
Believe that would also work for Bachmanns to "pass" in a consist of Walters current production plated Amfleets
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Post by slowfreight on Sept 17, 2017 12:51:00 GMT -5
Hmmm...I had to dig out my old Walthers Amfleets from the same era as those Bachmann cars. I should do a comparison as well.
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Post by slowfreight on Sept 26, 2017 21:51:59 GMT -5
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mlrr
Member
Posts: 66 
Primary Railroads: Amtrak, Metro-North, MARC, METRA, New Jersey Transit, VRE
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Post by mlrr on Oct 4, 2017 7:55:20 GMT -5
There's an urban legend that "Someone on the inside" provided early specs of the Amfleet which were not finalized and resulted in the American GK (ultimately waltehrs) shell that would be the HO amfleet staple for decades. I don't know if Bachmann did the Amfleet first or not but the old waltehrs shell was carried over from American GK when walthers acquired them. These cars were supposed to compliment the E60 that GK was also producing at the time.
There's also an old add for upcoming amfleets in addtional configurations that were never manufactured like the Amfleet Baggage car, sleeper, etc. But then again, American GK was also advertising NH E60's as well. Don't know if they ever got released.
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