Bachmann Spectrum "Doodlebug"
Matt & Kathleen Brennan
Could you please offer a quick opinion on the Bachmann Spectrum
"Doodlebug" with regards to its running capability and its pulling
performance.
I am considering one, but I have never seen one in person, nor have I
read anything about the engine's overall performance. Just a quick
comment would be really appreciated.
Many Thanks!
Matt
Wolf Kirchmeir
=>Hey Folks,
=>
=>Could you please offer a quick opinion on the Bachmann Spectrum
=>"Doodlebug" with regards to its running capability and its pulling
=>performance.
=>
=>I am considering one, but I have never seen one in person, nor have I
=>read anything about the engine's overall performance. Just a quick
=>comment would be really appreciated.
=>
=>Many Thanks!
=>Matt
Performance is OK. Bachmann's quality control is inconsistent, so some may be
noisy. It will improve after a while. The prototype was not really designed
to haul anything except itself, but some RRs did hang one coach on -- just
one. I personally would not run it with a trailer, though.
--
Wolf Kirchmeir, Blind River ON Canada
"Nature does not deal in rewards or punishments, but only in consequences."
(Robert Ingersoll)
Jim McLaughlin
I know it will pull a one car trailer. I haven't tried more than one.
I have see written reports that some units are "excessively noisy". I
have only heard my unit run, and there is not a noise problem that I find
disturbing. In that context, remember that everyone's "ears" or hearing
are different, and what bothers one person may not bother the next. In
addition, it is probable that no two units of any model equipment will have
exactly the same noise characteristics.
One caveat. The Bachmannn unit is looooong. I think its about 85
scale feet.
I'd suggest that you try to find one at your local shop(s) and really
eyeball it.
Walthers makes an RTR Doodlebug as well, which, if I recall the catalog
specs, scales out at about 60 feet. I have never seen one in person so I
have no idea how well or poorly it looks, or how well or poorly it runs.
Reportedly, the Walthers doodlebug shares the same frame -chassis / motor
and basic "box" with the Walthers Sperry Rail Car or Track inspection car.
--
Jim McLaughlin
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"Matt & Kathleen Brennan" <mc_br...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:3F8AB4CE...@yahoo.com...
Jim Bernier
I have one of these and it runs really good - I have not tried to pull
anything with it though. The real one only had something link a 150-280
hp engine and traction motors in the front truck only - could pull a
trailer coach, but not much more...
Jim Bernier
Matt & Kathleen Brennan wrote:
Les Pickstock
The only other quibble I had with this was the headlight seemed a little dim and when I investigated and found the moulded transparency that transmits the light from the bulb has air bubble in it that cut down the transmitted light. I had to replace this anyway for the version I wanted. The compartment light benefitted from from having a tin foil reflector placed above it. The outside detail is good with seperate metal rails and steps and metal side lights. The prominant rivetting is a little overdone but easy to remove if you wish. I found it more subdued after being repainted
I made similar enquiries of this group recently and had some excellent responses. I bought a undecorated version and wanted to paint it as a Milwaukee Motor car. To do this meant altering mine slightly. I could only find one picture of a Doodlebug that looked a lot like the model and that was for the Tonopah & Tidewater RR. It seems that Bachman were attempting to give a impression of the type and the model seems to be a "generic" doodlebug.
This said I am very pleased with it and it looks great in Milwaukee orange. I'm now looking for a passenger car to go with mine and the whole thing should look great trundling around the club layout
If you'd like to see a pic of the re-painted Doodlebug or want the links to the Doodlebug sites I was directed to, contact me off list at
Les Pickstock
Matt & Kathleen Brennan
1) a mail car
2) a baggage car
3) a boxcar
The prices are so low that it is tempting to purchase one of the Spectrum
Doodlebugs. I'd need to incorporate some passenger stations [stops] in my
pencil drawing along with a siding. Until this time, it has been a
freight RR [mostly on paper] with one temporary, switching module that we
leave assembled as much as possible. Our house is small w/ a dirt
basement.
But, I have considered a small, somewhat insignificant passenger service
simply to add some diversity to the design.
Again, thank you for your replies!
Daniel A. Mitchell
generators and had both trucks powered. These could haul upwards of ten
cars behind ... a real 'mixed freight', and were a serviceable
branchline loco for light duty or light rail. Some were 'freight only'
machines, with NO passenger compartment.
Dan Mitchell
==========
Matt & Kathleen Brennan wrote:
>
KTØT
Matt,
I sure like mine; it operates fine, will pull one trailer, and at 85 feet
fits the rough dimensions of the doodlebugs on the M&StL. I bought a second
one for a spare but haven't painted it yet.
Bachmann was great when I broke the driveshaft - one came in the mail almost
over night. Great customer service.
--
73 de KTØT
Bob Schwartz
Modeling Waseca, MN in the 50s
James D Thompson
>Thanks everyone. I was considering a one car trailer [at most]:
>
>1) a mail car
>2) a baggage car
>3) a boxcar
Combine 1 and 2. A small, older trailer coach or mail and baggage car
wasn't an unusual thing for the larger doodlebugs. No conventional
freight cars, though; they weren't built to handle something that
heavy.
David Thompson
"The humans founded America, mastered the nuclear forces, and destroyed
the original Mars about thirty thousand years ago."
"So George Washington was there when they split the atom?"
"Could have been."
-from "Triumph of the Terrans", copyright 24L1042
Paul K - The CB&Q Guy
> No conventional
> freight cars, though; they weren't built to handle something that
> heavy.
>
> David Thompson
>
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
In the "there's a prototype for everything" department, one of my
Burlington books, IIRC, has a picture of one of their Doodlebugs
pulling a boxcar over a grade crossing, and in color yet!
Take care,
Paul - "The CB&Q Guy"
(Proto-lancing CB&Q's Illiniwek River Branch in 1969)
Daniel A. Mitchell
several. In general, a trailing passenger car would weigh as much or
more than a freight car. That's one reason for the special passenger
'trailer' cars some doodlebugs pulled. They were smaller and lighter
than a regular heavyweight passenger coach ... even a 60' one (which is
what you often saw trailing a doodlebug). As doodlebugs were low powered
and many had only one power truck, obviously their ability to pull a
load depended a LOT on the grades along the line they were running on.
Dan Mitchell
==========
Mountain Goat
<jim.mclaughl...@comcast.net> wrote:
> I have one painted in Boston & Maine livery. It looks good.
>
> I know it will pull a one car trailer. I haven't tried more than one.
>
> I have see written reports that some units are "excessively noisy". I
>have only heard my unit run, and there is not a noise problem that I find
>disturbing. In that context, remember that everyone's "ears" or hearing
>are different, and what bothers one person may not bother the next. In
>addition, it is probable that no two units of any model equipment will have
>exactly the same noise characteristics.
>
> One caveat. The Bachmannn unit is looooong. I think its about 85
>scale feet.
>
> I'd suggest that you try to find one at your local shop(s) and really
>eyeball it.
>
> Walthers makes an RTR Doodlebug as well, which, if I recall the catalog
>specs, scales out at about 60 feet. I have never seen one in person so I
>have no idea how well or poorly it looks, or how well or poorly it runs.
>Reportedly, the Walthers doodlebug shares the same frame -chassis / motor
>and basic "box" with the Walthers Sperry Rail Car or Track inspection car.
Before you buy the Walthers I suggest you go to www.Google.com ,
select Groups and do a search on 'Walther's Doodlebugs' and see what
others say. The thread was not encouraging and I was considering one
in NP.
STEAM GENE
them seem to run fine. I have not heard a single one of them make a lot of
noise.
Gene
ABV61-1043.001.HCB
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