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Hello again guys. As you may recall from a previous post, I am having a bit of a struggle finding a decent steam locomotive for what I want. I would like a 4-4-0 or a 2-6-0...not the one with the large raked back plow like what is found on the Jupiter and such but one that wouod be found in the coal towns in the Appalachians. Anyway, I am unfamiliar with the MDC also known as Roundhouse), Life Like, and Model Power. However, it is these companies that seem to have the model I am interested in. I have only used Athearn and Atlas, and that was 15 years ago. SO, can anyone share some thoughts on Life-Like? I see they have a new to me line up called proto. Has Life-Like improved it's product and image? 15 years ago it was pretty much a cheap toy.
Lifelike is now owned by Walthers and they are really uping the level of quality and offerings. I'm not familiar with the steam side of things, although what I'm seeing sure looks good, but the diesel stuff has improved a lot. They are on par with similar Atlas models ( LL GP18/20 vs. Atlas GP7/9) , and I actually like the LL units better for low speed operation and also for kitbashing. I've heard good things about the FA-1's also. My only criticism is the LL units I own (6 different Proto units + 8 or 10 older units) are all slightly noisier than Atlas engines. Not TOO noisy.....just a little more gear noise. It gets better as they break in, but never quite goes away.
You need to look at the new line of locomotives from Bachmann.
Once known for cheap poorly running equipment they have really turned 180 degrees producing some of the finest RTR engines on the market along with a bulletproof warranty. look at their Richmond 4-4-0 American the 2-8-0 and a new 4-6-0 with two different driver sizes'52" and 63" let me wet your appetite !!
About the walthers/life like relationship....i didn't know they merged. When I saw the Walthers N scale book and saw the Walthers Proto series, I figured it was just a renaming and distributor "special purchase" from Life Like. I hope the merger provides for a higher quality product.
About the Bachman stuff...are you referrring to their spectrum line? The ones you have pictured are of the type I am looking for but I have become both accustomed to and reminded in forums that I should stick to Atlas, Athearn, and Kato. That's fine but what does one do when the locomotive you need isn't offered by either? That 4-4-0 is perfect.
The Bachmann steamers are some of the finest out there.....just avoid the old style 0-6-0, 2-6-2 Prairie, and 4-8-4 Northern. Those units are just so-so, and are best suited for decorating your sidings and roundhouse. As a side note, a lot of what you hear on the forums is people repeating what they read........not what they know...so a few bad posts can end up sounding like total condemnation. A lot of the "bad Bachmann" stuff is left over from 10 or 15 years ago when they WERE inferior, but still not the "junk" you see in the posts. The new ones are FAR superior and as GN pointed out, there's a lifetime warranty if you happen to get the occasional clunker that EVERY manufacturer has. Katos are supposed to be top of the line, but I have one (a new SD70) that not only derails about every 20 seconds, but derails so badly it tips over on it's side each time........like I said, everyone has an occasional "bad egg". If possible, when you go to buy, ask to test run the engine.
I have 2 Spectrum GE 44 tonners. They run excellent and are well detailed. I also run 2 Atlas Alco S2s and 3 Proto Alco S3s. I'll take the Protos any day of the week over the Atlas. They run alot quieter, have just as much pulling power and awesome detail.
Bachmann' Spectrum Line should be up in the same class as any of the other excellent manufacturers today. I have a 70 tonner, a U30C, a GP-35, and a GP38-2 and they all run very well and are good pullers. I would rate the Walthers/Life-Like Proto line right up there with Atlas and Kato. I have a new Proto GP-7 that is the quietest and smoothest locomotive I've ever owned. The only steam engine I own is a Bachmann 4-8-4 and I'm amazed at how smoothly it runs as well. There's a certain amount of snobbishness about Kato and Atlas and it's not deserved today.
