Bachmann Lil big hauler Tender Loco Photo review

[a98087]

Hi All

As Ive just today received the new starter loco from bachmann, Id thought Id post up a few photos, to see show people what its like,
Initial thoughts are its a lovely looking model, with lots of potential, It ran smooth and quiet on the short piece of track I tested it on,

Good points
The detail, overall look and paint finish is good, it even includes a molded but unpainted cab interior, and the coal load in the tender appears to be removable,
Yellow/orange Led Front light,

Bad points
The tender seems quite light, but its only 4 screws to get into it,
no front coupling
Different coupling heights

Heres some pictures, taking inside as it was raining , and plus my railway is still under construction
Loco as received in the box

Loco posed Next to a playmobil coach to show its size

Side view of the coupling problem- I found that playmobil couples just about ok, but LGB has am issue or 2,

top view of the coupling, the centre buffer is the problem here

The loco posed with an lgb toytrain box van

Another view

Overall Its a lovely little loco, which I look forward to running, once I sort out the couplings,

Any more questions feel free to ask

Dan

 

[vsmith]

I ran into that coupler issue with mine also. I believe the reason and the solution lies with Thomas. These are most likely being produced to be interchangable with their Thomas line which have high couplers standard, so that is why the couplers are high with these as well. The solution is to add those same adapter spacers that they provide with the Thomas lineup so the couplers can be lowered to match the standard LGB hook height. I am very surprised that the adapters are not supplied with these as well.

I was more impressed with the look of the saddletanker version of this engine but its a nice bashing platform none the less.

 

[PaulRhB]

How are the crank pins fixed Dan? Easy to take off so they can be extended to add connecting rods?

 

[Mik]

How are the crank pins fixed Dan? Easy to take off so they can be extended to add connecting rods?

Based on the photos it looks like they have the same "plastic thumb tack" rod retainers as the bug maulers. The only question is if they glued them in.

based on photos, the price is OK if the drive isn't made of cheese, but I'd have liked them better if they'd left off that molded in bell.

 

[a98087]

JUst to confrim, the coupling rods are held in via the thumbtack method, and I dont think there glued in, as I can rotate them by hand easily



Dan

 

[PaulRhB]

By thumbtack do you mean they are a push fit in with a split clip end?
If do they'd be dead easy to extend

 

[stevedenver]

so please tell me how they run, both the tender and sadlle tank (presume they are the same)
any sputtering, quiet, smooth

i really like the look for a tiny desert type loco
but have been disappointed with bmann

thanks

 

[vsmith]

The Bmann rep stated that the rods and pushrods should be a straight swap out with the Porter, once I aquire the saddletanker I'll see how accurate that is.

 

[stevedenver]

so, these new locos dont have a main rod into the piston??!!!
just the connecting rod?

 

[PaulRhB]

No they only have the coupling rod, there's no connecting rod to the cylinder.
Coupled wheels connect to cylinder is how I remember it

 

[Shawn]

Very cool and lots of kitbash potential. The fixed bell looks silly but then yet they are made for little hands that tend to break things easily.

 

[nicebutdim]

Sorry to drag up an old thread here. Would anyone be able to give my the dimensions of the tender on this loco, possible even the internal dimensions? I'm seriously thinking of giving one of these the rc treatment but need to make sure batteries and receiver will fit in the tender.
Many thanks,
Tim