Large Scale Central

My $334.00 Bachmann Annie

Modeling
#1

I admit it…I do not like the Annie. I’ve said it before, I don’t like the 10-wheeler. When an undecorated BNIB hit ebay for $100.00 I bought it, and immediately regretted it. I really don’t know what possessed me to click 'Buy-it-Now. I tried to love it but I couldn’t. So I decided to modify it. I replaced the tender trucks with a set of Accucraft’s, painted the cab/tender and added a new stack ($18.00). When the paint dried I realized I just went from a nice satin black to baby poop brown. Ick…

I took the trucks back off the tender and used them on a custom hopper…The Annie went back in the box with plans to sell it for what I could get…Then last week I “found” a ‘Big Hauler’ Tender on the 'bay ($40.00)…Maybe this will work out. Swap the shell, and add a Bachmann 1:20.3 body mount coupler…Figured I could re-paint the cab to match…

I decide I don’t like the low sided tender, it needed to be raised with a wood load and an air-tank to give it more of a narrow gauge look. Of course you may have noted I couldn’t stick with the horrid Bachmann tender trucks so I swapped 'em out with a set of trucks from a Bachmann 1:20.3 flat ($50.00).

Then I spy a 10-wheeler without tender back on the 'bay in pretty rough shape but it has the cab I need ($68.00)…So I pop for it and dig the old replacement stack out of hiding…Of course I needed to add the BBT front truck ($30.00) to replace the original Annie truck that broke after an hour or two of operation. Annie…$120.00 Tender shell…$40.00 Tender trucks…$50.00 Stack…$18.00 Coupler…$8.00 Cab…$68.00 Front truck…$30.00 Total…$334.00 Finally loving the “Annie”…Priceless! I like the “new” 2-window cab much better than the “old” 3-window version. I think that was one of the subconscious things bothering me about the original.

I really do like it! I think it will look great pulling a couple of AMS yellow coaches or a light mixed freight. I am debating replacing the domes with the yellow ones off the dead ‘Big-Hauler’ but I like the more modern looking black ones too.

#2

Mark, here is one I prepared earlier (a few years ago). I started with a ‘bug mauler’ and proceeded to fit Anniversary detail pieces including complete drive and cab accessories. Tender mods were simply built upon the existing tender body and then painted to match. I am a total fan of the infamous Anniversary and after rebuilding every loco purchased (around twenty) I consider them to be the equal and as reliable as anything else on the market. I never had an issue with the lead truck, but then I run ten foot diameter. I fail to see why someone could run on four foot diameter (I am not saying that you do)and then complain about derailments,etc. These do run on four foot but why someone would do it amazes me. Most complaints to date seem to be high speed derailment on four foot curves. If some one wants to run slot cars then buy a slot car. If they want to run a train then do so at a suitable pace that suits the track.

(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/tim_brien/_forumfiles/1abbb.JPG)

(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/tim_brien/_forumfiles/1abba.JPG)

#3

Love your tender. :slight_smile:

I run mine on 8’-10’ diameter track. The lead truck post was what broke on mine (where it rides in the “slot”). It just snapped. I completely agree with you, they run sweet as anything else I own. I would never push anyone away from an Annie, they are great engines…It was just a beauty/looks thing for me. Honestly I think it’s the stock tender that ruins it for me.

No accounting for taste eh?

#4

Mark,
the tender is one detraction on an Anniversary. The tender is the original moulding from the late 1980’s and has never had a makeover. Another issue for me is using the original boiler/cab mouldings and chassis moulding on the starter set bug maulers. Those mouldings are pathetic by today’s standards. Bachmann showed that they were prepared to put an Annie in a starter set with the White Pass set and a previous Christmas set (around 2005?). As well as numerous contracted outsourced sets. The stock bug mauler very basic/coarse mouldings detract from the look of the item. Annies should be in every set!!! Bachmann are ‘dumbing’ down the market to achieve a cost saving, but are limiting their market exposure to potential increased sales. Annies in a set sell, sell, sell.

#5
Mark V said:
I like the "new" 2-window cab much better than the "old" 3-window version. I think that was one of the subconscious things bothering me about the original.
:D You should ask around before you jump on eBay for parts. Lots of us have extra 10 wheeler parts. What you bought for $68 was a "wood" cab. I happen to have one, as I took off the wood cab and replaced it with a "steel" cab. My Annie now has a modern steel cab, with "old" fluted domes. You now have an "old" wood cab with modern smooth domes. ;)

I have to agree about not liking the way the stock tender looks. But that’s the way Baldwin made them, ugly :slight_smile:
Ralph

#6
Ralph Berg said:
...My Annie now has a modern steel cab, with "old" fluted domes. You now have an "old" wood cab with modern smooth domes....

Ralph


You got chocolate in my peanut butter!

:smiley:

#7

Mark,

Nice looking Annie that you have ended up with.
Especially good good job with the wood load.

But 334$ is rather a modest investment in an Annie compared
to what some of us are guilty of :slight_smile:

Rick

#8

I hand split that wood with a 1:20.3 axe!!!