WBB Genesis Phase V ?

I was about to repaint mine into PV but maybe I can buy the shells now???

Still no photo of them on Williams' website.

Glad I got mine custom-painted

---PCJ

I have asked this question on the Bachmann forum with no response from them. Given that these are so late Bachmann should offer some new info to their customers.

Mine are on order through MA&PA Junction.

How hard can it be? It's only a new paint job, not a new loco, but I can wait, these are pretty nice for the money. I have MTH's Premiers in VIA livery, which really are the business, but these Williams are good too.

I added some extra lighting from Evans Designs.

I've been waiting for these as well. Mine are on order with Charles Ro. They might have been on one of those container ships that tipped over? So are they being remade? Maybe they were saved from the bottom of the ocean and need time to dry!! Who knows at this point in time? I'm getting tired of coming up with all these crazy reasons why these units haven't arrived yet! I'm heading to the Bachmann booth first thing on Sunday while at the Springfield MA. train show. Maybe I will get some good news and maybe spy a sample model? If not, it's time to contact Jeff S. for a custom paint job.

quote:

Originally posted by Dave Allen:
How hard can it be? It's only a new paint job, not a new loco

Exactly! Its just a new paint job! They should be popping out Amtrak Heritage and VIA Rail versions as well. I would buy them.

Went right to the Bachmann area this morning at 10:30am. No samples of the Phase V on display. So I asked a Rep. when we might see these engines? The answer giving was, that they should have a sample in a few weeks. If the sample passes inspection, then they will update the website with pictures. I want to believe this, but this same answer was posted on the Bachmann forum last spring with samples to be ready by summer 2011. Then the ETA ship date Fall 2011. Lets hope that the samples pass and ship soon.

Good News!!! As of yesterday (Friday Feb. 3rd) There is a photo of the Phase V units.  I've been checking the WBB site every day for months.  Not sure it was legal to paste the picture here?  So here is the link to the picture. 

 

http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/products.php?act=viewProd&productId=3764

WbB suggests that these units are shipping late July early August.  Anyone have them yet?  Anyone seen one?  Any info out there. 

 

Two dealers cancelled my order, one being an advertiser on this forum.  Currently have an order with a local dealer but he has heard nothing on these units recently.

Have you gone to the new products on the Bachmann website? www.bachmanntrains.com

They have the new Amtrak phase V listed with photos.

 

Lee F.

Lee,

 I have seen the pics, and have product number and all.  Bachmann has been stringing along the release date of these for years now, missing their stated dates many times.  Being an existing product in their line, the continuously delayed delivery date is odd.  I have had threads on "Ask the Bach man" during the several years we have been waiting.  They have actually edited out much of the threads and usually take months to reply to the threads on this topic. 

This shows under the "Whats New" page of the Bachmann site:

 

"Shipping now! MSRP $429.95

Item No. 28803 Phase V Genesis AA Set

Posted on Aug 10, 2012 9:29 am"

 

http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/news33.php

 

If they did ship on or about Aug 10, I have not found any dealer sites indicating they have them in stock yet.

 

Larry

I too have been waiting to see them, hopefully at York.  

 

I also wonder if they have upgraded the detail on the body casting to be more competitive with the MTH version (since I run TMCC, I was hoping to get the Williams version and upgrade it - a less expensive option than doing the same to the MTH one)

Peter, I hope you are right, and that is a good reason for such a delay.  It would be nice of WbB to offer some explaination for a 3 year delay on a product though.  I wonder if they had some major painting mistake or other issue that caused such delays.  Things happen, and these are just model trains, however, regular customers who have orders and perhaps deposits deserve better communication and explaination on that company's website or forum. 

 

Killian,  I have not seen any change in the quality of the Williams product since the Bachmann aquisition, seems like the same quality and perhaps improved paint scheme detail (NS executive schemeF3's for example).  My experience is that availability and time for some products to hit the market seems more difficult than in pre Bachmann days. 

 

The WbB Amtrak Genesis Phase V locomotives have shipped and are at distributors and dealers.  My dealer somehow lost the order but within days got a set into the shop.  I have not had time to pick them up yet.

After you pick up your set, could you please post some pictures of the phase V units?  If they look good, I may end my custom phase V paint project of a MTH phase III unit and just pick up the Bachmann units.  I had giving up on Bachmann!  How long has it been now?   Two or more years.

M E C Mike,

  I will do that for you, but will be early next week sometime. 

Scott

I bought a set of these. I've never bought a Williams loco before, but when I saw them run, along with the crisp decoration, I got em!

I only had time to take some cellphone pics for you M E C Mike, but here are the newly released WbB phase V Amtrak units.  The graphics are very crisp, although it doesnt appear as such due to my cellphone pic quality.  Hopefully this helps.

VistaDomeScott,

 

Thanks so much for the pictures.  The units do look very good.  Do the red marker lights come on when the unit is in reverse?  Maybe they are just red plugs.  It might not be too hard to add red LED's and wire them to the rear lamp.  I now have a hard decision to make.  Keep my MTH Premier P42 with good grill detail, but a not so good homemade Phase V paint job.  Or the WBB Phase V with a good paint job, but lacking body details.  Maybe weathering the WBB unit some is the answer.

 

Thanks again,

Was it worth the long wait?

 

Mike  

They look good!!! Pretty much like the units I rode behind last summer to CA!!!

Mike

  The red marker lights are just red plugs and the lighting is provided by a single interior bulb.  I think some LED lighting would go a long way to add to the look of these units.  I may do this in the future. 

  Now that I have had time to go upstairs and see these circle the layout with Superliners in tow, I like them more and more.  WbB got the colors exactly right, and paint is well done.  

  My ONLY complaint is that it took WbB three years from the catalog release to produce these locomotives.   I am glad that they finally delivered though and that they live up to my expectations. 

Scott

More pictures of the phase V units

Finally!  Picked mine up yesterday.

Here's some photos side by side with the MTH version. 

 

 

 

YouTube video link

 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZwNbk_C3Xc&feature=youtu.be