Today, from Bachmann, we have a 4-6-2 "Pacific" steam locomotive, specifically a K4S for the Pennsylvania Railroad.
K4S History: Designed by PRR's Chief of Motive Power J.T. Wallis and Chief Mechanical Engineer Alfred W. Gibbs, the K4 class was PRR's premier passenger locomotive, from its introduction in 1914 until the withdrawal of PRR steam in 1958. A few would undergo modifications over the decades, but the standard specs were as follows: leading wheels diameter was 36", drivers were 80", and trailing 50". They were 83' 6" long and 15' high, with a total weight of 517,225 lbs. They carried 32,000 lbs of coal and 7,000 gallons of water. Boiler pressure was 205 psi, which powered two 27"x 28" cylinders, and the valve gear was Walschaerts. Horsepower was 3,286, top speed was 87 mph, and tractive effort was 44,460 lbf. They performed very well for the PRR all over the system, pulling passengers as intended for the most part, but occasionally handling freight if needed. 425 were built between 1914 and 1928, with 2 surviving today - 3750 which is on display at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania, and 1361, which has quite a history of its own.
PRR 5492 History: Built by the PRR at their Juniata Shops in Altoona, PA in 1928, it was the first K4S built that year, which would be the last year of K4S production. It served the PRR well until withdrawal in 1956, after which it was scrapped. K4S locomotives would undergo various modifications and upgrades over the years, especially after WW2. This model show 5492 in its original state.
This link has photos of 5492 in both pre and post war conditions.
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/locoPicture.aspx?id=261901
Info on the box...
And the problems...☹️
A detail piece loose in the box.
This piece, which I glued back.
And serious scratches/gouges on the tender.
Ratings~
Good - The lettering and paint looked okay, the DCC worked fine and sounds were good. It is also sturdy, and comes in at 1 lb and 1.7 oz.
Bad - The loose part was a let down, but at least fixable. The tender damage is inexcusable, though. I would doubt that kind of damage would happen during shipping, so it was either damaged while packing it or during construction - either way, an unacceptable situation for an expensive "premium" model. That's what quality control should be for. It lurches at low speed, especially in reverse, even after running it in. Also, though the paint was applied okay, I really think it should've been glossier. It looks really flat and plastic, and, well, cheap.
Verdict - It's just okay. The loose part was a fairly minor irritant, but the tender damage was very disappointing. It operates okay overall, nothing fantastic, but not bad. The paint and lettering were also okay, but weren't really up to the standards I was expecting.
Great looking engine but what a shame on the tender damages