What is your favorite Z,N,or Ho scale 4-8-4??
My favorite 4-8-4 is the very pretty Rio Grande M-63 class built by Baldwin in the late 1920’s. Just classic lines. It’s only available in brass in HO, but luckily I found a couple of Key models that were really reasonably priced–paid about as much as the current list on the new Geneisis FEF model. And they’re very smooth runners to boot.
Second favorite would be any of the SP GS-series.
Tom
My favorite HO scale 4-8-4 has to be the Freelanced Bowser Type. A blank canvase for which I can work my magic.
James
Magic and I aren’t very good friends, in fact we are barely speaking to each other…sssoooooo, I have to rely on what is available RTR. My only experience is with the BLI NYC S1b Niagara. I like their version a lot. It is a solid runner and looks very good…close to the images that I see on fallenflags.com. If I were to spring for another, it would be the PCM GN S-2 model. Now, that is a honking 4-8-4 to my eyes.
I have two BLI Santa Fe 4-8-4 Northerns, 3751 and 3753. They look and run great. I have been very happy with them and they do pull a long train with no problems.
Sorry to hear that. I find most people can do things they never thought they could do if they simply adopted the attitude, I may not know how to do it, But I can learn. Truth betold, I have exausted what RTR and Shake the box kits have to offer so I seek new challenges in my modeling.
See the Locomotive Grafting thread on How I intend to build a fleet of 2-8-0s
There aren’t too many really good N scale 4-8-4’s out there, but the new release Bachmann Northern isn’t bad at all (I have two). The old ones were absolute junk, but the new ones in the jewel case with the blackened drivers run quite well. It’s an all new mechanism under the old (somewhat dated) shell. The new J class is real nice too I hear, though I don’t have one.
In HO Scale I like my BLI N&W J Type. I purchased it at a good price and it is one of the most trouble free engines I own. It likes all kinds of turns and moves right along. I also like the streamlined shape too.
I have to echo Frisco1519’s statement. I have the same two engines and I’m crazy about them!!
Dick
Texas Chief
There aren’t really too awfully many affordable 4-8-4s available in N Scale; I inquired about Bachmann’s new model awhile back and someone responded that its mechanism was vastly improved over the old one; I guess the J model is also a good runner although its boiler is very corporate specific.
I keep hoping that some manufacturer will offer something in the nature of a dual-service/freight service unit a la SP’s GS1, GS2, or GS6; C&NW’s H Class; CRI&P’s R-67B (either with 69" or 74" drivers) - this, in my humble opinion, is the most beautiful 4-8-4 of them all; MP’s home-rebuilt 2-8-4s Class BK-63. I am not holding my breath waiting.
Nah. The SP Daylight and her Freedom Train. Tht there is pure beauty. BAchmann does a pretty good job, still needs a sound card.
Teh other one I want is the Reading America engine that’s Hopefully coming out from BLI