Here’s the IHC 2-8-0 we bought on ebay. I put a decoder in it today from an old Athearn that barely ran anymore (what a pain!) and weathered it. It’s not much compared to some of the steamers posted here but it’s not bad for $35. It ain’t no Challenger but it is Rio Grande steam. [:)]
I don’t know grande man, that is the funnyest looking Connie I have ever seen!!! Looks somewhat more like a diseasal… [:D] Hey looks like you caught it as i was looking at it. Nice looking engine!
I’ve been looking at a spaghetti tangle of wires inside the IHC for to long. [:p]
Got it right now.
Looks good to me. What’s your opinion of the running qualities? Always thought those IHC 2-8-0’s were pretty neat looking steamers.
Hi Dave. The two we have run very well. No complaints other than they are a pain to wire for DCC.
Looks good and dirty to me! Where did you put the decoder? Is it pokeing into the backhead/firebox or in the tender with wires and plugs? If the latter, what plugs and sockes did you use? [^]
Hi Randy. The board is in the tender. No plugs were used, just hard wires. There’s VERY little room under the boiler for the required wire connections. I wish IHC would make their steamers with a DCC ready plug.
Here’s a better pic (I’m figuring out the new camera.[:I]) From it I noticed the need to trim the drawbar pin and blacken the inside of the tender wheels. Anyone know where I can get some numbers for the number board? I’m a little new to detailing locos.
Make those drivers a little lighter and I think you’ve got it. [tup]
As for the numbers…
Go into a computer painting program. Make a large black rectangle patch on your ‘paper’, big enough to house your road number. Shrink the lettering down appropriately and change the letter color to white. Type your road numbers in the black rectangle. Print it, cut it out and you’ll have black background with white road number over it.
You’re talking about the rod themselves, right? That should be easy enough.
Fantastic!!! My printer is smoked but I’ll give that a try when I get back to work. Thanks!
Not be too picky, paint the bell hanger black, open up the cab windows, perhaps add a crew> and where is the Le Chandler water brake? Excellent job overall, good looking connie.
Very good Grande Man. Thanks for sharing with us. I don’t weather myself because it tends to kill the resale value, but I admire those of you that do.
trainluver1
West Coast, I’ll get to work. Good suggestions.
trainluver, thanks!
IHC has so much promise, it just needs a bit of imagination. I’ve got about eight IHC’s but have never gotten around to “dress” them up. Thanks for the incentive!
Fergie
Fergie, I hope your IHC steamers run as well as our’s do. Good luck on the “dress up”.