Guys, I have a opportunity to trade my P2K Ohio Central GP7 for a Sunset Santa Fe 2-8-2 and he also has a Hallmark Santa Fe 4-6-0 up for grabs. Both are beautifully custom painted and has a Campbell Models engineer and fireman…
The other trade is my two Atlas HH GP38s for that Hallmark 4-6-0.
While that 4-6-0 is a beautiful engine I know nothing about Hallmark steam locomotives. I know their diesels from the mid 60s was screamers.
I’m seriously thinking about modeling steam in 1953.
Why Santa Fe?
I always like the looks of Santa Fe’s steam engines and I alrady have a 1950 Class 2-8-0.
I don;t think I’ve ever seen a Hallmark brass steam loco in person close up, but they always looked nicely appointed in photos. Their diesels though - looking at old magazines with the ads and even reviews, they had some really crude truck sideframes that made even train-set Life Like look like fine scale modeling by comparison, not sure what they were thinkign when they made that.
Already nicely painted, that’s probably a good trade - I’m thinking what I’ve paid for similar diesels and unless you have a ton invested in superdetailing them, this is a steal (for you).
NO I would not make the trade, and definitely not even consider it without a thorough test run on a real layout that actually has curves!!
Early Hallmark Models, especially those made by DongJin, have many QA/QC issues. There are misaligned parts, and running quality sucks. DonJin used a cheapo spring system rarely used by anyone else. Instead of a real spring, there is a bronze wire running across all drivers. Most serious brass collectors I’ve talked to dislike DongJin models for this reason.
You know I’ve been dabbling in brass, and I too am very interested in Santa Fe steam in 1953. However, most brass Santa Fe steam is of poor quality unless you are willing to spend serious money. Much of the Sunset steam made for Santa Fe is early Samhongsa and has a reputation for not running very well.
The older PFM models run noisily, but are solidly built. They will need a can motor as a minimum and still may have noisy gears unless the gearboxes are replaced. However, they will run. Models 1981 and later by United, for PFM, that are Santa Fe, are pretty nice indeed.
The late Samhongsa stuff from the Key Classic Series factory painted models are ok. This includes 2-8-2’s and 3800 class 2-10-2’s. They are also not cheap.
The late Samhongsa Hallmark Super Crown Series steam models are ok, as well as many of the models made since by Boo Rim for Union Terminal Imports
Also some people have told me that I’ll ruin these models if I handle them without gloves and if I (gasp) actually use them on the layout.
Fact I just learned: The new product review on Youtube of the BLI Modernized ATSF 2-10-2 from 2014 stated it would pull 100 cars on level track. Reviewer ran out of cars over 90+.
I just contacted BLI yesterday. They say they have enough pre-orders already to now go ahead and make the BLI ATSF 4000 series diecast 2-8-2, and have begun production. They will re-advertise it soon, and I plan to order two or three of them myself. It might arrive in early 2021, subject to any Covid-related supply chain issues. The model is in the works.
For Santa Fe steam fans, that would be one alternative. Also, while some were gone by 1953, many 4000 class 2-8-2’s were still remaining in service. It appears that five of the road numbers announced by BLI were still running in 1953. 4100 was gone and 4099 was HFD (held for disposition, out of service). 4018 worked into 1951.
According to BrassTrains, the Hallmark ATSF 4-6-0 was made during 1985 by DongJin. It looks nice but would be considered to be questionnable as a runner, based on the 1985 build date.
I have been critical of BLI in the past, but the simple fact is that you can turn off sound if you don’t like it, and they run, generally quite well, and they really do look good, nearly as good as brass “super crowns”. I’m buying ATSF steam models from BLI when/as able to.
Some more food for thought, if you’re unsure of the value of a brass model, Brasstrains.com has a brass guide on their site where you can look at the value of something you want or have. All you need to do is create an account with them, and log in and select the criteria for the model to see it’s value.
Just bear in mind that the values they list are in the ballpark of their (BrassTrains’) retail prices. Good luck to you if you try to fetch this price as seller (e.g. on eBay).
John, That might be the better choice… I’ve seen BLI steam locomotives in action at the club I was a member of and they ran and sound good.
I can use my Tech 6 to switch between DC/DCC Sound and use F8 when needed.
I nedd DC because of my United 1950 Class 2-8-0 still has its Pittman DC 70 motor.
I will probably have a end of branch line switching layout with at least one produce warehose-I also had a place in my heart for those orange Santa Fe and PFGX reefers.
At 72 I have a strong urge to model a steam era layout and this thought first came up 20 years ago.
Welcome to the dark (steam) side.[8D] No opinion on the brass you are considering as I model the SP. I would suggest that you see the brass in question run before making any trades…
The prices in the BrassTrains buying guide are based on several selling points, including eBay. It is a very honest and well researched data base.
I have found their prices listed tend to be as accurate as possible. It does bug me that my brass collection has now dipped way below the $10,000.00 value it once had according to their site data.
This. See it run and then make your decision. Have seen too many things go just the opposite of what is commonly heard - something everyoen claims runs like junk, runs just fine, and somethign that everyone says is really smooth be a complete piece of junk. When things are made by hand and not just mass produced on equipment that ideally ought to make the 10,000 example exactly liek the first example, you’re going to get a lot of variation. Sure, you can buy 3 BLI locos and odds are pretty good all three will be just fine. But buy 3 examples of the same brass loco - you might get one good one and two junkers, or two good ones and one junker, or 3 good ones, or 3 junkers.
Like others have said, I would have to see them run.
I’m not a swap and trade sort of guy, so I would want to buy whatever else I wanted outright and keep what I already have, even if I was changing eras, etc.
I have no opinion regarding Santa Fe steam, brass or otherwise, I don’t really follow western roads.
Assuming the brass engines run fine and are in decent condition, I would swap with the sunset 2-8-2. Those have can motors and super quiet gearing. Sunset (not prestige) has yet to do me wrong with their solidly built engines and smooth quiet mechs.
I have a Sunset 4000 class atsf 2-8-2, and while it has a few dimensional issues(boiler sits too low, headlight mounted a tad too high, pilot sticks out too much), if you’re willing to work on the engine or forgive its looks, the engine performs flawlessly!
I agree with the above, early PFM/United has a loud gearbox and poor motors, but are well built.
Hallmark is a hit or miss. Either they are perfect, or garbage. I’ve seen some amazing products from them, but I also had to deal with an engine where the insulation between the wheel tire and the wheel centers disintigrated, meaning the engine would short as soon as you placed it on the track. A real shame cause it ran fine when you placed leads onto the motor.
I think the sunset 2-8-2 is a great trade, but the hallmark one is more questionable.
Charles
PS the 2-8-2 is a must have for any santa fe steam modeler, with over 100 of both the 4000 and 3160 class! Meanwhile the thirty 468 class 4-6-0s were gone by 1939.
There is a “challenge” with BrassTrains valuations of models:
Their valuations don’t tell you if a particular model is a “good runner” or not. Some models that don’t run well are actually rare and still can command serious cash just because they are scarce. You have to rely on individual descriptions of the models listed and actually available for sale. However, their main description is regarding how noisy the model is. There are models that might run quietly but not actually that well?
I’m not at all saying they (BrassTrains) are not honest.
My hunch is that BLI’s diecast model of the Santa Fe 4000 class which is now in the pipeline will be better than those Sunset mikados. With a diecast boiler, the BLI model should track and pull really well, and by now they’ve learned to go with separately applied piping relative to too much molded on stuff. Plus, for those that want it, the dcc/sound/lights/smoke will all be there, whereas the Sunset brass models are pre-dcc and will be lacking on some fronts.
There is not much variation in my brass collection because I only buy the models that fit my roster.
Sunset USRA models, Key USRA models, and a smattering of random PFM/United models to fill out some variety.
Nearly all have been bought from Brasstrains. Never once have their descriptions been incorrect or misleading. They are honest in their pricing, decriptions, and shipping. They pack their models better than I can believe.
I have never unpacked a model and been surprised by anything. Everything is always exactly as represented in the online description.
In the past four or five years I have only seen videos of the very expensive models they sell. I do not recall a time when they posted videos of every model.
Also, since Larry is looking for Santa Fe steam that was still “alive” in 1953, I don’t want to say this, because I’m trying to find these myself: the BLI 2014 run Paragon 2 modernized Santa Fe 2-10-2 is most definitely a winner, despite any previous comments I might have made (one had a funny valve gear motion for me a few years back).
I’m not particularly a 4-8-4 fan per se, but BLI’s latest versions of the Santa Fe 4-8-4 should be nice indeed. Most of them were still alive during 1953.
So there’s actually a lot of Santa Fe steam to choose from.
Bachmann’s Russian decapod 2-10-0: Santa Fe inherited 3 from KCM&O, didn’t like them, and they were gone by the mid-thirties. I’d almost buy the Bachmann anyway, but it’s not quite my cup of tea appearance-wise. I sorta like the Frisco version with the doghouse better than the ATSF version, and I like the piping on the Frisco a little better.
Based off of their 2-10-2, BLI’s ATSF 2-8-2 looks really good, and I am very excited to purchase one or two of them.
The reason I have the sunset one was simply because it was listed at $140(seller didnt know it was brass) on ebay. [;)] I was going to resell it, but after seeing how well it ran, decided to keep it.
I agree it is risky buying anything used thats $$$ on ebay, but that being said, ebay policies greatly favor buyers. Even if the seller says no returns, and the description details every characteristic of the item, and clearly says “sold as is no returns”, the buyer can still get a return with a full refund. I learned this the hard way as the seller. Its not good to abuse the system, but that atleast assures me that Im not getting scammed when I am purchasing my items.
Anyways, back on track. If you do decide to model the ATSF, the sunset 2-8-2 will not disappoint you.
iirc, atsf 1953 steam mostly operated 2-10-4s, 4-8-4s, and 2-10-2s. Other older/smaller engines were being replaced by diesel. The steam engines left were commonly used in freight and helper service.
Bachmanns 2-10-0s have thicc running boards. Once you see it, you cant unsee it. Also, it is impossible to get the chuffs to sync with the engine without using a cam. as a modeler who is bothered by unsynced chuffs, this bothers me.
Charles, That’s sad news about those 4-6-0s being gone by '39… However, seeing those are sweet looking locomotives its hard to say no.
I do recall back in the 60s 80% of the steam locomotives at the Columbus HO club was PFM/United,Sunset, Balboa and Tenshodo… I had a Santa Fe 1950 Class 2-8-0 and a PFM UP 0-6-0.
As a 15 year old teenager I worked a part time job during the summer as bagger at a A&P grocery store and saved the money for those two brass steam engines.
