Hi, I have been out of the hobby for a while and I have searched the Internet for a good non-brass HO model of the classic 4-4-0. When I was active the only non-brass 4-4-0 available was the Rivarossi and Bachmanns which in my opinon aren´t that good.
Can anyone tip me?
best regards…[:D]
The situation with HO scale classic (i.e. 1870’s) 4-4-0s has not changed much. Bachmann still makes the CP #60 and UP #119 engines, but revised the paint schemes a few years ago. The Rivarossi engines are gone unless Hornby is willing to produce them again. IHC sells a copy (same design and the parts are 99% interchangeable) of the Rivarossi 4-4-0 and has a wide variety of road names. Model Power is working on a re-release of the Mantua General.
BTW, IHC also sells a more modern, post-1900, 4-4-0. Roundhouse made a few 4-4-0 kits based on their old timer (1890’s, not really classic) 2-6-0.
I’ve been looking as well and not much luck. The two that I’ve purchased without much hope were a Bachman and an IHC (not modern). I also have the IHC 1920’s version.
Both the Bachman and the IHC stall at turnouts and both need a pu***o get started. The 1920’s version performs well. Last night I clocked it at 22 secs for a 9" section of track pulling 4 Overton coaches.
But the oldies just aren’t around. The best I’ve done was an MDC ready to run 2-6-0. Some of them are brightly colored like the 4-4-0s. They are DCC ready and run well.
MDC now offers a 4-4-0. It is larger than the IHC/Bachmann old time engines and smaller than the IHC SP prototype engine.
Dave H.
If you don’t have to have an 1860-70 version, the best-kept secret in town is Bowser’s ex-Cary Loco Wks. Tyco conversion kit. About $50 bucks gets you a die-cast boiler/cab casting, plus a bag of Cal-Scale parts- pump, H’light, generator, etc. It drops down on a Tyco/Mantua ‘General’ chassis like it was made for it- which it was. Then, ll you have to do is convert the tender to carry either oil or coal. I have wanted a nice, modernized 4-4-0 for a long time- I just bought a Ma & Pa for about $400… and there was a PFM “Reno”(modern version) that just sold on eBay for just over $500.00!!!(the ‘regular’ Renos usually go for $180-190 or so- so the modernized Americans are tough to come by.
On the other hand, there is not a day that goes by that there isn’t a Rivarossi Reno and/or Genoa on eBay. Or a General, for that matter. I remember Bill Livingston re-built a PFM “Reno” with a steel cab for his 'Venango lumber Company, I believe- it’s alwaus stuck in my head. Like wise, Ben King’s TCNW had a modernized “Reno”. I remember an article, “Why I Model 1906”- back in the (I think- I’m not far off here…)Jan., 02 MR. That guy- his road was something like the Phuye and Pooey???- had a gorgeous railroad, with a roster of Rivarossi 4-4-0s, mainly. Some brass.
So, there are astill a few sources/resources out there. The early 4-4-0s, even brass are sometimes fairly reasonable. Of course, you must paint most of 'em… But, hey! Another day, ya know?
Good luck!
I find the IHC 4-4-0 run well if new electrical wipers are added to the tender trucks. I run extensive switching operations over Atlas dead frogs and they won’t stall on E-Z track turnouts in my staging yard.
I have a web article at:
http://www.pacificcoastairlinerr.com/1879/locomotives/wipers/
The IHC 4-4-0’s are really OO/HO scale (4mm/ft running on HO track) models of the Virginia and Truckee 1873 locomotives. I model the 1870’s in OO scale.
An IHC 4-4-0 with OO scale figures
I have a web article about how easy it is to model the 1870’s in OO scale at:
http://www.pacificcoastairlinerr.com/1879/why/
Thank you if you visit
Harold
Thanks hminky-I’ve been looking for that site and couldn’t remember the address.[bow]
How is it - as a runner, I mean. I always liked the prototype, but I heard the Alco models were lousy runners - underpowered, noisy, jerky, that kind of thing.