Hello,
do you think that manufacturers will produce HO New Haven steam locomotives such as light pacifics and mountain locomotives. They have been made in brass over the years which are to expensive for most of us. Just interested to hear other peoples thoughts as not many New Haven steam locomotives have been manufactured in plastic.
Regards Matthew Redden
Matthew,
I sort of doubt it…at least as far as an accurate model goes. I’m sure someone will slap some NH decals on a USRA light Pacific (like IHC tends to do) and sell it. But it won’t be all that accurate.
Having said that, the Mountains, as in the R-1’s, have been done by Bachmann Spectrum (3300-class). These were mostly accurate for as delivered, with only the tender trucks and a few other minor details being off.
There have also been two versions of the Y-3’s released in HO scale (the 0-8-0’s). These USRA models are fairly accurate for NH, and are good runners if a little on the weak side. But that’s a plastic 0-8-0 for you.
The only other accurate model to be done in HO plastic is the new I-5 4-6-4’s coming out this summer by Broadway Limited. But at $400, that’s a little steep.
Other models are from Bachmann Spectrum (2-8-0, F-5 class) & IHC (lots of not-so-great models that are not even close to NH).
But that’s about it. The NH had some unusual quirks with their steam, what with their arched window cabs, Elesco feedwater heaters, and other odds and ends that made them pretty unique. One could kitbash a plastic model to make it look more like NH, but it won’t be easy.
Fortunately, most NH steam power has been done in brass:
I-2: Crown Custom
I-4: NJ/Custom Brass & Precision Scale
I-5: NJ/Custom Brass & W&R
R-1: Key
R-3: NJ/Custom Brass & Precision Scale
J-1: Key
Y-3: W&R
L-1: NJ/Custom Brass
K-1: New England Rail Service
G-4: Empire Midland
T-2: Overland
About the only ones not done are the H-1’s, I-1’s, R-2’s, & Y-4’s (and these are coming soon).
Paul A. Cutler III
Weather Or No Go New Haven