I’m looking to expand my RR empire. I have everything C&O/Virginian from LL, BLI, and Bachmann. (Man I can’t wait for the reissue of the Rivarossi Allegheny) But until then I need to look elsewhere.
How are the modern IHC steam trains? They don’t look DCC ready (but that really isn’t a problem for me as I can fix it up.)
Do they run well at slow speeds? How’s the power pickup?
Is there any one I’m overlooking? Perhaps I should start looking seriously at brass?
~D
DG;
The recent IHC models run well, but are severely lacking in detail. The Heavy 4-8-2 Mountain is imho the best detailed, and also a C&O prototype. It is also great kitbash fodder for a N&W K1 or K2/K2a.
You may want to consider gettting an appropriate balance of locomotives for what you want your railroad to represent, rather than one of each…
The current line of IHC steam locos are not bad for the money.
I have a 4-6-2 & I love it.
True they are lacking in the detail dept but they run decently especially at slow speeds.
It’s quiet, hauls quite a bit on level track & I’ve had no problem MUing it with almost every diesel I have in my fleet when the need for assistance on a grade is required.
Just my 2 cents
Gordon
you really cant go wrong. They run pretty good and are a good base for superdetailing. You sure cant beat em for the money
Mechanically they tend to be reasonably good runners. Detail is lacking and IHC has a nasty habit of swapping shells to create new locomotives, resulting in some strange engines without actual prototypes. Slow speed operation is fair but unlikely to be as good as the BLI or even the Bachmann.
If you just enjoy running trains and aren’t any sort of rivet counter, you’ll probably be happy. But, if at all possible, run the loco at the hobby shop first before taking it home to look for operating problems (probably good advice for purchasing anything but the really high-end engines).
CNJ831
I have 3 of them. They all ran just fine on DC,but I have not got around to converting any of them to DCC, so they currently languish in boxes. I think they are very good value for money.
I like my old Premier Series IHC 2-6-0.It has good enough detail and suitable low speed operation,dummy front coupler on it.I notice they are selling a PRR 4-6-4,which the PRR never had.
I’ve got a Premier 4-8-2 and converted it easily to DCC with decoder in tender. It’s not a great puller, and seems to need lots of start voltage to get it moving. Once moving, its slow speed is good if the curves are greater than 18". (Stalls and spins on 18" curves when pulling 9 or 10 cars unless the speed is cranked up to 45 scale mph or better.)
Detail is very generic, though very kitbashable. Looks good with some weathering and painting the chrome rails black.
The part I dislike is the shiny wheels and side rods (which I intend to blacken one of these days) and the large wheel flanges. It will run on code 83 rail, however.
I paid $40 for it brand new on Ebay, and personally, wouldn’t pay a dime more for another. Their $150 retail is way out of line when compared to Spectrum steam that you can get on Ebay for that price.
All that said, it is a reliable runner and has LOTS of hours of run time on it, without a glitch.
Just my $.02 worth.
I’ve got two IHC Consolidations. They run well and respond well to detailing/weathering. They’re nice engines for the $$$.
MOST POS’T’s carry the disclaimer " for the money".
In In other word’s, ‘Just barely Adequate’,
Well, I’ve only got three steamers. Two IHC and one Athearn. I’d take the IHC’s over the Athearn Genesis Mike anyday. I’ts been back to Athearn twice and doesn’t run as well as the IHC’s. With a little detailing the IHC’s look as good as the Athearn. That’s all I have to compare them to right now.
I have four IHC steamers and they run fine. I’m not real big on detail level but they do lack somewhat. Being that I have digressed to reading glasses, if you take off your glasses the detail level is great.
They have good traction and have been dependable for me.
Converted my 2-8-0 B&LE to DCC and have been very pleased with it. As with any engine that is not DCC ready, there is some work involved but I didn’t think it was hard to do. As a guess, I had it done in about 1 hour.
Has anyone any experience with the 4-6-4 Hudsons that IHC currently is promoting? It seems that IHC is giving away extra stuff, just to sell these locomotives? Anyone purchase one of these Hudsons?
Those interested in IHC steam may find this worth reading.
http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=38141
I agree with you Don.
I also noticed the term generic. They are so generic that I can not recognize any of them for any prototype engine.
If they run good and you like them, use them, but don’t expect IHC to pick a prototype and actually model it.
I would think that since BLI and most other companies have trended towards making models of prototype engines, IHC would pick a model and make it also. The USRA’s have been produced, but are still a good engine to model since many roads used them.
I had one, a 4-6-2 steamer. Not DCC ready, but not too hard to convert. Ran quiet, fairly strong. Detail was so-so.
They are a good running locomotive for the money. The Premier series can be upgraded to DCC no problem. They are light, so they do not pull all that well. They are very generic in appearance and down right plain if you run them next to new offerings from the other companies. I have got three, and will continue to use them. But someday, when finances allow, I will replace them with more accurate locomotives.
You get what you pay for… Plastic gears, no fly wheel, low weight, generic appearance. I personally do not think that they are easy to convert to DCC. Since they have no PC light board, the wires are not fed to a single location. Therefore a significant amount of soldering and splicing is necessary to convert them to DCC.
Here’s the latest posting on IHC