I’ve been wanting to add something SP to my motive roster, and while browsing ebay, I found this. Now, normally I avoid IHC locomtives, having never found their level of detail satisfactory, but the description says that it is part of their “brand new TOP OF THE LINE - PREMIER GOLD SERIES,” and it didn’t look too bad in the picture. I’m just wondering if anyone here has any experience with this locomotive. How is the detail compared to Spectrum (especially their light mountain, because I own one)? I don’t care if it matches a specific protoype as long as it has good detail. And how well does it run?
The IHC Command XXV 2-10-2 has a cast metal frame and boiler and is much more detailed than any of their previous models – it runs excellently and installing a Tsunami sound system was very easy because there is a DCC socket in the very roomy tender. These IHC engines are better than Bachmann Spectrum in running qualities, and comparable in detail.
I would be very leery of purchasing the one on e-Bay, though, because it sounds like an older, plastic model that was not DCC ready. As near as I can recall, “Premier Gold Series” was the cheap IHC plastic models with very little detail and bright, shiny handrails.
You can order the Command XXV directly from IHC for $129.98 and it will have a full warranty.
Something is definitely amiss with the e-Bay locomotive listing, and you’d be better off to purchase directly from IHC.
Click on any of the images to enlarge it. The SP model is currently sold out, but they may get more in stock.
This sounds suspiciously like an e-Bay seller hoping to confuse purchasers into thinking they are getting the new cast metal IHC models and paying a higher-than-retail price for them.
I echo cacole’s remarks. I have one in PRR livery, and although it’s rather generic, it’s a very good runner, especially with DCC. I’m a novice and had no trouble installing the decoder in the tender DCC plug. Go with a new one from IHC though - it’s not that expensive.
They are very nice but, they don’t have a diecast boiler. It is plastic with a large weight inside. The weight has a large open area near the front (for a smoke generator maybe?) and should be filled with lead to balance out the center of gravity for better pulling.
The frame IS diecast and has 2 of the 5 drivers sprung. The center driver is “blind” (no flanges) as per most prototypes. BUT… It is raised up slightly and does not touch the rails. I believe this is done on purpose so that it doesn’t get hung up on uneven sharp radius track. The other drivers have lots of sideplay and work well even on 18" radius.
The Canadian “President’s Choice” set doesn’t have the DCC plug in the tender but appears to be the same otherwise.
I have one, purchased it about 5 months ago. I really enjoy it. Just like you, I wanted to stay away from anything IHC made. I had heard all kinds of bad things about them. When I purchased the 2-10-2, I felt like I was taking a huge chance and that I might be waisting my money. Now that I’ve been running it now for 5 months in DCC, I love it. I’m not a “rivet counter” so the amount of detail isn’t super important.
El Parro, Strap on a parachute and jump. Actually why don’t you question the vendor? The vendor has an very impressive number of sales with 100% feedback. At the IHC website the new 2-10-2 is listed under their Premier Series-I think IHC is in need of an editor for their site. Their MRR ads put the new 2-10-2 under the aegis of Command XXV. Ad writer who came up with Command XXV is guilty of a little misdirection. Oh, Command XXV must mean it has a decoder on board(hence the “Command” moniker). Well no, it’s DCC ready-you supply the decoder.Guess the “Command” nomenclature hasn’t migrated to their website. Again, I’d advise checking with the vendor-they didn’t get their feedback score by creating unhappy customers. The price is better then IHC’s own sale but so what-that’s why people look to eBay in the first place. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Jon
OK, you’ve specifically asked about it’s detailing, especially as compared to other modern steam releases. Here goes:
On a word, horrible. Oh, it’s got plenty of “detail”, but most of it is either bad or completely wrong. irst off, the 2-10-2 is a pre-superpower drag freight engine, but the IHC engine has a modern, superpower boiler. The engine has a C&O-styled cab, but the engine looks nothing like any C&O engine ever built. The engine has one air pump, but enginesof this size should have two. The engine has part of a Worthington feedwater heater up front, but an Elesco feedwater pump (completely impossible). The engine has pipes for a trailing truck booster motor, but a Cole trailing truck (again, impossible). Finally, the engine comes with a superpower-styled tender. As a pre-superpower engine, it should have a smaller, more traditionally-styled tender.
Sure, the engine “looks good”, but only to us who didn’t grow up with steam. To those who know better, the engine is a travesty of freelancing, and a VERY bad effort. As an example, adding a p
Well, don’t necessarily rule the engine out. As our Canadian modeling friends are showing us today, you CAN do some amazing things with the stock model to make it look VERY realistic. True, it takes a bit of time, planning and extra cash, but the results can be worth it.
So if you’re modeling a Canadian road, or are freelancing, it very well might be worth investing in. My comments were geared at whether the thing is correct for ANY real engine out of the box (which it isn’t).
Unfortunately, the IHC 2-10-2 bears no resemblance at all to an SP 2-10-2 although it does bear a vague (very) resemblance to a Santa Fe 3800 class 2-10-2 ( http://www.railarchive.com/randomsteam/atsf3900.htm ). The tender that’s included with the version lettered “Southern Pacific” is an abomination as it bears no relation to any Vanderbilt tender ever built regardless of railroad. Additionally, the IHC loco uses Baker valve gear whereas Walschaert was the SP standard.
One of the characteristics of SP 2-10-2’s of classes F-3/F-4/F-5 was a huge Worthington BL feedwater heater on the fireman’s side as in this photo of #3690 in 1937 ( http://www.yesteryeardepot.com/SP3690A.JPG ) and double compressors on the engineer’s side as in this shot of F-4 #3700 ( http://www.yesteryeardepot.com/SP3700.JPG). SP 2-10-2’s (with the exception of the earlier and smaller F-1’s
Unfortunately, the IHC 2-10-2 bears no resemblance at all to an SP 2-10-2 although it does bear a vague (very) resemblance to a Santa Fe 3800 class 2-10-2 ( http://www.railarchive.com/randomsteam/atsf3900.htm ). The tender that’s included with the version lettered “Southern Pacific” is an abomination as it bears no relation to any Vanderbilt tender ever built regardless of railroad. Additionally, the IHC loco uses Baker valve gear whereas Walschaert was the SP standard.
One of the characteristics of SP 2-10-2’s of classes F-3/F-4/F-5 was a huge Worthington BL feedwater heater on the fireman’s side as in this photo of #3690 in 1937 ( http://www.yesteryeardepot.com/SP3690A.JPG ) and double compressors on the engineer’s side as in this shot of F-4 #3700 ( http://www.yesteryeardepot.com/SP3700.JPG). SP 2-10-2’s (with the exc
I’ve heard good things about the new IHC 2-10-2, but like Andre, if you’re looking for an accurate model of one of the Espee “Decks”, this isn’t the model. Unfortunately in this day and age, you’re STILL going to have to go to used brass for an accurate model. However, if you’re willing to invest in a lot of brass castings (and a completely new Vandy tender), you might end up with a fairly accurate representation of an Espee 2-10-2. As Andre said, the IHC is really closer to the Santa Fe 3800 series–at least what I’ve seen in photographs and models at trains shows–so in order to get a good Espee model, you’ve got quite a project ahead of you. Hate to sound like a prototype’Snob" (and I’m not, believe me) but Espee decals on a loco do not neccesarily mean you’ve got a real Espee loco!
HOWEVER, I am told that the IHC model is a very good runner and quite a good puller. So if you’re willing to do the conversion, it might be very interesting. To help, I did a conversion on the “Espee” Bachman Spectrum Heavy 4-8-2, turning it into an MT-2, and though it is not a ‘real’ MT-2, it’s close enough to make me happy. PSC makes some really good castings for Espee locos–feedwater heaters, headlights, domes, etc., and they’re VERY reasonably priced.
