Improving "cheap" critters..?

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

I have yet to see an H0 standard gauge 4 wheel industrial loco that is, for example, up to P2K standard from the box… except some very expensive brass ones…

So I’m wondering about getting one of the “lesser” ones and detailing it.

I’m pretty certain that people will have done this before me…

Experiences please? Pics? Good things and bad things? things to avoid?

Is there a particularly good cheap critter for improving? Are there some to avoid?

Thanks [:P]

2

Someone (I don’t recall who) from this forum took a Roundhouse EMD critter, painted it in SP colors, and added a bunch of details (a/c, etc.) to it. My apologies to the person who did the work but I don’t remember who did it. I have two of them semi-permanently coupled together and plan to add details, repaint etc. They work very well right out of the box and can be equipped with a decoder. They are out of production at the moment so you’ll probably have to go to an on-line auction site to find them.

Tom

3

Dunno about 4 wheel industrial locomotives. Only one of those I ever had my hands on was the ancient Athearn Hustler. It’s out of production now, and was uninspired back in the day.

But the 8 wheel Bachmann 44 tonner looks good, runs good and is small enough for any sort of service.

4

Grandt Line makes both 33 and 35 ton GE industrial locos. They are nice kits with Mabuchi motors. I have the boxcab and have found it to run reasonably OK on very clean track. It is very light and even with added weight it suffers from poor pickup and is a little noisy. It will pull 2 to 3 boxcars on level track. I seem to remember a past MR article where Malcom Furlow mu’d two of the boxcabs to increase the pulling power and pickup.

Joe

5

I took a 1940’s 0-4-0, remotored it and added a ton of details. It took a while but was a satisfying and fun project.

Advice:

  1. Have lots of pictures. I found the interent full.

  2. Give yourself lots of time to find all the little pieces, though there will be less on your model than mine.

  3. Get a mindset that allows lots of frustration as you learn several new skills.

  4. Bottom line, If I can do it anyone one can with enough patience and perserverance.