I know some modelers run from the very mention of IHC, but I’ve heard some good things about how the later models run and perform…especially the newer 2-10-2s. True, these locomotives have a generic look to them that steers many prototype modelers away, but what about for a freelancer? Finding locomotives for my future freelanced line has been a challenge, as it’s hard to come up with something that doesn’t look exactly like another railroad’s. Seems to me the IHC models would be a good fit to start with and then add other detail parts to better fit my tastes. The 4-6-4, 4-8-2, and 2-10-2 all share a common look as well, which would be ideal for representing the “family” look of a railroad’s fleet.
So my question is: has anyone ever done any kitbashing with the IHC models? Is there someone out there that has used them for freelancing projects? Ideally, I would like to make a 4-8-4 and 2-10-4 out of the Mountain and Santa Fe types by trading the two wheel trailing truck for a four wheel truck. Seems like just a simple swap at first glance. These models with large boilers and fireboxes look more like the “super power” types to me anyways.
IHC steamers are indeed good for kitbashing. I kitbashed 2 IHC 2-10-2 engines and 1 Bachmann 2-10-2. Here is what I did:
An IHC Chesapeake & Ohio 2-10-2 with rectangular 6 wheel coal tender was turned into a Southern Pacific F-5 2-10-2 with Bachmann 6 wheel SP Hicken Style semi-vanderbilt oil tender by replacing the original pilot with a Precision Scale brass solid late steam era SP style pilot, replacing, adding Precision Scale brass numberboards, removing the ladders at the front and adding a self made platform on the pilot platform, making the cab rectangular with styrene, adding a visor to the headlight and by painting and lettering it with number 3744 on the cab. I´m totally satisfied with the model now as it looks enough SP to me. I chose it to pull my 12 car Southern Pacific El Costeno heavyweight passenger train, although the prototype never pulled that train. It´s because of 2 reasons: the 4-6-0 and 2-8-0 types that pulled the train are too weak to pull 12 cars (even the brass ones), and the IHC 2-10-2 just has enough traction force to pull such a train and runs well through my 20" curves. I wish it would have enough power to pull my 35 car freight train because I would also like to have it pull my freight train, but since it already has it´s train to pull, I can live with that. Here is a picture of the finished SP 2-10-2:
An IHC Western Maryland 2-10-2 with rectangular 6 wheel coal tender was turned into a 2-10-2 of the Bolivian State Railways ENFE by adding a PFM/United Western Pacific 4-8-2 brass 4 wheel oil tender, removing the original pilot and adding a Precision scale brass pilot, removing the laddders at the front and adding self made steps, adding a self made air tank on the pilot platform, removing the headlight from the smokebox door center to the top of the smokebox door, making the cab rectangular with styre
I have used 3 so far in projects, a 2-10-2 and 2, 2-8-0s. In all the projects I added wieght where I could for better pulling power. At this point though, all don’t really have any identifiable markers showing origin. All are stripped down to the frame, drivers and siderods then rebuilt from there.
The 2-10-2
and both 2-8-0s
These are rather extreme exaples of rebuilding but it shows it’s only limited to your imagination.
Thanks for the replies and photos guys. Especially like the Southern Pacific and the Reading locomotives. I’m never done any kitbashing but this inspires me to try some. Great stuff!
