I ordered a 4-6-0 MDC kit a couple days ago, and now my son’s Hogwarts has bittne the big one.
I’m assuming, the MDC locomotive (based on price only) will out perform the Hogwarts. But my MDC 2-6-0 is much smaller than the Hogwarts and will not pull as much. Will the MDC 4-6-0 be smaller than the Hogwarts?
My questions are: What are your experiences with the MDC kits? I know the Shay kit is a bi…scuit. Can I expect it to pull those two long passenger cars up a 3% grade?
I don’t know what it means to isolate an engine. From the picture, it looks as though the whole frame and body are metal. Is it just a matter of putting tape on a few key places?
If this is the harriman 4-6-0, I don’t think you should have any problems. I have two and although they are not my best performers, they still can pull about 20 cars each up a 2% grade. The only extra I did to them was add some lead weight between the frame and the boiler and regear with the NWSL 72:1 gear kit made for these models.
the MDC kits are a pain the DCC. have both their 2-6-0 and 4-4-0’s, but it took bypassing the chassis and running a copper strip from the decoder to the pickup wheel to get them to work on DCC. These are not heavy pullers, 6-10 cars max, unless you add a little more weight to them, then you’ll get about 14 max. Note that the MDC 4-4-0, 2-6-0, 4-6-0 and 2-8-0 are all built exactly the same and the only difference is the wheels and arrangement.
The Hogwarts is considered a ficional toy train, it’s size is not prototypical, but the MDC line is pretty much in real size. if you want a puller, might want to look to Bachmann’s spectrum line for a puller.
As for the shay, it was much simpler. I have a 3 truck that all it required was running a jumper wire from the tender chassis to the main chassis to get it to work on DCC. The shay will pull nicely, i had it pulling 40 cars on a flat serface at 55% power. although i am assuming it will pull about 120 easily on a flat surface.
BTW the Hogwarts is a model of a real locomotive, a British steam locomotive.
Adding DCC to the MDC may be easy, depending on if you have one with an open frame motor, or a can motor. As mentioned above, the NWSL gear kits are worth it, as is going to a NWSL motor, if yours does not already have a can motor. The reason for the can motor is that it’s brushes are electrically isolated.
I have the Kit in my hand and it will make an excellent replacement for the Hogwarts.
Now for the DCC. It has a can motor. There are no lights nor does there seem to be any way of adding any without drilling through 1" of metal (no kidding). So that leaves what two wires attached to the motor?
How do I proceed on this?
And do I need to change gears. I outweighs all my other engines including my BLI MIA. IF so where do I find such a thing?
the MDC engines have metal bodies.If you want a headlight you will have to drill it out. Most owners were satisfied with just an MD lens.
Pulling Power is a practical balance of more weight and larger motor. As you add weight you use more amps to the motor, and upgrading adds to the price .The Bachmann engine wheel’s become loose on their axles. Adding weight makes it worse, therefor a new motor is a bad investment…
I’m not following you. The Bachman Hogwarts is now in an ever-growing parts box. The MDC will be painted red and become the Hogwarts.
But now that you mention it, the Hogwarts engine might be a nice upgrade for Lil Guy. With the right gearing, I might get him to break the sound barrier.
I am seriously looking for an MDC 2-8-0 Consolidation Harriman style SP steam locomotive kit with vanderbuilt tender . Walthers old stock number 480-461. I have tried Walthers, Horizon Hobbies, Caboose Hobbies, Reeds, and all my other favorite hobby shops from coast to coast and border to border including all of the hobby shops in my home town of Memphis. My intention was to re-gear and re-tool per Jeff Kraker’s article in the May 2002 issue of MR. “… How to turn an HO staple into a star performer”. Can anyone offer a suggestion or, have MDC kits simply dropped off the face of the earth with the recent series of acquisitions?