About 500 years ago, MDC made a series of static (no motor) locomotives, I know of 2, they seem to be small logging or small switchers. What was the purpose of these locos? and could they be converted to a motorized version? or were they just for display or to sit around the roundhouse on your layout.
Just like you suggested, scenery for the rail yard. I made one of their narrow gauge 2-4-4-0’s about a jillion years ago. Not saying that it could not be powered (I think someone did), but it’s so small and would be a major challenge to power. They bascially raided their parts department and threw in some bits and pieces along with some detailed instructions and you had to almost scratchbuild the model.
It was a good learning experience, as were the steam shovel and Jordan spreader that MDC had in their “3 in 1” kit line. When I first started in the hobby having their detailed instructions and list of additional materials required made it a lot easier for me to make the models. Using their methods taught me a lot about scratchbuilding.
Monogram also made some easier static HO steam engine kits - a Hunson and a Big Boy. I think one or the other or maybe both are still around under different manufacturer’s names. They were real easy to assemble - they just snapped together with no glue. The Hudson was even made chrome plated, for reasons that I do not understand!
They even included sections of plastic track and roadbed to mount the models. I’ve mangled a few of the Hudsons for display - one became a derelict engine being scrapped. Another one was sawed through in the middle to stick into a roundhouse on my modules. Several of the stalls in the roundhouse were only a few inches deep, so this model made them appear longer. I even painted one with gold paint, and it looks like an expensive brass model! [:D]
Bob Boudreau