I was just on the IHC website and they have some good looking equipment at decent prices. Anyone have any experience with their HO steam locos? Thanks.
Karl
Pretty good drive mechanism, poor detail, one basic model with different paint jobs, inaccurate lettering. Nothing that can’t be fixed.
I have a IHC Premier Series 2-6-0 and I am satified with it on my DC layout.It has the same low speed as a Athearn Genesis 2-8-2.
Descent starters for the money.
Running characteristics tend to be fair to good. However, the body shells are often inaccurate, underdetailed, and sometimes downright wrong. IHC has a nasty habit of simply placing an existing body shell atop new mechanism to represent a locomotive of a different wheel arrangement in a very unprototypical, freelance, manner!
CNJ831
I have 4 of them. All 4 have the exact same tender, even though they are diferent roads and locomotive types. The body detail is mostly molded on and is somewhat crude compred to a BLI or other higher priced model. The only external detail on any of them is the very shiny wire hand rails. However, they are reliable runners, and a potentially good basis for superdetailing and modification. I consider them to be very good value for the money. The kids love them, and I don’t mind them handling them.
All above about detailing etc is true, but IHC engine are also the only steam engines in my roster (I have also several Bachmann (4-6-0 Baldwin, 2-8-0, Mountain) and an Athearn(Mikado)) that run reliably even on my ‘not too well laid’ tracks. The IHC Mountain manage to take tight curves where the bachman’s one is already jumping from the tracks.
If you want a medium-small engine (e.g. 4-6-0, late 4-4-0) of beginning of 19th century there is no much alternatives I am aware of.
A (big?) minus: if you want to put Kadee coupling on them, you have to kitbash a bit.
Summit: a good and quite cheap ‘steam runner’ for kids, beginners or someone who is not taking it too seriously with details (but Bachmann’s mountain is also a’ one size fit all!!), specially if it will have to run on rought tracks.
I have an IHC pacific and it runs great. I am not that obsessed with detail so the improfections do not bother me at all.
I have a 2-6-0 and for the money it’s a great loco. I don’t compare it to my other locos as they are not in the same price range. You wouldn’t compare a Mersades to a Yugo and the same is true of locos.
Bob
I have a 2-6-0 on order with IHC. It was supposed to be delivered in 7-14 days (US international Air to Canada). It’s been since January 17th!!! Customer service at IHC says it’s been shipped. They said they’d check further and let me know today as Monday was a holiday in the US (you lucky stiffs…hehe). Anyway, I’m not impressed with IHC. I have ordered from Walthers, Bachmann, MB Klein Inc, Accurail and others, and have had excellent service and fast delivery. I just hope the loco is worth the wait. Right now I’d just be happy to receive my order.
Trevor
Glad you were able to get into their web site at IHC as it has been down just a few days ago. However, for the money, you can not beat them. They manufacture some really nice railroad engines. True the detail could be better. We can find fault with any manufacture. The Steam Locomotives operate very well and while some road names are painted inaccurately, or give an engine a road name that the proto-type never operated. That’s marketing to the consumer, since they try to reach each of us remaining affordable. Their starter train set (2-6-0 Mogul Class Steam Locomotive Set) surpasses any other manufacture, dollar for dollar. The Steam Locomotives and passenger cars should be best noted:
What many do not know is IHC Owner, Bernie Paul started in the hobby business in 1938 with Quaker City Model Railroad Shop (later, Megow). In the late '50s, Bernie started “AHM” Associated Hobby Manufacturers to import European-made American prototype HO model railroad products. Probably his best known locomotive of the time was a 2-6-6-4 steam articulated that retailed for under $40.00. In the early '80s, Bernie founded IHC to continue to import model railroad products, expanding the range to include unique and innovative items. In the late 80’s, IHC and Rivarossi had some sort of fdalling out. AHM and IHC had been the soul imported of Rivarossi. Rivarossi, now owned by Hornby is solely imported by Walthers, which is a story itself. Although, IHC sought after another manufacture to build quality locomotives and passenger sets much of the imports which they market today. This company is MEHANO who manufactures these products imported under the IHC trade name. The Model Railroad Industry Association awarded Bernie the HALL of FAME award in 1997 and IHC today continues to bring some of the best railroad equipment to the layout. Their GG-1 can only be matched by an engine costing triple of their product.
I have two IHC engines,the 2-6-0 and a4-6-2 premier series.I had a great time super-detailing them.They run well out of the box and after installing a lenz bemf decoder they run even better.The fact that the’re usra engines worked well for me in making them into nyc steamers.It’s not very cost effective because those little brass detail parts do add up and then adding a decoder brings the price up to near a good start on buying a BLI engine but it’s worth it in terms of modeling fun and satisfaction in transforming them into a really nice looking model.It’s not too easy to pick out the IHC among my brass when they’re on the layout. All things considered…a good buy
Wow! Extensive and comprehensive replies both pro and con. I was reading their ad in the 3/05 MRR and the prices had me wondering. Definitely something to consider as I become more involved in the hobby. Originally I had my mind made up to build the WGH layout but as I gain insight and knowledge (thanks to this forum), the layout now seems inadequate. Now my problems are space and funds. Sound familiar? [;)] Thanks to all for the info.
Karl
Just to present the other side of the story - I have no gripe with IHC and do have some of their product . BUT -they are very hit and miss. The latest passenger car tooling is a disaster -no prototypes at all, not even close to anything on most of them, gross errors in the tooling etc. The product has to be judged on it’s individual merit, not " I like everything from IHC". And no, I am not a rivet counter, I don’t mind them painting/ lettering for a road that did not have that particular item, but when you go to the expense of tooling it ought to at least resemble something that really was.
I’ve never had IHC, but I’ve seen the ads. Correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t a lot of IHC’s structures and rolling stock the same TYCO used to make? I think their GG-1 is the same model TYCO used to make. I dunno about you guys, but in the time I have in this hobby I’ve learn (sometimes the hard way) that most things are what you pay for.
Responding just to the subject, “What about IHC?” - here’s my two cents:
Over the recent past I have ordered HO items directly from IHC and have mixed results. They were rather long in the tooth when it came to turn around time; in other words - slow.
The quality of my nearly three dozen passenger cars and two sets of EMD E-8’s “A/A” is outstanding; very pleased with that.
I have found that their customer service - isn’t. Letters and e-mails don’t seem to work very well. Phone calls, with lots of persistence, seems to get the job done.
For austinsdad:
That background information is great! Thanx - I appreciated it.
Austinsdad;
I used to work many years ago part time in a hobby shop, and one thing I learned about Rivarossis and the older Mehano locomotives was, with any ten of the same type loco, ONE would be absolutely surperb in its running ability. One would be an absolute dog, and the other eight would be somewhere in between.
We would order ten, test them ALWAYS, keep best five, return five worse, and get five more. Repeat process. My boss did a real good mail order business as well as the LHS and he never wanted to send a customer 1500 miles away, something he himself wouldn’t have.
Interesting stuff here. I guess the old saw “You get what you pay for” applies yet again. I think I’ll hold off and save up for a proven performer. I’d mention some brands I have in mind but I don’t want to start anything [;)] Thanks again.
Karl
Some of the buildings were sold by Tyco Mehano got the tooling or actually ran them for Tyco - not sure which. The GG-1 is defuinitely not the Tyco- Tyco crap was very short and not the right number of wheels. The GG-1 came from Pemco along with the sd-35. Pemco and Rivarossi got into some kind of a hastle over the GG-1 and Pemco went bust. They had some unusual rolling stock items - a 60’ reefer they painted in 1940’s paint and a couple other items. They also had an FP-40. Drive mechanisms were very light not very durable. I have some of the stuff packed away somewhere. Remember IHC is only an importer. They do not actually make anything themselves.
I have an IHC USRA Mountain (C&O prototype) that came lettered for Great Northern. GN’s mountains didn’t have front-hung ‘flying’ pumps, but it doesn’t really bother me. It’s a nice, smooth runner, a good hauler, and if it isn’t detailed that well, one can always get super-detailing parts from either PSC or Cal-Scale. I think for the money, they put out a pretty good product. It’s certainly a good way to get a well-running steam fleet started, and they’re just ripe for super-detailing.
Tom