|
Post by WP 257 on Oct 6, 2015 6:59:37 GMT -8
By at least 1982, Samhongsa had really gotten their act together, and from that time onward built some of the finest running steam locomotive models ever offered in HO scale. Prior to 1980 or so, there were some runs that were of uneven product quality. Some pre-1980 examples may run great and a few perhaps not, or they may have other issues. The Rio Grande M-64 4-8-4's, though generally beautiful looking models from about 1977, are somewhat known for "re-kitting themselves while they run" which I have personally experienced--stuff falling off while they run including valve gear lol.
|
|
|
Post by dti406 on Oct 6, 2015 7:45:49 GMT -8
I own a W&R NH Y-3 USRA 0-8-0, and it is one of the finest running engines I own (brass or plastic, diesel or steam). It looks like it's gliding over the rails, it's so smooth. And power? Plenty for an 0-8-0. Worn out gears are a constant issue for all KMT tower drives for steamers, which includes anything from NJ/Custom Brass. Paul, I have the NKP version of that 0-8-0 and just love it, smooth and powerfull, just like yours. Regarding KMT, I believe their gear sets were much better than everyone else's, at the hobby shop we used theirs to replace the god awful gears towers in the Custom Brass and Hallmark imports that were built by Dong Jin in Korea. The gears did not mesh and stripped out in no time. I really learned about requartering wheel sets replacing those puppies. Rick Jesionowski
|
|
|
Post by Spikre on Oct 6, 2015 11:28:23 GMT -8
what info that is here says that B&O had Baldwin build 2 Experimental Mountains in 1930,this is late for getting into the 4-8-2 game. one had a Water Tube Firebox, the other had a Water Tube Boiler if that is understood correctly. then in 1931 Baldwin built 2 conventional Mountains for B&O.wonder if they were supposed to copy the Experimental units boilers or fireboxes ? the really big Question here is why didn't B&O order Northerns ? then they started building the homebuilt T-3s which could have also easily have been Northerns. they did seem to get a good deal on the Pre-War B&M Mountains, and got good use out of them. in the period 45-47 or so B&O controlled Reading and Western Maryland both went for big modern Northerns, WM's came from Baldwin, Reading built the T Class in its main Shop. another case of the Controlled Road having more modern locos than the Parent Road. any thing I'm missing here ? Troop Trains ran well after the War, then picked up again for The Korean Police Action. Spikre
|
|
|
Post by Spikre on Oct 6, 2015 11:38:37 GMT -8
Rick, while KMT gears were OK until they cracked,drive gears or tower nylon would eventually crack.this was why almost every run of Diesels had different combination of gears,they were searching for gears that wouldn't crack under a load. the best tower gears were by GOM,they were set up similar to a Hobbytown gear stack,didnt make noise,and ran well even with the KMT Stack Motor. did put large Athearn Flywheels and U-joints on the powered A-B FT here, and it ran almost like a Hobbytown chassis. the only good KMT Axle gears were Brass,nylon always managed to split. Spikre
|
|
|
Post by dti406 on Oct 6, 2015 13:29:39 GMT -8
Rick, while KMT gears were OK until they cracked,drive gears or tower nylon would eventually crack.this was why almost every run of Diesels had different combination of gears,they were searching for gears that wouldn't crack under a load. the best tower gears were by GOM,they were set up similar to a Hobbytown gear stack,didnt make noise,and ran well even with the KMT Stack Motor. did put large Athearn Flywheels and U-joints on the powered A-B FT here, and it ran almost like a Hobbytown chassis. the only good KMT Axle gears were Brass,nylon always managed to split. Spikre I was not talking about diesel drive, but the gear case used for the steam engines, they are still wanted by repowering experts. Rick
|
|
|
Post by jaygee on Oct 6, 2015 15:34:08 GMT -8
Still have my original Alco KMT PRR T1 from March 1977. Got it new at a train show in Willoughby, Ohio. There were two runs of this locomotive in fairly short order, so they couldn't have been that bad. My biggest gripe is the 76" drivers, thus making her a dual service T1 ! The articulation feature was novel, and enabled me to run the machine on a friend's 18"R curves! You also had the option of locking the front engine down, should you desire. They also did a solidly built KMT PRR S2 Turbine later that year. NJ Custom Brass did the same chooch about the same time. Theirs looked better, but the Alco was the better runner!
|
|
|
Post by lvrr325 on Oct 8, 2015 13:34:59 GMT -8
I lucked out with my old Mantuas, both were comptently built and both remotored with can motors and run beautifully. The paint isn't perfect on them, but since they're vintage pieces (I think neither one lasted past the Korean war) I can live with it.
Custom Brass did one run of the LV T-2 and T-2b Wyomings in 1981. 100 T-2 with Worthington feedwater heater, 200 T-2 with Elesco, and no quantity given for the T-2b. I would presume though that at most it would have been 300, more likely 100 or 200. T-2b represents the last ones built by Alco in 1943.
|
|
|
Post by Spikre on Oct 13, 2015 10:10:10 GMT -8
Dave, wondering where B&O got enuff Steel to build most of the T-3s by 44 ? they couldn't get more FTs from EMD,so did get the Yellowstones from Baldwin. but Steel was hard to come by from 42 to 44. the T-3s built during 45-46 weren't really built during the War Steel shortages. of course they did have a lot of Old Stuff to melt down. also getting Conflicting Info on 5500-5501. will do some more checking on this conflict. Spikre
|
|