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IHC Steam Locos

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IHC Steam Locos
Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, February 10, 2004 8:16 AM
I am considering purchasing two IHC Steam Locos. A 4-6-4 Hudson and a 0-8-0 switcher. The price seems reasonable. I would appreciate any comments regarding quality, etc. I do not plan to utilize DCC at this time. Thanks for any replies
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Posted by orsonroy on Tuesday, February 10, 2004 8:32 AM
Since you have access to the internet, I'd wait for a P2K 0-8-0 to show up on Ebay. For the same price, you can have an engine that runs somewhat better than the IHC engine and looks three times better. The IHC Hudson isn't a prototype of anything (they put a C&O 4-8-2 boiler on a new chassis), but it should run much better than a Rivarossi Hudson, so it's probably worth it (the BLI Hudsons are the nicest on the market, but are about twice as expensive).

IHC steam engines are pretty good. They run well, pull decently, and are affordable (especially on sale). I've owned several of them, and had very good luck with their 4-8-2 and 2-8-0. They're not up to the standards of most plastic steam on the market today, but they're definitely not garbage. If you've ever wanted to try superdetailing or kitbashing steam, they're a GREAT way to start!

Ray Breyer

Modeling the NKP's Peoria Division, circa 1943

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Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, February 10, 2004 10:07 AM
I have a relatively new 0-8-0 and like it very much. It is very smooth running. I have super detailed this engine into a Northern Pacific G-1 with very little work and am very happy with it. It could use a boiler back-head to cover the flywheel, however.

I also own one of IHCs Moguls. This loco is likely 8-10 years old and still runs very well. Overall, I am happy with IHC's steam locos and think for their price, they may be the best deal in good quality steam locos on the market. I have no Life LIke Heritage models so really have no opinion other than in photos they look great! Price wise, the retail on the Life Like 0-8-0 is considerably higher then the IHC 0-8-0.
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Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, February 10, 2004 12:12 PM
Originally posted by orsonroy


.
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Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, February 10, 2004 12:18 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by locomotive3

QUOTE: Originally posted by orsonroy



IHC steam engines are pretty good. They run well, pull decently, and are affordable (especially on sale). I've owned several of them, and had very good luck with their 4-8-2 and 2-8-0. They're not up to the standards of most plastic steam on the market today, but they're definitely not garbage. If you've ever wanted to try superdetailing or kitbashing steam, they're a GREAT way to start!


I too have had good luck with my 4-8-2 six year old Mountain.

Visit the web site for more detail infor. www.ihc-hobby.com and click "On line catalog, HO and steam. My weight preference for good steam traction is 16 oz.
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Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, February 10, 2004 12:25 PM
I have 10 IHC locos They are all good running steam engines and the least tempermental. Unfortunately they lack the detail that we are now seeing in other manufacturers offerings. If you are willing to super detail then IHC is the way to go
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Posted by lupo on Tuesday, February 10, 2004 1:32 PM
allthough I only have 1 IHC loc, a camelback, with Union Pacific on it and a non matching road# ( you gottta have at least 1 ugly locomotive on your layout to make the others look better!),it was cheap on sale, and I agree with Fergus, It runs good, but lacks of detail and they used an orange led as headlight, might take his advice and detail it.
L [censored] O
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Posted by orsonroy on Tuesday, February 10, 2004 1:51 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by deschane
[Price wise, the retail on the Life Like 0-8-0 is considerably higher then the IHC 0-8-0.


True enough. The MSRP for the P2K 0-8-0 is somewhere around $225. However, brand new ones can be had on Ebay for the $90-$125 range, which makes the better engine less expensive than the IHC 0-8-0 (MSRP $125 or so) Out of the five P2K 0-8-0s I've bought, only one was bought at a LHS. I save myself a LOAD of dough by buying off the 'Bay.

Interesting thing about the IHC 0-8-0. The dies for the boiler and cab have been around for more than 20 years. The engine was originally released by Tyco/Mantua in the early 1980s as a USRA 0-8-0 (it came with standard Mantua frame and drive train, but a Tyco plastic boiler and tender). When Tyco went belly-up, Mantua lost the molds for the boiler and cab, and IHC picked them up. In the early 1990s, they released the boiler on a 2-8-0 chassis. The IHC 2-8-0 was the best plastic steamer on the market until Bachmann released their Spectrum 2-8-0. It took IHC another ten years to release the 0-8-0 boiler on a 0-8-0 chassis. Unfortunately for them, the market has been flooded by P2K 0-8-0s, so I don't think their switcher will be a big seller anytime soon.

Before IHC came out with their 2-8-0, I bought a Tyco/Mantua 0-8-0 for $125, a HUGE amount for an eighteen year old steam addict. I was always on the lookout for more of them to build a steam switcher fleet, when IHC releases their 2-8-0. I immediately recognized that their 2-8-0 was really the 0-8-0 in disguise. For $50 a pop, I was picking up IHC engine and started to convert them to 0-8-0s. Along comes P2K with their USRA correct 0-8-0, and I switched gears again. Now that I FINALLY have all the USRA 0-8-0s I'll ever need, I'm not switching gears midstream again!

Ray Breyer

Modeling the NKP's Peoria Division, circa 1943

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Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, February 10, 2004 2:38 PM
I have been disappointed in IHC products and don't think I will be buying anything more from them.
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Posted by mikebonellisr on Tuesday, February 10, 2004 3:05 PM
I would like to super-detail a ihc mogul,but first I want to improve it's S L O W running[along the lines of the new life like or bachmann]...Is it possible just using a load compesating decoder, or do I have to go through the trouble & expence of re-powering?
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Posted by CP5415 on Tuesday, February 10, 2004 5:59 PM
The one IHC locomotive I have I have been pleased with. It's a good runner, quiet, & hauls the train I need to to haul up & down the grades that I have on my layout.
Yes, they are not the most detailed of locomotives but for the price, I'm not going to complain.

Gordon

Brought to you by the letters C.P.R. as well as D&H!

 K1a - all the way

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Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, February 11, 2004 6:35 AM
Here is an interesting point about the differances of opinion people have. Most reviewers have praise for IHC locos, as expressed by the folks above. However, one person is disapointed in their products. Does this mean the majority is right, or the majority is wrong and the minority is right? Not meaning to put your opinion on trial here, Scottydog! I would believe you have legitimate reasons for your position and your opinion is valid! I just find this interesting and proves that there will always be biases, when an opinion is asked for or a product is reviewed!!
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Posted by AggroJones on Wednesday, February 11, 2004 9:34 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by Fergus

I have 10 IHC locos They are all good running steam engines and the least tempermental. Unfortunately they lack the detail that we are now seeing in other manufacturers offerings. If you are willing to super detail then IHC is the way to go


Did you turn down the flanges on them? Or leave the rims huge? [:)][:)][:)]

"Being misunderstood is the fate of all true geniuses"

EXPERIMENTATION TO BRING INNOVATION

http://community.webshots.com/album/288541251nntnEK?start=588

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Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, February 12, 2004 6:43 AM
Thanks for all your replies. I placed my order yesterday. So we will see
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Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, February 15, 2004 7:35 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by AggroJones

QUOTE: Originally posted by Fergus

I have 10 IHC locos They are all good running steam engines and the least tempermental. Unfortunately they lack the detail that we are now seeing in other manufacturers offerings. If you are willing to super detail then IHC is the way to go


Did you turn down the flanges on them? Or leave the rims huge? [:)][:)][:)]


Least tempermental means I'm not touching them! At the rate I'm going I will be phasing out my IHC fleet. They are a good engine but I'm being slowly swallowed up by the Brass Bug and high end stuff.

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