IHC Steam Locos

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for all your replies. I placed my order yesterday. So we will see

[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? [:)][:)][:)]

[Anonymous]

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!!

[CP5415]

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

[mikebonellisr]

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?

[Anonymous]

I have been disappointed in IHC products and don't think I will be buying anything more from them.

[orsonroy]

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!

[lupo]

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.

[Anonymous]

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

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

Originally posted by orsonroy


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