What about IHC?

[bikerraypa]

QUOTE: Originally posted by djs0405

A lot of info on IHC. Thanks to all... and thanks to AustinDad for the background. I read that several have installed DCC decoders... I have just received a Premier Hudson and a Premier Shifter (0-8-0).. what is the process of setting these machines up for DCC?
I am a basic beginner.. no track yet.. (Wow, that IS a beginner!) But I want to start with DCC from the very beginning. What pieces will I need to isolate the pick-ups?... Did you install plugs and then insert the decoders into the plugs? These may seem like really elementary questions to many of you... but answers are hard to come by. I emailed IHC when I submitted my order.. with no response whatsoever. The special offer was to select either 3 passenger cars or the Shifter Loco.. but they didn't ask what I wanted... just shipped the Shifter... which, reading some of the preceding comments, probably turned out best for me, anyway. So the Locos were shipped fairly quickly, were received without shipment damage... but no customer service via email.. at least so far.
I am also shopping for a set.. just to get started... since I don't have any room to do a permanent layout. Seems to me that buying the IHC steam locos and then going to the expense of converting them to DCC would bring the total cost (and trouble) up to the point where a DCC-ready BLI would be about an equal expense.. right? 'Nuff for now.. thanks for reading all this... and I would really appreciate any advice you have.

IHC Mikado $88.98
soundtraxx DSD-100LC decoder $80.00
one hour of work free

total cost: $168.98

--- OR ---

BLI Mikado w/dcc and sound $299.99

or, if you wanted to go without sound, you can get a digitrax decoder for in the IHC for about twenty bucks, and be out the door for only a little over $100.

Granted, the BLI locos are far more detailed than the IHC, etc. But for a person on a budget, I'd go with the IHC myself.


Ray out

[Anonymous]

A lot of info on IHC. Thanks to all... and thanks to AustinDad for the background. I read that several have installed DCC decoders... I have just received a Premier Hudson and a Premier Shifter (0-8-0).. what is the process of setting these machines up for DCC?
I am a basic beginner.. no track yet.. (Wow, that IS a beginner!) But I want to start with DCC from the very beginning. What pieces will I need to isolate the pick-ups?... Did you install plugs and then insert the decoders into the plugs? These may seem like really elementary questions to many of you... but answers are hard to come by. I emailed IHC when I submitted my order.. with no response whatsoever. The special offer was to select either 3 passenger cars or the Shifter Loco.. but they didn't ask what I wanted... just shipped the Shifter... which, reading some of the preceding comments, probably turned out best for me, anyway. So the Locos were shipped fairly quickly, were received without shipment damage... but no customer service via email.. at least so far.
I am also shopping for a set.. just to get started... since I don't have any room to do a permanent layout. Seems to me that buying the IHC steam locos and then going to the expense of converting them to DCC would bring the total cost (and trouble) up to the point where a DCC-ready BLI would be about an equal expense.. right? 'Nuff for now.. thanks for reading all this... and I would really appreciate any advice you have.

[bikerraypa]

I have two IHC steamers, a Pacific and a Consolidation, that I detailed and decaled myself. They look pretty good, and are, for the money, the best running steam on the market. WAAAAYYYY better than the Spectrum. I've had 2 Spectrum K4's and they both sucked, compared to the IHC. The IHC's run smooth, slow and quiet right out of the box. While they are a "generic" design, a little detailing and they'll work for just about anything but the Pennsy. For that matter, if I can figure out how to put a Belpaire firebox on one of them, I'll use 'em for that, too, and to heck with the Bowser stuff. [:p]

Ray out.

[dan_c]

I have two IHC Premier steam locos: 4-6-2 B&O Pacific and 2-8-2 Mikado. They are competent runners with good slow speed control - can't complain. The only problem is that paint can be easily damaged with rubbing alcohol, which I promptly discovered yesterday. Now my Pres. Lincoln dark-green Pacific's tender has a light spot on the side. What colour should I use to match it ( Floquil GN, Badger etc. ) ? I called IHC, spoke to Rich, he couldn't tell me much. A replacement tender shell runs for $15 + shipping; Life-Like or Atlas would have sent it to me for free... Oh well...[V]

[Anonymous]

I have a few IHC models. One is an older Pacific (before the Premier series) and the detail is not really all that great, but for such an old engine, it still runs pretty well. The other two are almost new, both from the Premier series. While the detail isn't superb, it is decent enough that most people looking on won't complain about it. None of the three has an authentic prototype. All three are Union Pacific locomotives, two of which UP never had. The third is a 4-6-2 Pacific that is similar to the ones used by UP, but the number (3524) is not prototypical. The body shell of the Pacific is the same as that on their Mountain, even though the drive mechanism is different. Both units use the same number for all roadnames offered, from what I have seen. It does look funny to see a UP Pacific #3524 next to an SP Pacific, also numbered #3524.

All three seem to run pretty well. I am planning to convert them to DCC, even possibly adding sound. I don't think these engines warrant a Soundtraxx system, however, so I will most likely use the MRC Synchro Steam sound decoder as it can be found for half the price of the Soundtraxx. Again, this would not be prototypical, but for these locomotives, who cares? Basically the intent with these is to keep the kids interested (they don't care about prototypes at this time anyway) and possibly to get some other bigger kids (grown up ones) interested, too (they wouldn't know the difference from the prototypes).

In summary, from my experience with IHC steam locomotives, they are not terribly accurate models, but they are affordable and work well. I don't have any of their diesel models, but from what I have seen, they appear very toylike and the detail is much worse than that on their steam locos. Just my[2c].

[Anonymous]

I have one IHC Premier 4-8-2. Detail is fair, drive is OK, pulling power is fair. I installed a DCC decoder easily in the tender.

I only paid $40 for it brand new on EBay. After having one, I wouldn't spend any more than that if I would get another. It does not have RP25 wheels, though it will run on code 83 track. I blackened all the chrome handrails, etc. and weathered it and it looks decent.

Out of the box is kinda "toylike" and very generic.

[twhite]

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

[jsoderq]

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.

[Anonymous]

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

[cjcrescent]

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.

[siberianmo]

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.

[RedLeader]

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.

[jsoderq]

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.

[Anonymous]

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

[mikebonellisr]

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

[Anonymous]

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. The Steam Engines operate superb. My first one from 1972 is still operating and they offer over 78 different passenger car sets. "So what about IHC" nice folks, nice products. Affordable. Every need a part, ask for Rich Edwards. Every have a recommendation, give it to Ron Moyer, President of IHC. And if you ever call after hours, who knows, you might get to talk with Bernie Paul himself because even while he is in his 80's, he's still continues working hard for our hobby industry.

[Anonymous]

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

[Anonymous]

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

[cheese3]

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.

[sebamat]

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.

[simon1966]

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.

[CNJ831]

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

[Anonymous]

Descent starters for the money.

[joseph2]

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.

[Virginian]

Pretty good drive mechanism, poor detail, one basic model with different paint jobs, inaccurate lettering. Nothing that can't be fixed.

[Anonymous]

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