Loco Kits

[Anonymous]

What manufacturer makes the best locomotive kits? And where can I get one at a good price? I dont care if its steam or deisel, I just want an engine to build.

thanks

[mikebonellisr]

You may want to try a Bowser or MDC kit.With a little care and patience,you'll end up with a decent running and decent looking model.You will learn a lot about modeling and how to adjust and repair your other motive power & have fun doing it.

[dinwitty]

another angle are the LaBelle wood kits.

[cjcrescent]

If you've never built a loco kit before start out on any MDC kit except the shay. A Bowser will make the better loco but I wouldn't recommend them to someone as a first time loco kit. If you're looking for a diesel, look at Hobbytown of Boston or Tiger Valley. Hobbytowns are noted for their pulling ability.

[twhite]

MDC, definitely for a starter kit--try one of their Harriman 2-8-0 or 4-6-0's, they go together well, are very decent runners, and when you get the urge, you can superdetail them all over the place. I like them.
Tom[^][^]

[IRONROOSTER]

Bowser was my first loco kit - K4 Pacific. I don't remember it being difficult, although you do have to be careful. But that's true of any kit. I haven't built an MDC kit yet so I can't comment on those.
Enjoy
Paul

[Anonymous]

JPM335, what a refreshing request this is! Here in the 21st Century, there ia a Modelrailroader who actually chooses to "model." Joe, I don't know what age you are but once you build your first loco kit, you will be joining the ranks of serious "modelers" who take pride in their own skills and accomplishments. Sure, you can buy anything off-the-shelf, open the box and run a loco that is nearly a perfect replica. BUT, it isn't yours!!! If you eventually buy a dozen brass, plastic, styrene, etc. "ready to run" locos; the kit you assemble, paint, letter, super detail will always be your favorite. If your first kit is a little disappointing, don't worry! You can go back and correct, add, delete, and modify any feature that you wi***o change on YOUR locomotive. Congratulations on making a choice between modeling and "instant gratification." Best of luck to you Joe.

[dknelson]

Sometimes at swap meets and auctions you'll find one of the old Mantua kits, unbuilt, for sale. If you are extra lucky the kit will date from when Mantua had good motors. The only slightly tricky part is the valve gear. It is easy to over tighten it. The old trick was small slips of paper between parts that were being riveted together, then remove the paper and the slight gap would keep things from jamming.
The other trick was to make the engine run equally well in both directions. Sometimes the brass bearings need a bit of running in.
Dave Nelson

[Anonymous]

Are MDC kits even available any more? I don't think so! However, you can occasionally find them on Ebay. Athearn Blue Box diesel kits are simple and fun to build, however, again, I am uncertain of availablity and, Ebay might work here also. I've built both Bowser and MDC loco kits and have to say I think the kits are similar in necessary skill abilities to build. The Bowser's had valve gear to rivit together which might be the most difficult job.

The manufacturer's perseave that we do not want to build locomotive kits any more and are basically phasing them out.

LaBelle does not make loco kits, so dinwitty didn't read your original question. I have to say after being in this hobby solid for 17 years, I have never heard of Hobbytown or Tiger kits! I am not saying they don't exist, just they must not advertize in the mainstream model railroading press.

[Anonymous]

. I have to say after being in this hobby solid for 17 years, I have never heard of Hobbytown or Tiger kits! I am not saying they don't exist, just they must not advertize in the mainstream model railroading press.

[Anonymous]

I built the Hobbytown [of Boston] EMD E-6/E-7, A-B units around 1963 and must say the A unit favored the E-7 profile more than an E-6. There was a lot of clean-up involved as the "flash" from the castings was abundant. To add all details (hand rails, grabs, etc.), it was neccessary to hand tap and drill the casting. I went through many a drill bit, dulled taps and a few fine files in the process. However, with the old Pittman DC-90 motor, it is still a sweet running, hard-pulling and handsome loco. If you are prepared for spending lots of time, some swearing and "writers cramp;" the results will be very gratifying. These castings are heavy, so be sure to power the B unit as well.

[IRONROOSTER]

QUOTE: Originally posted by DeSchane

....
LaBelle does not make loco kits, ....

They list several freight motor kits, for me that qualifies. Now if they only made S scale hmmm.
Enjoy
Paul

[ericsp]

QUOTE: Originally posted by DeSchane

Are MDC kits even available any more? I don't think so! However, you can occasionally find them on Ebay. Athearn Blue Box diesel kits are simple and fun to build, however, again, I am uncertain of availablity and, Ebay might work here also. I've built both Bowser and MDC loco kits and have to say I think the kits are similar in necessary skill abilities to build. The Bowser's had valve gear to rivit together which might be the most difficult job.

The manufacturer's perseave that we do not want to build locomotive kits any more and are basically phasing them out.

LaBelle does not make loco kits, so dinwitty didn't read your original question. I have to say after being in this hobby solid for 17 years, I have never heard of Hobbytown or Tiger kits! I am not saying they don't exist, just they must not advertize in the mainstream model railroading press.

Athearn made many locomotive kits last year. It appears that Athearn is behind on its Blue Box production and some are just now becoming available. Check Horizon Hobby's website for availability.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Ted D. Kramer

JPM335, what a refreshing request this is! Here in the 21st Century, there ia a Modelrailroader who actually chooses to "model." Joe, I don't know what age you are but once you build your first loco kit, you will be joining the ranks of serious "modelers" who take pride in their own skills and accomplishments. Sure, you can buy anything off-the-shelf, open the box and run a loco that is nearly a perfect replica. BUT, it isn't yours!!! If you eventually buy a dozen brass, plastic, styrene, etc. "ready to run" locos; the kit you assemble, paint, letter, super detail will always be your favorite. If your first kit is a little disappointing, don't worry! You can go back and correct, add, delete, and modify any feature that you wi***o change on YOUR locomotive. Congratulations on making a choice between modeling and "instant gratification." Best of luck to you Joe.

Im 14 now, I felt the same way about it being "mine" when I started painting rolling stock last year. Scratchbuilding as well, but I havent scratchbuilt any rolling stock yet.

[gmcrail]

QUOTE: Originally posted by JPM335

What manufacturer makes the best locomotive kits? And where can I get one at a good price? I dont care if its steam or deisel, I just want an engine to build.

thanks

The best steam locomotive kits are definitely Bowser. I just finished a USRA Light 4062 from them, and though there were some minor bumps in the road towards completion, they were not insoluble. They give you specialty tools where needed (a riveting tool for the valve gear, and a hex wrench for the 0-80 hex head crankpins), the kit comes with extra parts for the rivets, handrail posts, and other teensie things that tend to go flying, and the detail kits that they include are very complete. Besides, the things are all metal, and will pull any string of cars you can hang onto them, short of breaking a coupler knuckle.

The Bowser kits should be approached, however, with a decent knowledge of steam locomotives and how they work, so you can get all the piping to the right places.

I'm about to tackle an MDC Santa Fe 2-6-2, which looks to be on a par with the Bowser, except for a lot more casting fla***o clean up, and some funky crosshead hangers... Past experience with MDC has been mixed, because one of them was a Shay - a beautiful looking but poor running loco. The other MDC I have, an "Old-Timer" 2-8-0, runs very well, and looks good, after some detailing on my part.

Those are about the only two major manufacturers of steam kits, and MDC may not be long for this world....

For diesel (plastic), Athearn Blue Box. Quick, and with a bit of work, good runners. Detail marginal, but at the price, hard to beat. I list them as "kits", because of the work that needs to be done to get them to run really well. For diesel (metal), Hobbytown of Boston can be made into good looking and very smooth-running diesels that will not only pull the plaster off the walls, but then take down the wall.[;)]

It is, as another poster has mentioned, very refreshing in these days of instant gratification to hear of someone who wants to spend some time actually building a model. Good luck, and keep us posted!

[nfmisso]

Hi Joe;

See:
http://www.lynnet.com/~tigervalley/
http://bearlocomo.zoovy.com/
http://www.bowser-trains.com/

And check ebay for unbuilt MDC/Roundhouse and Mantua kits.

Alliance make can motor conversion kits for many steam locomotive kits:
http://www.alliancelink.com/alp/

For steam first kit, as mentioned above, any of the MDC kits except the Shays, any of the Mantua, the Bowser: 0-4-0T, 4-6-0 or 2-8-0.

Diesels: Hobbytown (Bear Locomotive) and Tiger Valley are about the same difficulty, either will out pull three Athearns. For a real puller, try one of the six axle Tiger Valley models with slow speed gearing.

My first kit was a Mantua 0-6-0T (at 13 years old), then a Mantua 2-8-2, followed by a MDC 4-4-2 (at 16), then some other Mantuas and a Bowser Challenger. Great sense of accomplishment. Read the instructions carefully at least twice before you start. Bowser sells the brass rivets if you get a Mantua kit and need more rivets.