Nscale Life Like Mallet.

[Anonymous]

I was thinking about ordering an undecorated model, if they are still available, and remove the doghouse and paint it for either C&O or B&O. I just wondered how it pulled. Hopefully better than the Berkshire. I know the H.O. version was very highly regarded. I'm still on the fence about the Spectrum H-5. It has a super warranty and the LHS has sold half a dozen or more and hasn't gotten any complaints or returns. Certainly if they were that troublesome the hobby shop would have gotten at least one of them back. I can't imagine someone paying over $200 for a steam engine, having trouble with it and not returning it or at least coming back to raise a little hell. I have run one on a short test track at the local LHS. It seemed like a nice unit. Not quite as smooth as the LL mallet but seemed pretty good. By the way, I know the guys at my LHS and I trust them. No way would I buy one from someone I didn't trust or know. As I said, I've been dealing with these people for many years. Also, I saw one of the Nscale Spectrum H-5s running at a train show and it looked really good. I have read many complaints about these but if they were all defective then no way would the hobby shop have sold several and had not one complaint. Since it has a lifetime warranty and the LHS has told me they would exchange within the first week if I didn't like it, what is there to lose? I would really like an Nscale mallet. Anyone else have any further thoughts or experience with either of these Nscale mallets?

[Anonymous]

I wonder if It pulls as bad as its bigger HO brother.

[brokemoto]

The LL USRA 2-8-8-2 is not a very good puller. It is an excellent runner, this for a locomotive where there is no electrical connexion between it and the tender. All of the electric pick-up is in the locomotive.

By B-personn H-5, I assume that you mean the USRA 2-6-6-2. This is not a good puller nor is it a good runner. WIth numerous modifications and a VER-RY long break in period, you can get acceptable runnability out of it.

Some have added extra weight to both and gotten good pulling power from them. The added weight did, however cause problems down the tracks. Some of the drivers on these are driven by the rods. There is nothing wrong with that, but the added weight did cause the crankpins and rods to wear out VER-RY quickly.

Neither articulated has a traction tyre, nor does the LL berkshire.

The B-mann consolidated and Kato mikado (with traction tyre retrofit) are much better pullers.

I can get either articulated to pull fifteen boxcars and a caboose on MT trucks up the one per cent grades on my pike. My pike is small, so any frieght train more than fifteen cars and a caboose looks silly. Neither articulated will pull ten loaded MT gondolas up the same one-per--cent grades. Both the B-personn consolidated and Kato mikado with traction tyre will pull the fifteen loaded MT gondolas and a caboose up the one-per-cent grades. I have not tried more than fifteen cars.

As much as you may like articulateds, you will be much happier with either the Kato mikado or the B-mann consolidated.

If you buy the Kato, buy the traction tyre retrofit, it is an easy retrofit. The Kato has many miniscule details that have been the source of numerous complaints. I have launched a handrail stanchion or two into floorandcarpetoblivionland, which is why I keep a few extra packages of the detail parts in my detail bag. Also, once you have done the traction tyre retrofit, add some weight to the tender to improve electrical contact. The tender superstructure is a friction fit to its chassis.

On the B-mann, try before you buy. If it wobbles quite a bit, reject it. If it has no wobble or a minor wobble, it is allright, it will smooth out with running. There are no details to add to the Bachpersonn.


Both the Kato and B-mann will require a long break-in.