Guys and Gals I've never owned any G scale stuff before, can anyone tell me how good a quality Aristo-Craft is. I'm looking for an old timer to run around my ceiling and have just received an email from Train World advertising their 2-8-0 Consolidations for $250.00 which also includes a caboose. Is this a good deal?
Thanks
Aussie Jim
I think that is an okay price. If you are a subscriber you can look at a review of the C-16 here on the website. You might want to read the other current thread about the C-16. If you are looking in the 1:24 market you might want to look into Hartland Locomotive Works (HLW) stuff. visit www.h-l-w.com
I have a lot of Aristo-Craft stuff and I can't say anything bad about it. It looks great, runs well and dependably and I've never had any problems with anything I've got from Aristo. Hartland, as mentioned by IRB is also an excellent company with USA made products. Hartland has never let me down and it's hard to find any faults in what they make.
The Dixie D Short Line "Lux Lucet In Tenebris Nihil Igitur Mors Est Ad Nos 2001"
All I have is Aristocraft engines, and as TJ said, I have no reason to say anything bad about their dependability. I don't know the whole story about the 2-8-0, but I do know that presently there is a new version of the C16 and they are about to come out with a reworked 2-8-0 Consolidation next spring that I am anxiously waiting for. The fact that they have redone these locos, tells me that the new ones will be better. Maybe someone else knows the rest of the story.
PS
TJ, great to hear from you on the forum. I have been busy selling some of Bob Johnson's equipment for Dianne.
Paul
Yes Paul, it's been nearly a year since Bob's passing. I miss him every time I look at my railroad. Make sure you find good homes for his stuff.
I have a few of the Aristo-Craft locomotives. They are ruggedly built and carry a 5 year warranty.
The Aristo-Craft company is a 75 year old, family owned company. They have their products built in China by Sanda Kan (the same company that builds Lionel Trains). The owner, Lewis Polk, so liked the Delton C-16 that he bought the whole company and incorporated it into the Aristo line as there "Classic" series.
I have one of the new C-16 locomotive (the ones with the free caboose). It now has all drivers powered with a gearbox on each axle. All wheels are now metal as are the side rods and they added lighted marker lights. The Smoke unit is the new large capacity, fan driven, unit. The control board is now in the tender and is setup for "Plug & Play". A real smooth runner.
On the negitive side, it's a light puller, about 5 cars is about all it will pull. That might be normal for a train in the 1880s before the Westinghouse Air Brake. Aristo does not use Traction Tires. As in the case of the original Delton version, the two center pair of drivers are blind (rim less).
My Aristo-Craft C-16 with USA Refrigerator Cars
Don U. TCA 73-5735
I don't like blind drivers. The only other bad thing I can say about Aristocraft is their products are the wrong scale-1:24, 1:29. 1:29 is the one that bugs me. The C-16 wasn't a big puller in real life.
The major problem with Aristo is their couplers. They are the worst of the lot. They pull apart easily. They are a bit touchy to couple with their own couplers. They also are the worse to interchange with a other brands.
Their passenger cars trucks are so bad that the couplers do not match up in height. I started to use the wire wraps from loves of bread to wire the couplers together. Now I am changing all my passenger cars to M.T.H's. They also look a lot better.
Their passenger car coupler arm is so long the cars look ridiculous by the spacing between cars.
IRB Souther Engineer I don't like blind drivers. The only other bad thing I can say about Aristocraft is their products are the wrong scale-1:24, 1:29. 1:29 is the one that bugs me. The C-16 wasn't a big puller in real life.
And that's the big problem in "G Gauge". If you model Narrow Gauge it scales to 1/24th as in LGB (and the Dalton C-16). If you model Standard Gauge (4 ft 8 1/2 inches) the the scale of "G Gauge" Track equals 1/32 (as in MTH). When Aristo-Craft and Charles Ro's USA Trains entered the market they selected a compromise size, 1/29th ????
As for coulpers, I much prefer the Kadee or the MTH. If you look down on the Aristo Coupler when closed, you see a small plastic tab, if you file it down flush the coupler will be free to move up and down and help correct height problems. Also the Aristo standard cars have one coupler height while the "Classic" series is lower.
In the real world, blind drivers were often used on long wheel base locomotives so they could enter tight sidings.
Visit my site: http://www.elmassian.com - lots of tips on locos, rolling stock and more.
Click here for Greg's web site
DMUinCT And that's the big problem in "G Gauge". If you model Narrow Gauge it scales to 1/24th as in LGB (and the Dalton C-16).
And that's the big problem in "G Gauge". If you model Narrow Gauge it scales to 1/24th as in LGB (and the Dalton C-16).
The C-16 should be 1:20.3...
At least there couplers are better than Bachmann's.
As for 1:29 scale: go to http://aristocraft.com/ , on the left go to Articles and Photos, click on Scale vs. Gauge (you can read their excuse for 1:29)
Thanks for all you very quick reply's. One more question, do Aristo, Hartland and Bachmann Spectrum all run on the same gauge track?
Jim
I'm glad you mentioned the Bachmann couplers. They are the worst of the lot. When I run a string of cars with Bachman couplers things are just great as long as I'm watching the operation. Step around the corner or go in the house for a pit stop and when I come out again I've had a train wreck. My experience with the Aristo couplers is that yes, they look weird, but they don't uncouple when you least expect it.
RUDY JAGER, CEO OF THE LONE WOLF RAILROAD
TRUST ME--I USED TO WORK FOR THE GOVERNMENT!
I run all brands on the same G gauge tracks with no problems. What can become a problem is trying to run engines on track with curves that are too tight for some of the bigger engines. Thats a lesson that I learned the hard way when I first got into G Gauge back in 2005.
Independent Operator My experience with the Aristo couplers is that yes, they look weird, but they don't uncouple when you least expect it.
My experience with the Aristo couplers is that yes, they look weird, but they don't uncouple when you least expect it.
I totally agree
Since the question was about Aristo quality, I will add my two cent's worth. As far a couplers go Aristo's work good, I replace all of my coupler's with Kaydee's they have a large assortment of type's that match any arrangement you have. All of my engine's run good except one and that one is goinng the get repaired this Winter by me it has some missing screws. I do have minor problem with power pick-up when first starting 2 of my U-25's and my C-16. I hope to work that out soon.
Dave
The head is gray, hands don't work , back is weak, legs give out, eyes are gone, money go's and my wife still love's Me.
AustraliaJim Thanks for all you very quick reply's. One more question, do Aristo, Hartland and Bachmann Spectrum all run on the same gauge track? Thanks Jim
Aristo, Hartland, LGB, Bachmann, USA Trains all use the same gauge track. The gauge is all the same and interchangable, rail height is called 332, .332 inch high. A very few model with with a more scale rail height, .250 of a inch high but the gauge is still the same. Track can be Brass, Stainless Steel, or Aluminum. Brass is most common, Stainless has less maintenance.
By the way, the Aristo-Craft C-16 and the "Classic" product line is cataloged by them as 1/24 scale.
IRB Souther Engineer (you can read their excuse for 1:29)
(you can read their excuse for 1:29)
There is no excuse for 1:29.
Mick
Chief Operating Officer
Northern Timber Company - Mt Beenak
You're right! Tell Aristocraft that.
I like 1:29 and AristoCraft!
Bill
Don't believe everything you think!
Most of my rolling stock is Aristo-Craft or USA Trains. I "did the math" and G (actually #1) gauge comes out to 50.75" at 1:29, so it's about halfway between Los Angeles Ry. streetcars and San Francisco cable cars, and standard gauge.
Sanda Kan in China makes many different brands according to an article that appeared in Model Railroad News several months ago, including Atlas, Bachmann (who owns the factory), AristoCraft and Lionel among others.
But there seems to be a big difference in quality control -- I have never heard of a cracked drive gear in any brand except Bachmann products, where cracked drive gears appear to be the norm in every scale.
Companies like Barry's Big Trains and North West Short Line have made a good living marketing replacement gears for Bachmann products.
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