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IHC 4-4-0 Advice

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IHC 4-4-0 Advice
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, October 14, 2015 2:54 PM

Hi,

After reading several threads about the above model on this forum, and others, there are still a few questions I have, so here we go with another thread...

I'm looking into a smaller loomotive for a light kitbashing project. I've come across the IHC 4-4-0, and boy, does it look good! But my expirience with IHC has been mixed. Their 2-6-0 is the pride of my RR for *detail, pulling power, durability, and (Lack of) motor noise*. Their 4-6-2 was a dissapointment for me.

I'd like to hear from some of you guys about this model if you have it, particularly how it scores in the above catagories (*). If it is anything like the IHC 2-6-0, I think it'd be a worthy adition to my fleet.

I'm looking for a DC version around the $30 mark (Ebay isn't very helpful so far), if you can point me in the right dirrection, that'd be a big help!

Thanks so much for your help- one model railroader to another.

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Posted by Jack Derby on Wednesday, October 14, 2015 2:59 PM

Try Bachmannn.  That have some very good engines, many 4-4-0's in ur price range.

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Posted by mlehman on Wednesday, October 14, 2015 4:07 PM

Yeah, our NMRA division clerk/paymaster has several of the Bachmann 4-4-0s with sound he purchased in the last couple of years. For the money, a darn good loco, but unless you can find a good deal on a used one will likely be more than $30, if that is the budget.

Mike Lehman

Urbana, IL

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Posted by dstarr on Wednesday, October 14, 2015 4:28 PM

I have two IHC 2-6-0 Moguls and they are very satisfactory.  Look good, run good, stay on the track.  I would expect the IHC 4-4-0 American to be just as good.  Since IHC has been out of business for several years, I would expect train shows and Ebay to be your only sources. 

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Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, October 14, 2015 6:12 PM

Thanks for the replies.

 

I'm just hoping to find a "modern era"-circa 1920's- DC (without sound) 4-4-0. IHC seemed to look like it had the best quality for the model and price.

 

EDIT: I'm hoping to kitbash this into the MKT 311, without having to do much more than replace a tender and repaint. Good enough is good enough for me.

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Posted by Darth Santa Fe on Wednesday, October 14, 2015 6:40 PM

The IHC modern 4-4-0 is the 2-6-0 with a drive axle removed.  I haven't tried the 4-4-0 myself, but I would expect it to have similar performance to the 2-6-0 since it's practically the same engine.

_________________________________________________________________

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Posted by LensCapOn on Wednesday, October 14, 2015 6:43 PM

^ Well, there was the Old Time 4-4-0 too....

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Posted by cprfan on Wednesday, October 14, 2015 7:22 PM

At one time I had an IHC 4-4-0 and it ran very nicely. The flanges were what motivated me to sell it. I do believe some of the newer ones had RP25 flanges. I could be wrong on that. YMMV

------

Greg Williams
Canterbury, NB
Canada
https://www.gregstrainyard.com/

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Posted by snjroy on Wednesday, October 14, 2015 8:26 PM

Hi. The IHC modern 4-4-0 was manufactured by Mehano. These were generally smooth runners for the price, with decent details (some molded). Not a very strong puller but that was also the case for the prototype. It's a pretty generic model, the dimensions are pretty close to the SP loco (Based on Westcott's book). John Pryke wrote an article in MR a few years ago on how to add details to a similar engine (Mehano 2-6-0). I also own a Bachmann modern American and I must say that it is a better runner. You might have pay an extra 50$ to get one, but the detail and running qualities are much better. There is also the roundhouse/athearn 4-4-0, but that one is harder to find.   If you want to have fun re-detailing an engine, the IHC is a good candidate. You can also get all three like I did... The 4-4-0 is one of my favorites!

Simon

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Posted by Trainman440 on Wednesday, October 14, 2015 9:05 PM

S. Connor

Thanks for the replies.

 

I'm just hoping to find a "modern era"-circa 1920's- DC (without sound) 4-4-0. IHC seemed to look like it had the best quality for the model and price.

 

EDIT: I'm hoping to kitbash this into the MKT 311, without having to do much more than replace a tender and repaint. Good enough is good enough for me.

 

The Bachmann 4-4-0- modern looks very much like that engine. It is more exspensive but worth a shot. You should check it out! 

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Modeling the PRR & NYC in HO

Youtube Channel: www.youtube.com/@trainman440

Instagram (where I share projects!): https://www.instagram.com/trainman440

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Posted by Jack Derby on Thursday, October 15, 2015 6:29 AM

If you want to Kitbashed the look, I'd try using the BB 4-4-0, old one (for cost reasons), and put new domes, stack, and cab on it, with a new. Tender shell, and repaint the whole deal.

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Posted by snjroy on Thursday, October 15, 2015 11:35 AM

Jack Derby

If you want to Kitbashed the look, I'd try using the BB 4-4-0, old one (for cost reasons), and put new domes, stack, and cab on it, with a new. Tender shell, and repaint the whole deal.

 

Jack, if you are referring to oldtime Bachmann 4-4-0 (Jupiter, etc.), I would agree that the dimensions would be closer to the prototype shown. However, they are far from being good runners. The one I have is an OK runner, but I added extra electrical pickup wipers  on the tender and changed the motor to achieve this. I also added DCC by hiding a decoder under a (new) wood pile in the tender. There is a new run of that model announced by Bachmann, but the price is probably beyond the OP's range. In that line of thought, there is also the oldtime Rivarossi and Mantua 4-4-0s. I have seen these in operation and they also suffer from the lack of power pickups. But I suspect that they are more robust than the oldtime Bachmann. The Mantua kits pop-up regularly on Ebay and they would provide the added enjoyment of building it...

Let us know what happens and please post your finished model!

Simon 

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Posted by Jack Derby on Thursday, October 15, 2015 12:12 PM

I personally don't have one yet... I was just going off of the performance of my other BB engines, and that I had heard somewhere that the mech was based off of that for one of the diesels. The GP40 I used to have ran well.

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