Hi guys. I know -- because I've bought three of them -- that purple box Mehano locomotives (IHC branded) are wonderful, quiet, smooth-running engines and, critically, that their flanges are not too big to run on Code 83 track.
I don't know anything about the Mehanos that came in a green box, or for that matter the ones that came in a pale orange box. Were all these earlier than the purple box (Premier) locos? Later? Contemporary but just branded differently? What are their flanges like?
I am heading to a swap meet this weekend and I'd like to be prepared if I run into any of these other Mehanos, but I don't know the company's distribution history, or even its quality and design history, except that if you go back far enough the pizza-cutter flanges become a problem. I feel pretty safe with the Premier brand because I've been thrice lucky. Like buying a Yellow Box Atlas diesel. But I'd be hesitant about the other-colored Mehano boxes.
Any insight would be appreciated.
[Anecdote: The last show I went to I found another vendor selling purple-box Mehano steamers, and he had (and I now have) an SP&S Connie that I didn't even know was one of IHC's offerings. I was so excited I was like a pea in a collander... didn't know which hole to go out of.]
Thanks.
-Matt
Returning to model railroading after 40 years and taking unconscionable liberties with the SP&S, Northern Pacific and Great Northern roads in the '40s and '50s.
...and I know that some of you start to throw up a little when you see these locos because they are not prototype at all. I get that. I can appreciate that level of dedication to modeling the actual and historical. I'm not there yet and may never be. I know Mehano used the same mold for every single Consolidation (and the "shifter" 0-8-0s, too), and the SP&S-ness of this model is only decal deep, but these models are pretty good for quarter-century-old DC steamers and I can afford them. So please, don't burst my happy bubble.
crossthedog I was so excited I was like a pea in a collander... didn't know which hole to go out of.]
sounds painful
Mehano is still around. They started in what was then Czechoslovakia after WW2. Generally, products made behind the "Iron Curtain" were not considered to be top-notch (anybody want to buy a used Yugo?) but apparently some of their later products that IHC imported were pretty good. They still make European-styled trains, and a few US-prototype pieces that have been sold under the IHC, Model Power and other names over the years. They also make various toys and science sets for kids.
https://www.mehano.si/en/
I believe the "pizza cutter" wheels were an issue with the earliest AHM/Rivarossi cars from the 1960s. By the time IHC started importing things that wasn't really an issue anymore.
maxmansounds painful
wjstixI believe the "pizza cutter" wheels were an issue with the earliest AHM/Rivarossi cars from the 1960s. By the time IHC started importing things that wasn't really an issue anymore.
I barely remember hearing about the Yugo, but I'm just now realizing what brilliant branding that name was for a small car. I guess the engineering wasn't up to the marketing. (YouNoGo?)
crossthedog I guess the engineering wasn't up to the marketing. (YouNoGo?)
That would have been the Chevy Nova. I believe that translates into Spanish as "no go".
maxman I believe that translates into Spanish as "no go".
But we digress...
crossthedogMehano locomotives (IHC branded) are wonderful, quiet, smooth-running engines and, critically, that their flanges are not too big to run on Code 83 track.
I'm going to have to contradict you on that, as the ones which I bought (from Hobbies For Men, likely in 1986) had weak motors, and pizza-cutter drivers.
Not too long after I had bought them, I decided to make some improvements, one of the first being to get rid of (as best I could) the pizza-cutter drivers.It was actually pretty easy: I clipped wires from my workshop transformer to the locomotive's motor (body shell removed), then, holding it upright with the drivers turning at a fairly good clip, I used my free hand to bring a cut-off disc in a motor tool to bear lightly against the spinning drivers...contact was very light and very brief, moving from one driver to the next fairly quickly to prevent overheating of the drivers. It didn't take too long to get them down to an acceptable size.
Later, I replaced the original motor with one which was exactly the same size, but considerably more powerful...if I recall correctly, I bought five of them for a couple bucks each, fresh from China.
Later, I modified the oil-type tender into a coal tender, then replaced the original cab, which had a low-sloped roof, with a better-looking one from a Bachmann Consolidation.
It's a decent puller for it's size, and co-operates well with brass Mogul (also much altered)
Here's the re-worked IHC loco...
...and the re-worked brass one...
This is the re-worked IHC tender...
...and the re-worked brass tender...
Wayne
Inspiring work as always, Doc. However, I didn't say that they were amazing pullers. I've mentioned before that my little loop and branch cannot accommodate trains of more than a dozen or so cars anyway, and they pull those just fine, even the little Mogul. Mine in the purple boxes I think are probably 1990s or later, but I cannot remember why I think that. I'd sure like to know, which is why I asked the question.
I'd still like to hear more about the Mehano production and distribution timeline, so I can spot potential good deals by their packaging.