http://www.mthhotrains.com/news.asp
I was very excited when I saw this... MTH 9000 class, HO scale, due in May. And they work on 22" radius curves.... I am saving up, for sure.
The 9000 series Union Pacific MTH announcement is welcomed to the industry for sure. I hope that the picture of the model is not the final version and is just a pilot model. MTH need to do some corrections to the details that are on the model and need to add more details.
It probably will look silly on 22" radius curves much like the O scale model does in the video on youtube. It appears to climb the rails and then land back on tight curves due to the blind drivers catching the rails on the curve.
All in all, it will be a hit.
CZ
If it does any climbing at all---all I know is that I'd like to see one in N scale---
Any argument carried far enough will end up in Semantics--Hartz's law of rhetoric Emerald. Leemer and Southern The route of the Sceptre Express Barry
I just started my blog site...more stuff to come...
http://modeltrainswithmusic.blogspot.ca/
CAZEPHYR ...MTH need to do some corrections to the details that are on the model and need to add more details....
CZ, that was my first impression as well based on the image. I can't say about the corrections as I don't know enough and haven't looked to compare with photos, but the overall number of details seemed a bit spare to me. I hope they pretty it up a bit.
-Crandell
8500gasturbine, they did say that it will have a different chuff because of the third cylinder. It will also have a working greysley valve gear on the front.
Crandell
The flying pumps on the smokebox are located lower than they should be and the marker lights are not located correctly. I hope this will be corrected since this model is probably a test or pilot model. Most of the lack of details is expected for a Die Cast model but the price is not that cheap considering the last run of Blue LIne Big Boys were less money by a hundred dollars list price. I noticed that MTH seems to have a higher list price for most all of their models than other manufacturers and the discount must be short since even Trainworld did not discount the GS4's much/.
The sound will probably be fairly good if they use the sound track from their O scale 4-12-2. It sounded correct with its offbeat six chuffs per revolution. The whistle was incorrect on their first edition but they did change it to sound a little more like the UP 9009 recordings that is available on line.
Thanks for that, CZ.
Maybe when the time comes, we (not the Royal We...someone who can do it) could run a thread for those who have purchased the engine and give a how-to to bring it up to a decent model. We could parcel it into mini-projects such as relocating the pumps if they end up in the wrong postion. Then we could turn to adding some brass items and piping....you get the idea. Those who find they have done enough to satisfy themselves can stop work any time they wish, and those of us who want to keep at it can keep the thread(s) going.
It's an idea.
Sounds like a good idea. I was looking at the book for the 9000 series that the UPHS has printed and that should be a great help with the project also.
Mark:
This sounds intriguing. Actually, those 9000's are about the only UP steamer that ever really interested me, save for the "Bull Moose" 2-8-8-0's and the very first run of the Challengers (the ones with the headlight on the smokebox front) because of its wheel arrangement and those flying pumps on the smokebox front (I'm a sucker for smokebox mounted pumps, BTW! Makes a steamer look like it's all BUSINESS!).
Don't quote me, but I seem to remember hearing that the drivers will be all flanged, and that the long wheel-base itself will be semi-articulated (how, I have no idea) to allow it to take a 22" radius. As I said, this may only be a rumor. Frankly, I kind of hope it's the truth. Usually long wheel-based non-articulateds with blank center drivers tend to lose a lot of pulling power on curves.
I'll keep an eye on this one. Not for my own roster, understand, but it looks interesting.
Tom
Tom View my layout photos! http://s299.photobucket.com/albums/mm310/TWhite-014/Rio%20Grande%20Yuba%20River%20Sub One can NEVER have too many Articulateds!
8500HPGASTURBINE You can compair these photo's to see some of the detail thats missing.
You can compair these photo's to see some of the detail thats missing.
GasTurbine, my apologies for my oversight in not thanking you for your efforts. I appreciate the images because they make it quite clear.
Thanks, again.
selector 8500HPGASTURBINE You can compair these photo's to see some of the detail thats missing. GasTurbine, my apologies for my oversight in not thanking you for your efforts. I appreciate the images because they make it quite clear. Thanks, again. -Crandell
Luke
- Luke
Modeling the Southern Pacific in the 1960's-1980's
Luke, we understand as much. The photos were provided so that we can comment on what we hope will be improved over the prototype pictured.
Oh I'll get one in HO anyway just so I have the dang thing here---where it belongs---so there HHAAARRRRRUUUUMMPH!!
Twhite: I heard that too. I heard that it was shown at a train show in California recently, and someone posted a comment on an article about the hinged wheelbase. I don't know how they'll do it, but it sounds like it may have issues. Anyways, it is definitely the locomotive for my roster-If I can afford that price. This summer is going to have a lot of lawn mowing...
blownout cylinder Oh I'll get one in HO anyway just so I have the dang thing here---where it belongs---so there HHAAARRRRRUUUUMMPH!!
Barry:
You go, guy! And let me know what Spring thinks of it. Should be fascinating. Actually, Remington was peering over my shoulder at the photograph. "It's got PUMPS, Daddy. Just like a Yellowstone!"
Hoople hinged wheelbase. I don't know how they'll do it, but it sounds like it may have issues
Rest easy.. Marklin has been doing this to their large fixed wheel base locomotives (2-10-0, etc) for many years with excellent running characteristics on tighter radii than those being mentioned here.. Reliable technology exists.
I don't need this loco but it looks pretty cool...Must resist.
Guy
see stuff at: the Willoughby Line Site
Allow me to play devil's advocate here. I recall there being a lot of talk about "oh no, not another Big Boy" since there have probably been more versions of Big Boys done then there were actual protoype Big Boys. And everyone wonders why.. well, look at the reaction to this. This is a single road only locomotive, you can;t even make some detail changes and letter it for something else, only the UP had it. Plus, like a Big Boy, in the TYPICAL home layout it won't look very good, because it's simply HUGE.
Make no mistake, it's an impressive model, to be sure. If I was modeling the UP in the proper era and had a large enough layout you can be darn sure I'd want one and probably find a way to get one. But we wonder why we get some many one of a kind locos made instead of some of the more common ones that could be easily modified to fit many differnt railroads over a wide era range - well, look how ga-ga everyone goes over these!
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
rrinker Allow me to play devil's advocate here. I recall there being a lot of talk about "oh no, not another Big Boy" since there have probably been more versions of Big Boys done then there were actual protoype Big Boys. And everyone wonders why.. well, look at the reaction to this. This is a single road only locomotive, you can;t even make some detail changes and letter it for something else, only the UP had it. Plus, like a Big Boy, in the TYPICAL home layout it won't look very good, because it's simply HUGE. Make no mistake, it's an impressive model, to be sure. If I was modeling the UP in the proper era and had a large enough layout you can be darn sure I'd want one and probably find a way to get one. But we wonder why we get some many one of a kind locos made instead of some of the more common ones that could be easily modified to fit many differnt railroads over a wide era range - well, look how ga-ga everyone goes over these! --Randy
I can see your point. But, I'm seeing an aesthetic thing going on here. I see for example barrels of die cast cars of the ferrari type but not very many chev. cavelier type of cars---even in European toy shows people gravitated to Fiat 600 minivan(more for its 'cutesy' look), Porsche et al and not one toymaker even picked either a Ford Escort or even, ---yikes---a Trabant. Even IF they were more popular. I can afford to drive a Taurus but my "Dream" car is a Lamborghini Countach kind of thing---
twhite those 9000's are about the only UP steamer that ever really interested me, save for the "Bull Moose" 2-8-8-0's ...
those 9000's are about the only UP steamer that ever really interested me, save for the "Bull Moose" 2-8-8-0's ...
Tom has excellent taste. I know because the only non-SP articulated I possess is a handsome UP Bull Moose (it also helped that the SP leased some)...............I wonder how often UP had to replace the driver rims on its 4-12-2s. I'd guess 12 times a year. Fortunately, us modelers shouldn't have such a problem, but the lateral play of the drivers on the model must be tremendous. Unfortunately, this model will look rediculous going around even a 30-inch radius curves. But it sure would look good on the ready track waiting for its next assignment after its monthly shopping.
Mark
Now--which locomotive manufacturer made the 4-12-2's?
trainnut1250Rest easy.. Marklin has been doing this to their large fixed wheel base locomotives (2-10-0, etc) for many years with excellent running characteristics on tighter radii than those being mentioned here.. Reliable technology exists.
Yes, reliable technology exists. I saw the big german 45 class 2-10-2 of Märklin in action, running safely through 14" curves at high speed like a rocket. If Märklin would produce the 4-12-2, you could be 100% sure that the 6 driving wheels would have been split up in 2 semi-articulated sets with 3 drivers per set. And then the loco would surely run perfectly through 14" curves at 100 scale mph!
But I must admit that I never was a fan of the 4-12-2. It surely is an interesting loco, but in my eyes shes kinda ugly and unproportional. The long wheelbase just looks a bit too long (maybe it would look more beautiful if the drivers where smaller), and the tender is simply to small for such a large engine. It´s too short. There is really a disharmony in the proportions between the engine and tender. But that´s just my esthetical opinion. I like the 4-10-2 Overland types of the UP a lot more, which are more beautiful in every way than the 4-12-2 in my eyes. And they also had smaller drivers than the 4-12-2 which makes operation easier on curves.
Daniel
blownout cylinder Now--which locomotive manufacturer made the 4-12-2's?
Why, Baldwin, of course, it's the only locomotive manufacturer that UP ever used, LOL!
Okay, now that you're sitting down and blinking--ALCO! They were the only US manufacturer that had gotten the english Gresley 3rd cylinder patent. When Baldwin did 3-cylinder jobs, they had to use a double valve-gear on the engineer's side of the drivers. But it looked really COOL! I've got a couple of models of Baldwin-built 3-cylinder Rio Grande 4-8-2's. They're a lot more fun to watch than the Gresley, BTW . Even if prototypically they ran a lot hotter.
sounds like a winnah for me, if I dont find a brass one anyways, I dont care about the extra DCS features, its the engine you want.
Precisely! Brass will run you about three times as much, and no sound.
selector Precisely! Brass will run you about three times as much, and no sound.
twhite When Baldwin did 3-cylinder jobs, they had to use a double valve-gear on the engineer's side of the drivers. But it looked really COOL! I've got a couple of models of Baldwin-built 3-cylinder Rio Grande 4-8-2's. They're a lot more fun to watch than the Gresley, BTW . Even if prototypically they ran a lot hotter. Tom Tom
When Baldwin did 3-cylinder jobs, they had to use a double valve-gear on the engineer's side of the drivers. But it looked really COOL! I've got a couple of models of Baldwin-built 3-cylinder Rio Grande 4-8-2's. They're a lot more fun to watch than the Gresley, BTW . Even if prototypically they ran a lot hotter.
Tom, I guess you haven't heard of "The Bald Face 9's." They are simply 9000 class 4-12-2s, with the pumps moved and a double eccentric crank on the engineers side. 9014 was the first conversion... They came about because the original 9000's Gresley gear had issues, because they didn't use ball bearings. Then they used ball bearings on the later ones, so no more bald faces were needed. They were odd-lookers, though.
Hoople twhite When Baldwin did 3-cylinder jobs, they had to use a double valve-gear on the engineer's side of the drivers. But it looked really COOL! I've got a couple of models of Baldwin-built 3-cylinder Rio Grande 4-8-2's. They're a lot more fun to watch than the Gresley, BTW . Even if prototypically they ran a lot hotter. Tom Tom Tom, I guess you haven't heard of "The Bald Face 9's." They are simply 9000 class 4-12-2s, with the pumps moved and a double eccentric crank on the engineers side. 9014 was the first conversion... They came about because the original 9000's Gresley gear had issues, because they didn't use ball bearings. Then they used ball bearings on the later ones, so no more bald faces were needed. They were odd-lookers, though.
Mark: No, I didn't realize that. Thanks for the information. I'll have to scout up some photos of the 'bald face' 9000's with the double eccentric crank. As you say, it must have been an odd-looking duck. I can go cross-eyed watching my 3-cylinder 4-8-2's when they're running VERY slow, LOL!
8500HPGASTURBINE selector Precisely! Brass will run you about three times as much, and no sound. Not really. I paid $550.00 for mine on Ebay. It was never taken out of the box. Some lady owned it. Here is a pic of it when I got it.
Not really. I paid $550.00 for mine on Ebay. It was never taken out of the box. Some lady owned it. Here is a pic of it when I got it.
Really good catch. I guess you have to keep a sharp eye.
8500HPGASTURBINE Here is a pic of a "Bald Face" 4-12-2
Here is a pic of a "Bald Face" 4-12-2
Whew! Now THERE'S a face that only a mother (or an absolute UP Fanatic) could love, LOL!
CAZEPHYRThe flying pumps on the smokebox are located lower than they should be and the marker lights are not located correctly. I hope this will be corrected since this model is probably a test or pilot model.
I emailed MTH because the pump & marker light location really bothered me. I got this prompt but disappointing reply from Kirstin. " I have checked with the project manager and he has verified that the engine will be produced as shown. He indicated that in order to make the classification lights lighted we had to put them in the position as shown."
Personally, I would prefer unlit but accurately placed components.
Charles