Well it is about time for another quality report . . . what can anyone tell me about the Mantua 4-6-2 kit for ease of assembling and operation. I have a couple of Proto steam engines and they are fantastic but I am looking for a good basic operating steam engine that I can modify for CNR operation. Why not modify as I build. Is the mantua model worth the effort for kit bashing and basic operation?
I kit bashed one into a decent Boston & Maine P4. The stock Mantua is a good runner, even with the open frame Pittmann motor. Slow speed creep is very respectable in stock form. I did a can motor conversion that lowered the creep speed even more, but it wasn't really needed. There were a lot of these produced and they show up regularly at train shows. Price is quite reasonable. Being a cast Zamac locomotive they are heavy enough to pull well.
If you make a project out of it, consider redoing the pilot. The stock pilot is an undistinguished plastic casting. You can replace the entire "front end" with a piece of brass bar stock, to which a Cal Scale cast pilot and some air compressors are soldered. Looks much better.
Add as much lead weight as will fit to the pilot truck to improve tracking.
My kitbash was fun to do, and the resulting locomotive is very satisfactory.
David Starr www.newsnorthwoods.blogspot.com
For Mantua parts, look at the below site. They also have a Yahoo group which is quite active.
http://yardbirdtrains.com/index.htm
I have bought parts from him.
Rich
If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.
Mantua sold locos under their own name in blue boxes during the 90's. At some point during that decade they switched to can motors with a self-contained gearbox on the center axle, but I don't think that was ever offered in kit form. At least it will have the replaceable brass axle bearings, which were removed from the RTR versions in the 70's when they were owned by Consolidated Foods, sacrificing performance.
The great thing about Mantua steamers is that they're so stripped-down you can do almost anything with them, so I agree that it's a worthwhile project if the price is right. The Yardbird site and Yahoo group cited above are excellent resources.
Nelson
Ex-Southern 385 Being Hoisted
Thank you for the encouragement. This is why I enjoy posting here - informed advice.