Hi All!
I am fairly new here. I was just wondering if anyone had any photos of their vintage Mantua Locomitives they would like to share? I am thinking of the early all brass and the brass & zimax models mainly. It would be great to see if you do.
I have several in my collection.
~5-6 post-war pacifics and 1 pre-war pacific.
4-5 post-war atlantics and ~3 pre-war atlantics.
1 pre-war consolidation
~2 (special order only) mountain Mechanism Kits- both semi built, but never mounted to boilers.
Does anyone know of a finished model actually mounted to a boiler?
Does my English Yard Bird count? I built the first one in 1951 and wore it out. I never did get to detail the first one. The second was found on EBay in 2008 and I got to finally finish the detailing using the MR from 1951. It has a new motor, DCC and sound. It was a fun project and it only took me 54 years.
Sean ... Since you are "farly new", welcome to the forum. Hope to see more from you. Thanks for sharing photos of your old locomotives. My Mantua steam locos are newer than yours.
My oldest steam locomotive is a Tenshodo NYC Hudson my father brought to me from Japan 55 years ago. I restored the engine a few years ago, and it runs fine.
Art ... Thanks for the photo of your English Yard Bird. Very nice!
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
I built this Mantua Pacific in the late 1950's from a kit. My first HO kit and it still runs great, one of the smoothest steamers I have. No brass though. I hope to upgrade to DCC some day.
-Bob
Life is what happens while you are making other plans!
Very nice detail Art! Well done!
I have a stockpile of details that I have been saving for my own personal use (approx 20-gallon bin full worth). I have done a couple engines here and there, but being only 41 and having two daughters ages 7 & 8, I have very little time to spend detailing any right now.
Here are a couple I did in the past...sold them both though:
Thanks Garry,
I really enjoy collecting and sharing the old and now rare stuff. Most stuff I collect is at least 20-30 years older than me as I am just about to turn 41. It is interesting to me to see and find stuff I never knew existed. I have surprised many older gents by my knowledgeand collection of the older stuff from when they were kids. I just like the feel of the heavy metal so much more than the lighter more fragile plastic models of today. I'll pay $300 - $400 for a early brass Mantua with no features rather than go after a Broadway Limited with all the bells and whistles.
I kinda like to consider myself to be sort of a care-taker for these old things. I like them old. I have a bunch of Varneys as well. I have many of these..approx. 50 various Pacifics, Consolidations, Mikados, Berkshires, Hudsons and two Yellowstones(shells only). About 7 years ago, I never even knew they existed, as well as any of the early Mantuas. To be honest, I fell pretty blessed to have found and managed to secure what I have. I spent years going to shows, only wishing I could afford to buy at least one steam locomotive. I feel pretty lucky.
I have a few old brass locomotives as well. I am limited with time with work and family, so I send them to a friend of mine in VA to restore them. Here are a couple he has done for me:
Before (United Models Heisler Geared Logging Brass Locomotive):
Hi Bob!
Great vintage model Bob! Is it the all diecast version?
Those die cast cabs and pilot decks go for big bucks on eBay anymore. I sell them when I get them and they usually sell for $20 - $26 for each. Blows my mind when I might pay $30 - $40 for the whole engine, inc. s/h.
Those Mantua pacific & Mikado models are good dependable models though. I have a bunch of the Pacifics myself. Maybe 25+??
Dan Bush at Yardbirdtrains is the one to go to if you need any replacement wearing parts, such as motors and bearings. He even offers new valve gear parts as well as pilot decks & cabs (plastic typically). I'll sell used parts for these on eBay quite often as well.
I like the versatility of those models as well. Their chassis make great bases for kitbashing. I have one on my display shelf here at work with a Varney shell and a Bowser tender.:
Wow, the pictures of your re-suscitated brass locos makes me drool (especially that Z-8 Challenger). I can't say that I have locos that date back to your early Mantua's, about the oldest brass I've got are 3 Akane Yellowstones that date from about 1962. They run smooth, pull like a team of oxen, and if they have a slight 'coffee=grinder' sound from the exposed gearing, I can put up with it. I use them pretty constantly.
The loco pulling the reefer train was got at a swap meet a couple of years ago--it was in pieces. Got it at rock-bottom price, took about 6 months to put it back together and in running order, but it was money VERY well spent, IMO.
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!
twhite Wow, the pictures of your re-suscitated brass locos makes me drool (especially that Z-8 Challenger). I can't say that I have locos that date back to your early Mantua's, about the oldest brass I've got are 3 Akane Yellowstones that date from about 1962. They run smooth, pull like a team of oxen, and if they have a slight 'coffee=grinder' sound from the exposed gearing, I can put up with it. I use them pretty constantly. The loco pulling the reefer train was got at a swap meet a couple of years ago--it was in pieces. Got it at rock-bottom price, took about 6 months to put it back together and in running order, but it was money VERY well spent, IMO. Tom
Hi Tom,
Sweet articulateds! I do fancy those! Try to keep everyone I find. I can not wait until I have the time and space to put together a layout of my own. Great scene by the way!
I traded my friend a Akane Yellowstone (basket case) for the restoration of my Big Boy. In fact, all the restorations he has done for me have been done on trade for another basket case loco that he may or may not have in his collection. I paid $100 for the Big Boy originally and $270 for the Akane, so I think I got a great model at an even better price too.
Sean
Hi Sean,
Thanks for the comments and yes it is all die cast. I replaced the pilot with one from Yardbird Classics as I liked it better. I also have several detail kits/parts from them to install when i have really spare time. I still have the original pilot; maybe I should put it on Ebay? I only paid $20 for the original Mantua kit, brand new. Am thinking of putting a can motor in to make DCC conversion easier and also to allow detailing in the cab. Maybe I should finish my layout first???
farrellaa I still have the original pilot; maybe I should put it on Ebay? I only paid $20 for the original Mantua kit, brand new. Am thinking of putting a can motor in to make DCC conversion easier and also to allow detailing in the cab.
I still have the original pilot; maybe I should put it on Ebay? I only paid $20 for the original Mantua kit, brand new. Am thinking of putting a can motor in to make DCC conversion easier and also to allow detailing in the cab.
I would hold onto the pilot, but you could sell it..sure, why not?. I would list it as an all die-cast version. I start mine of at $9.99 usually.
I would put the can motor in for detailing room purposes only. It is really easy to convert an open frame motor to DCC. You just slip a section of wire insulation over the grounded tension spring, between the spring and brush lever arm (on top of the motor which presses against the lever arm of the brush) - and WA-LA! That is it! Now both brushes are isolated and ready for DCC installation. Don't even need to remove the motor to do it.