Has anyone had any experience of the Mantua or IHC models of Camelback type steam engines? Are they true to life.....do they run well?? Any better models available? Best wishes Steve
They will all run, if normal tuning is done as with any locomotive purchased. "Are they true to life?'. That question needs further defining. If you mean are they replicas of particular prototypes , the answer is no. They represent various compromises consistant with manufacturing large numbers of moderately priced models. The AHM model ,made by Mehano , is designed to use the same mechanism as their SP Harriman 2-6-0. It also has a wee engineman's center cab. Only. the rarely offered 0-4-0 camel switcher (closely approximates some Reading 'A' class) in Mantua's lineup, - is a true prototype. Their others reflect various decisions to use existing components , and so forth . to produce the models offered. You can buy photos and convert the models using your own estimable talent and locomotive detailing parts to create reasonable facsimile of some prototype. Interestingly, some of the wheel arrangements chosen by Mantua had limited use by prototype railroads in a camelback configuration. Moguls were not all that common, and the O&W, which had the most new ones- tended to convert them to ten-wheelers at the first opportunity. The Lehigh Valley is the only carrier with camelback mikados, and other than their pacifics there was but one other prototype 4-6-2 made as a camelback. As to better models , there are none in the same price range. If you go to CABOOSE HOBBIES (Colo.) , or BRASS CABOOSE (Conn.) websites and look up brass locomotives from the CNJ.LV,Reading, and NYO&W in 'HO' scale you will find representative replicas of camelback locomotives. Good-Luck, PJB
Steve, I have a few Mantua Camelbacks and must comment! They run VERY VERY WELL! Not the greatest on detail, but then again, Mantua made these loco's as "base" units to detail up by its owner. So, thats what I did! (I do all my own detail work on everything from steam to diesel!) But, I do know that the Mantua Camelbacks will pull the paint off the wall so to speak! As for the IHC Camelback, I'm not sure how they run, being made by IHC I'd say that they would run fair from a stand point of having a few IHC loco's (just not the Camelback they offer). As far as detail goes, I believe they could use some "extra" detail on them being IHC doesn't do detailing to well, not to mention most of their detail is cast on to the boiler and such.
They look pretty wierd to these American eyes too. I have never understood the purpose of that design.
VERY VERY SIMPLE!!! To Burn a different Form Of COAL!!!!! Anthracit instead of Bithimous Or was that, Bithimous instead of antracite? Basically, This Coal burned hotter...I think... Being a higher grade of coal. This required a Larger Firebox. The cab COULD NOT fit in the ordinary place. So it was RELOCATED MIDBOILER!!!!! (READ A BOOK!)
The D&H used Anthracite. I believe the idea behind the "Cab Forward" design was to allow for better viewing. Here are some real photos of these kind of engines. Here are some others with the Cab in it's normal position. All four of these engines are Class G-5 taken I believe between 1930-1949.
Camelbacks and Wooten fireboxes have been covered here before. Below is a link that explains their relationship pretty well. Enjoy! Camelback Locomotives
Better viewing BECAUSE the larger Firebox restricted the View...as noted, the disign was completely outlawed by 1927. its all about economics...adn form that article, well, simple enough, the evidence is there for "Why...they saved $2000($30,000) one just one locomotive converted...That is a large savings.
