HOn3????

OK, why do I never see any posts from you HOn3 guys?? C'mon, I know yer out there!!

I saw an ad in one of the model magazines recently that got me thinking. The ad goes something like "thinking about getting into modeling, then think narrow" and below is a pic of a beautiful brass HOn3 engine. So, how has technology helped HOn3 in the last few years? I never got into it because the engines were either bazillion dollar brass OR unreliable plastic. Just wondering what the state of things are currently. Are there reliable, less expensive models out there now?
John

 

So HOn3 is still mainly brass? Hmmmmm.....oh manufacturers can you see this thread....I see a need here....
John

 

Blackstone Models ( www.blackstonemodels.com ), a division of Soundtraxx, has an HOn3 K27, in diecast, and plastic, with sound (Tsunami). I've seen, and heard one of these, and they are well worth the price (unknown), the non-sound DC units, are around $350.00, give or take. The loco I saw, ran flawlessly, at all speeds, from a dead crawl to full speed, and the sound was mechanically synchronized, so the chuff rate constantly matched the driver rotation rate. The detail was as good, if not better, than most brass. I was also pleased to see that it could be had without the doghouse on the tender. I may be wrong here, but to my knowledge, only one of the K-27s had a doghouse.
Microtrains has some HOn3 rolling stock.

 

Now THAT is a fine looking model and appears to be within the price range of many of the Bachmann On30 models. Hmmmm...makes me think thoughts my wife would kill me for...
John

 

Believe it or not, but you can find affordable Brass locomotives; You might only buy one locomotive instead of four diesles, but then you don't need a whole lot of locomotives...just enough to double and triple head!!

 

I am narrow minded you might say been doing HOn3 now for about 2 years and before that Nn3 for 12.

As for RTR locomotives, Blackstone has been mentioned and has the K-27 that just came out and it runs awesome, also Mountain Model Imports a division of Precision Craft is coming out with the K-27 this month or the next, they have also said that they are going to do a K-28, K-36, K-37, C-19, C-18, and C-21 in plastic and die cast. All of these are to be had at around $300 to $400 dollars. The Blackstone's come with sound, the Mountain Model Imports loco's only come DCC and sound ready.

As far as RTR freight cars go Micro-Trains has come out with 40' C&S prototype refers, the next car due out is a C&S flat car. This summer Blackstone is coming out with the DRGW 3000 series box cars as well as stock cars for the DRGW.

Other than that all other freight is either in plastic kits or brass. As for the locos only the K-27's are offered right now in die cast and plastic any other loco's are still brass.

Myself right now I own 2 Brass K-37's and 2 Blackstone K-27's. Soon I hope to have a Brass K-36. All my loco's have DCC and sound.

I don't have my own layout at home but am part of a club that has a huge narrow gauge area that ties into the standard gauge. Go here and take a look if you want. http://www.texaswesternmrc.org/

 

HOn3

I was also interested in HOn3 15 years ago but all that was available were very expensive brass locos or poor quality MDC kits that took nerves of steel to assemble. I drifted into On30 when Bachmann introduced their line of high quality, affordable locos. Although I still do some modeling in On30, I got hooked on Large Scale narrow gauge (indoors). Even some LS locos are much cheaper than those available in HOn3.
If there were affordable, high quality, RTR locos available in HOn3, I would give this scale a try as my secondary scale.
Although Blackstone currently makes RTR locos in HOn3, they are still pricey and limited run items. What is needed in HOn3 are locos like Bachmann makes for On30 and LS.

 

This is why I was so psyched when On30 came along...I could finally model narrow gauge. Still, HOn3 is cool and I too would model it as a second scale if I could afford it.
John

 

While I do have several brass locos in HOn3, I also have kitbashed a number of MDC outside frame kits. This is one of my favorite brass locos.

 

this is one of the MDC 2-8-0 kitbashes, a 2-8-2 with vanderbilt tender.

 

This is my favorite of the MDC kitbashes. SHS&D #1 is about 21 years old now, and still running well.

 

Those are really fantastic engines! Cool stuff, thanks for sharing those.
John

 

Which is why I haven't done too much...there is a very limited amount of information about the SVRY. It certainly hasn't received the press that the D&RGW, or the East Broad Top have. I just can't resist the photos of the 250, or the 251 on the head end of a long string of flats loaded with cut lumber, working along the Powder River.

 

I guess I model more HO 1/2. and European. I went on a Ebay rampage and just bought a bunch of Egger-Bahn stuff. Eggerbahn came out in the early sixties and then sold off and evolved. Just google it for better info than I can give. They are remaking Eggerbahn in Switzerland , this time in brass with precision flywheel motors. Price is about same as good swiss watch too. I am butchering a Roco six wheeler to look older. Plastic but runs ok. I just got off the phone with a guy named Saller who makes metal models of Lanz tractors. He is making some neat stuff for narrow guage. Remember lots of stuff was imported and exported back and forth from Europe. and O&K had a factory in the US!!