I have several, and I would rate them as fair runners. Better after some twiking and with changing the plastic gears to metal. Plastic gears are prone to cracking.
I have two older ones... Looks: They look awesome Mechanics: They are very basic, simple, way behind the curve in technology. Not that good. That said, the I have heard that the newer ones are much better than the older ones. I took my Hallmark CP7 gutted it and installed a more reliable, late Life Like mech. One of my favorite diesels now.
Mine (all 1990's era) are sadly shelf queens. The four axle run better than the six axle for whatever reason, but none run as well as newer plastic versions and so many of the models they made are now available in plastic, like the SD45-2 (not the B yet) Tunnel Motors, GP 60 (but not the Wide Cab, yet) etc. Simple answer: Avoid them if you want them for running and only use the shells fitted over a Kato or Atlas mech if you "need" that body style. If you like the collectors aspect, go for it, but I don't think their value is holding up that well.
No! The shell is great, the mechanisims are crumbling junk! I bought a Kato mechanism , and fit the shell over it, and now I have a great running and great looking loco... But I would have just been as happy with plastic. That said, I would say, buy plastic for any Diesels, and resort to brass only if unavailable in plastic... Just my opinion though.
I had two Hallmark GE C40-8's and they ran so badly that they'd make a Bachmann diesel look good! I was able to sell one at an NMRA auction for $50 (about a quarter of what I paid for it). The other one still haunts my train room.
I think all Hallmark locomotives are so horrible,you should not waste your time on them...Instead,send them all to me,so I can subject them to the swift scrapping they rightfully deserve for their treachery......
They look great............ But they kinda run like a "better" mid production Life Like SD unit.... some days good; someday....um.......
I have one Hallmark B&O torpedo boat GP-9. It is a mediocre runner. Since Atlas sells torpedo boat GP-9s, there is no reason to buy another Hallmark GP-9. At the time, no one sold torpedo boat GP-9s, or even GP-9s that had scale width hoods or the correct wheelbase.
About the same as the rest. So-so at best, running wise. If it's had the plastic gears replaced with metal ones, it'll be okay to run. If it still has the plastic gears and they haven't split yet, they will. I had a U23C (same basic thing), and I'd give it about a 4.5 out of 10 for running. The best Hallmark diesel I ever saw was the SD24 that had the Kato drive from the factory.
I have 4 GP-7's and 4 GP-9's. The plastic gear split because they shrunk and the inside part that had the shaft ,which was brass, did not. If they were all plastic no problem. Half of mine have brass gears the other have plastic replacement from NWSL along with my 8 Oriental LTD. RS-3's and F-3. So yes I like mine ,they are geared low so no 100 MPH . They are simple but makes it easy to work on.Most I have I taken apart to clean up brass gears etc and add a fly wheel to some of them.Helped a little. They are still louder than the Atlas loco's but I will take any if you all want to get rid of them:tb-biggrin: I like the first run of GP's with the finer hand rails the latter which most were factory painted had the flat sanctions on, I stay away from because they bend easier. I have to amit that it is a nostalgia thing because it reminds me of starting in N scale back when the oringnal Rio Grande hobbies were here in Albuquerque in the mid 1980's.Got half of them back then. Oh well I'm starting to ramble to much. Rick
RK,I despise them so much,I'd be willing to pay shipping,just so I could be sure they get exactly what they have coming to them.....
I have three Samhongsa units. My first was a Hallmark U23B bought a few years before the Atlas model was anounced. The model was brush painted in PC and the result was very poor to say the least. I stripped the model and repainted it into Providence an Worcester. I was able to fit Atlas B23-7 window glass in the cab. I rebuilt the mechinism too. New wires, gears, and upgrades to the universals. The project took about 12 months, but the finished product is worth it. The engine runs like a swiss watch. My other engines are a Key S1 being rebuilt into an S3 and a C40-8W which has suffered a myriad of problems and has been shelved for several years. I am always on the look out for super cheap brass, so any of you who don't want your nasty old brass, I'll be happy to take it off your hands.
$40-70 range, depending on model. I like to tinker. These engines were hand built. They deserve more than bad paint jobs, cracked gears, shelf queens at best and junk box fodder at worst.
