Kato made a Mikado, though I'm not very familiar with it. I think Atlas imported one from Rivarossi as well. Your best bet would be to check eBay for pictures and availability - they currently show 11 items if you search for "Mikado". ------------------ Corey Lynch Pres - Rensselaer Model RR Society NEB&W RR http://www.rpi.edu/~lynchc/Railfanning/railfanning.htm - My Site http://www.union.rpi.edu/railroad/ - NEB&W
Richard; The only light USRA Mikado was the Atlas/Rivarossi and it was made in the early 1970's. It had good boiler and tender details and was a pretty fair runner although it never pulled much, 15-20 properly weighted cars. Its biggest problem was the original 3 pole un-skewed motor was coggy and wouldn't run real slow without stalling. There are several modifications you can do to make these run real good. First, the pilot wheelset has its wheels isolated from the rails and doesn't have pickup. Replace this set with a metal set from a Atlas freight car, making sure the isolated wheel is on the right side. The second mod is to discard the headlight and holder and stuff as much maleable lead in the front boiler shell as will fit. Then get a new 5 pole motor and replace the motor. Accurate Lighting has one that makes this engine run great, like a Kato. Sagami had a motor that fits good also but it has higher RPMs so the top speed is like 220 smph. The best motor is the Micro Mo but these are hard to find unless you buy in quantity. Any other questions e-mail me. Dale
Why go out and buy an ATLAS/RIVAROSSI Mikado and do all the stuff to it? Then you will end up with a 2-8-2 Mikado that still runs poorly at best! If you need a 2-8-2 Mikado that runs great from the box, GO GET A KATO! The Mike runs like a watch. The only thing I have done to all seven that I have, is to replace the rear set of drive wheels with a new KATO set that has plastic traction tires on the wheels. Micro-Trains makes a coupler conversion kit for the Mike that gives you a front working MT coupler. This way you can double/triple head if you want to. I have a double headed coal train that cannot make it over the steepest grade on my layout without a helper on the rear. With the working MT coupler, and DCC control, the pusher will cut off on the fly at the top of the grade while the double headed coal train keeps on moving. Try one of the KATO Mikados. You can hunt around and find one for about $100.00 new. Try BROOKLYN LOCOMOTIVE WORKS, TEX-N-RAILS. Check MODEL RAILROADER, N-SCALE magazines for others. Also go to your local Hobby Shop and see if they can get you one. I think the Mikes are still available from KATO. ------------------ Let's Go Run Trains MARK
The Kato 2-8-2 is a heavy Mikado. Richard asked about a light Mikado. Also, I have several heavy Mikes from Kato with the traction tire added. They run superbly. The Rivarossi's imported by Atlas and Con-cor will run as good as and in some instances better than the Kato. I believe that is what this hobby is about, a little tinkering can get great results. I agree with the fact that if you want an out of the box 2-8-2 Heavy Mikado then by all means buy the Kato. But if you don't mind a little "modelling" then get a Rivarossi and make it run just as good for half the cost. Dale
Thanks for your input. Here's what I'm up against. You may tell me to just give up and stick to diesels! I'm interested in replicating SAL's Q3 class Mikes. These were SALs standard freight steamer. They owned 170 mikes and 117 were Q3 class. The Q3s had airpumps mounted on the face of the smokebox. It had a 4 axle Vanderbilt tender with a Franklin booster on the tender. The tenders carried 17 tons of coal and 9600 gals of water. The Q3 also had Baker valve gear. This engine type had automatic stokers. The Q3 is Seabaord's "signature" steam loco. If it can't be modeled there is no reason to model the late steam era on Seaboard. Any ideas? Do I hear the theme from "MISSION IMPOSSIBLE" in the background?
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Richard Stallworth: Do I hear the theme from "MISSION IMPOSSIBLE" in the background? <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> Not if you have some money to sink into brass!!!! ------------------ Corey Lynch Pres - Rensselaer Model RR Society NEB&W RR http://www.rpi.edu/~lynchc/Railfanning/railfanning.htm - My Site http://www.union.rpi.edu/railroad/ - NEB&W
