07/31/2006

A few weeks ago I took delivery of two of these monsters.  In these initial photos below, only one is photographed.

 

 

I tried to take some methodical close-up shots but because of the excessive heat that day I was a little careless with the camera.  The bright sun didn't help matters either.

 

The runners for the day pause for a few group photos...

 

11/22/2006

Got all three Big Boys out on the rails for the first time today and Wow, do they sound amazing!  (Videos of the running are below.)

The new Big Boy videos were taped with this new camera car I threw together.  If I can just solve the squeaky wheels, I'll be in good shape.

 

03/15/2008

Photos from the World's Greatest Hobby trains how.  The MTH Big Boys put on quite a show!

 

 

 

04/06/2008

All three Big Boys got their first shot at pulling a 100ft coal train on the outside layout.

 

05/29/2009

A visiting MTH Big Boy pays a visit to the layout and for the first time the layout sees Four MTH Big Boys.

 

 

 

 

MTH Big Boy #4004:

                                     

Note: if the video skips, right click on the link and select "save target as" and save it to your local drive, then play it.

                                              Select the version / quality you want to download:

   -  First run - 9:09 mins  -  Challenger and 2 Big Boys coming out of the house

                   - 138MB/2100kbs - 67MB/1000kbs - 10MB/150kbs

   -  Video #2 - 3:08 mins  -  Big Boy and Challenger inside basement

                   - 47MB/2100kbs - 23MB/1000kbs - 3MB/150kbs

   -  Video #3- 6:23 mins  -  Big Boy and Challenger double-headed on basement line

                                                            - 96MB/2100kbs - 47MB/1000kbs - 7MB/150kbs

                                            -  Video #4- 2:06 mins  -  Big Boy and Challenger double-headed on main loop

                                                            - 31MB/2100kbs - 15MB/1000kbs - 2MB/150kbs

                                            -  Video #5- 2:07 mins  -  Big Boy and Challenger double-headed on main loop

                                                            - 31MB/2100kbs - 15MB/1000kbs - 2MB/150kbs

                                            -  Video #6- 2:52 mins  -  Big Boy and Challenger double-headed on main loop

                                                            - 43MB/2100kbs - 21MB/1000kbs - 3MB/150kbs

                                            -  Video #7- 7:01 mins  -  Big Boy lead camera angle on main loop

                                                            - 106MB/2100kbs - 51MB/1000kbs - 7MB/150kbs

                                            -  Video #8- 6:41 mins  -  Big Boy lead camera angle on main loop

                                                            - 101MB/2100kbs - 49MB/1000kbs - 7MB/150kbs

                                            -  Video #9- 6:16 mins  -  Big Boy chase camera angle on main loop

                                                            - 94MB/2100kbs - 46MB/1000kbs - 7MB/150kbs

                                            -  Video #10- 3:59 mins  -  Big Boy chase camera angle on main loop

                                                            - 60MB/2100kbs - 29MB/1000kbs - 4MB/150kbs

                                            -  Video #11- 4:48 mins  -  Big Boy chase camera angle on main loop - 59 SMPH

                                                            - 72MB/2100kbs - 35MB/1000kbs - 5MB/150kbs

                                            -  Video #12- 3:20 mins  -  Big Boy runby shots various angles

                                                            - 50MB/2100kbs - 25MB/1000kbs - 3MB/150kbs

                                            -  Video #13- 2:30 mins  -  Big Boy runby shots various angles

                                                            - 37MB/2100kbs - 18MB/1000kbs - 3MB/150kbs

                                            -  Video #14- 5:17 mins  -  Three inside the basement

                                                            - 79MB/2100kbs - 39MB/1000kbs - 6MB/150kbs

                                            -  Video #15- 5:12 mins  -  Three Big Boys together - Doubleheader + Pusher

                                                            - 78MB/2100kbs - 38MB/1000kbs - 5MB/150kbs - YouTube HQ

                                            -  Video #16- 2:11 mins  -  Three Big Boys together - Doubleheader + Pusher

                                                            - 33MB/2100kbs - 16MB/1000kbs - 2MB/150kbs - YouTube HQ

                                            -  Video #17- 1:20 mins  -  Three Big Boys together - Doubleheader + Pusher

                                                            - 20MB/2100kbs - 9MB/1000kbs - 1MB/150kbs - YouTube HQ

                                            -  Video #18- 1:14 mins  -  Three Big Boys together - Doubleheader + Pusher

                                                            - 18MB/2100kbs - 9MB/1000kbs - 1MB/150kbs - YouTube HQ

                                            -  Video #19- 2:15 mins  -  Three Big Boys together - Doubleheader + Pusher

                                                            - 34MB/2100kbs - 16MB/1000kbs - 2MB/150kbs - YouTube HQ

                                            -  Video #20- 2:00 mins  -  Three Big Boys together - Doubleheader + Pusher

                                                            - 30MB/2100kbs - 14MB/1000kbs - 2MB/150kbs - YouTube HQ

                                            -  Video #22  - 2:04 mins - Big Boys + Challenger w/smoke deflectors

                                                            -  47MB/3000kbs - 17MB/1000kbs - 7MB/400kbs - YouTube HQ

                                            -  Video #23  - 4:28 mins - Big Boys + Challenger w/smoke deflectors

                                                            -  103MB/3000kbs - 36MB/1000kbs - 15MB/400kbs - YouTube HQ

                                            -  Video #24  - 2:41 mins - Big Boys + Challenger w/smoke deflectors

                                                            -  62MB/3000kbs - 22MB/1000kbs - 9MB/400kbs - YouTube HQ

                                            -  Video #25  - 1:24 mins - Big Boys at night

                                                            -  30MB/3000kbs - 11MB/1000kbs - 2MB/400kbs

                                            -  Video #2  - 2:29 mins - Challenger w/smoke deflectors + Big Boys

                                                            -  57MB/3000kbs - 20MB/1000kbs - 8MB/400kbs

                                            -  Video #26  - 2:11 mins - Big Boys x 4 - My 3 + my friend John's on the head-end

                                                            -  39MB/2000kbs - 22MB/1000kbs - 10MB/300kbs - YouTube HQ

                                            -  Video #27  - 2:37 mins - Big Boys x 4 - My 3 + my friend John's on the head-end

                                                            -  47MB/2000kbs - 27MB/1000kbs - 8MB/400kbs - YouTube HQ

 

 

 

 

 

Train Show 3/15/08:  (MTH Big Boys)

 

                                            -  Video #1 - 3:11 mins  -  2 Big Boys on the point with Big Boy pusher on 60 car coal train

                                                           - 48MB/2100kbs - 23MB/1000kbs - 4MB/150kbs

                                            -  Video #2 - 5:20 mins  -  2 Big Boys on the point with Big Boy pusher on 60 car coal train

                                                           - 81MB/2100kbs - 39MB/1000kbs - 6MB/150kbs

 

 

 

 

 

100ft Coal Trains (x 2)

 

          - MTH Big Boys & Aristocraft Norfolk Southern Dash-9s:

 

                                             -  Video #1 - 4:27 mins  -  3 Big Boys and 5 NS Dash-9s take on their own 100ft coal trains

                                                            - 67MB/2100kbs - 33MB/1000kbs - 5MB/150kbs - YouTube HQ

 

                                             -  Video #2 - 1:56 mins  -  3 Big Boys and 5 NS Dash-9s take on their own 100ft coal trains

                                                            - 29MB/2100kbs - 14MB/1000kbs - 2MB/150kbs - YouTube HQ

 

                                             -  Video #3 - 4:31 mins  -  3 Big Boys and 5 NS Dash-9s take on their own 100ft coal trains

                                                            - 69MB/2100kbs - 33MB/1000kbs - 5MB/150kbs - YouTube HQ

 

                                             -  Video #4 - 2:13 mins  -  3 Big Boys and 5 NS Dash-9s take on their own 100ft coal trains

                                                            - 34MB/2100kbs - 17MB/1000kbs - 2MB/150kbs - YouTube HQ

 

                                             -  Video #5 - 3:42 mins  -  3 Big Boys and 5 NS Dash-9s take on their own 100ft coal trains

                                                            - 56MB/2100kbs - 27MB/1000kbs - 4MB/150kbs - YouTube HQ

 

        

 

 

            - MTH Big Boys & Triplexes:

 

                                             -  Video #6 - 8:05 mins  -  3 Big Boys and 5 NS Dash-9s take on their own 100ft coal trains

                                                            - 143MB/2000kbs - 81MB/1000kbs - 39MB/300kbs - YouTube HQ

 

 

 

 

 

                        You can find additional videos on the Garden Railroad Videos page:    

                                   http://www.rayman4449.dynip.com/Garden_Railroad_Videos.htm  

 

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Product Review:  (as posted on www.mylargescale.com)



Overall:
Compared to the Challenger, this engine is completely redesigned for ease of disassembly, durability, smoothness, performance and appearance.  It weighs a good bit more than the Challenger and shouldn't have the front driver traction issues.

Appearance:
The engine has a slight bit more sheen to it due to clear coating and looks really nice. It just looks rugged and well built just sitting on the track. Aside from the sliders(which I know bother some, but not me) I can't say there is really anything to say negative at all. MTH hit the target right on the mark.

The smoke box is more of a graphite color (darker) than the Challenger and looks really good.

Performance:
With all improvements done to the engine, added springs for better weight transfer to the front, independent sprung suspension, metal connecting rods, die cast metal frame front and back, traction tires and solid metal drivers the engine is made to pull a heavy load and run smooth doing it.

The engine pulls 7.5

Drivers:
The drivers are in fact solid metal with a metal rim. I performed an electrical continuity test with my voltmeter and have continuity between the rim and the driver on an exposed spot on the back and also have continuity at the connecting rod pin. The drivers have been painted black with what feels like a rugged paint. Between the drivers and the axle on each side is a plastic insulator to prevent shorts. The insulator runs around the back and has a flange to keep the drivers separated from the frame to prevent shorts there. They look more rugged and nicer than the original Challenger plastic ones. Also being metal we shouldn't see any cracking or warpage from assembly.

Connecting rods:
Are all metal like the Challenger but have a different look to them, I think the material or manufacture process was changed for them. Nonetheless, they look great.

There is slack between the connecting rods and the driver pins which was causing a binding on each set of drivers on one of the engines.  The catch on this engine was fairly rough and needed shims. (see my website for the shims used on the Challenger) The engine that currently runs smooth appears to have an ever so slight catch.  The other thing I've found was that some driver pairs required slight manual quartering adjustments by hand to resolve the binding.   This required removing the axle pairs in question and turning by hand.  Turning them is not easy, but can be done and gotten correctly given some time and patience.


Protocoupler:
Have not tested this feature yet, but I think it looks fine even though the coupler arm is pretty thick.

Die Cast frame:
The die cast frame adds A LOT of weight to the front engine (and overall) and gives it a more solid, quality feel. This was a great change. In a slippage test, the front and back drivers seem to slip at the same time and rate. It's very well balanced.

Springs:
A spring + slider washer has been added on the little angled tip arm that is designed to support the front engine if you lift up on the engine from under the front boiler. It allows for better weight transfer to the front engine as well as providing some side to side resistance which should reduce any propensity for the boiler to shift side to side.

No other noticeable change to report on the others.

Lights:
Basically same as the Challenger, except the Interior light is wired to the number board lights, so they come on and go out at the same time.

Everything else is the same as the Challenger.

Sound:
Is as loud as the Challenger if not louder. The chuff is the same as the Challenger and the bell is from the GS-4. Again, great sound is something you would expect from an MTH engine and their Protosound 2 system.

Control:
This was something I emailed MTH about, and that was to make sure you can run more than one of the same engine. (i.e. two, three or more of the 4004 Big Boys with the same remote) I was told this would not be a problem and proved correct.  I can control my three engines independently.

Speed control matches the Challenger and the other MTH engines precisely. No variation whatsoever. Set it a 7 smph, and they all will maintain that speed and distance from each other.

Detail:
Just like the Challenger, great detail and looks right!

Durability touches:
There are a number of areas where MTH made changes to improve durability when compared to the Challenger:
- The steam delivery pipe ends from the rear engine to the front articulating steam connections on the front now have metal ends. This must have been because of cracking as I had seen on my Challenger.
- The articulated hinge pin is now metal and is part of the frame.
- The tender drawbar pin is metal.

Conclusion:
There is nothing about this engine I can really find wrong about it.  It is a very nicely done model and frankly should give the Accucraft version a run for the money. With the MTH sound and control already built in and the new and improvements this is in my opinion the better buy and value.

If you think you want one, get it, you won't be disappointed.
 

Link to review on mylargecale.com:

http://archive.mylargescale.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=40088

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Read about the modifications done to this engine at the Modification link below.

 

Garden Railroad Modification, Repair & Maintenance

 

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Return to the Garden Railroad 2004 page.