K-Line NYC Hudson

Stephen,

I have converted the K Line Hudson and USRA Mikado models to 2 rail several times.  Once converted and sitting on the track they look pretty good.  Bob has taken the conversion process a step further and cut away the vertical boiler "skirt"  that hangs down from the bottom of the boiler to hide the motor.   He closes in the boiler shell.  I have never attempted that and I see no real visual advantage to doing it because, as I said above, unless you are looking for it you do not see the skirt once the model is sitting on the rails.  Just my opinion.  Of course if you are converting an engine for your own use and time is not a consideration, you might want to try doing what Bob has done.

Mechanically, the K Line engines run very nicely as 2 rail models.

Joe Foehrkolb

No need to look any further. The K-Line NYC Hudson from a few years ago is an excellent candidate for 2-railing and Joe is without question the right person to do it. Both the more recent Lionel and MTH NYC Hudsons lack some detailing so to my way of thinking your choice is very clear - the K-Line NYC Hudson is a winner!

Just my opinion............

Having done all three, I would choose Lionel first, then MTH, then K-Line.  That is a personal opinion, and not related to reality.  I could see the vertical skirt on that K-Line boiler, and even though the fine detail is way better, that, and the impression I got that the thing was smaller than Lionel sealed the deal for me.

Moving the motor to the firebox is not trivial.  Filling in the boiler was easy, but time consuming.  The finished model was spectacular, until I parked it next to the 763.

The MTH required a new main frame, new cylinders, and new drivers.  The Lionel looks great with only scale flanges, even though that main counterweight is inaccurate.

Emphasis: Opinion!

Thanks every one, so it's agreaded the k Line has the best detaling.

Bob did you'd you get out the ruler and measure , or is it just optical that its smaller, and could the Lionel be 17/64 scale?             (CTR....choose the right)

It was serious optical.  I did not bother to measure them or to compare with drawings.  I hope the Lionel and MTH are 17/64, since that is what I model.

I am different.  I have had many 2-rail friends who insist on details and do not care if what is underneath is accurate or even substantial.  There is nothing wrong with that; every one gets to choose their own hobby.

Before I parked the Hudsons together I was convinced I wanted a K–Line Hudson for myself.  I did get the Berk, and gave it the same treatment, and it is beautiful and well detailed.  I have 0-6-0s that are larger.  In fact, the K-Line logging loco dwarfs both.  What was that, a Climax or a Shay?  All I remember is that it was huge!

quote:

 That is a personal opinion, and not related to reality.  I could see the vertical skirt on that K-Line boiler, and even though the fine detail is way better, that, and the impression I got that the thing was smaller than Lionel sealed the deal for me.

quote:

 I did not bother to measure them or to compare with drawings.

bob2,

If your opinion is "not related to reality" and you have not measured the models, then how in the heck can you honestly recommend one model over the other?
And, how can anyone take your opinion seriously?

Further more, wasn't the subject of scale between these three models discussed on the 3rail Forum some time ago?

Stephen, Bob is correct. Many Hudsons are larger than the K-Line model but that's because they are oversize. The Lionel Hudson measures 6" taller than the prototype.

You can read more here.

Pete

Geez, Jim.  You are not supposed to take opinions seriously.  That is why I am careful to put "opinion" on the bottom of each post - it should isolate me from any factual argument.

I have been told that an opinion can be incorrect, but I do not believe that.  An opinion is a state of mind having nothing to do with facts.  You can hold the opinion that the sky is yellow if you want.  The sky is in fact blue, but that need not change your opinion.

Opinion.