Mi-Loco Hudson and passenger cars 1935

Nice video, Carey.  I had not known about the Mi-Loco.  Very nice model!

Always interesting, Carey.

MELGAR

As usual, thanks for taking the time to show us your stuff. 👍

Mark in Oregon

Wholly coolness Carey 👍👏

Carey,

You really need to put all this stuff together, somehow.  This kind of history is getting hard to find, and your use of modern video to show history in action is dependent on a shrinking set of working examples (maybe even a set of 1 in some of these cases).

Very interesting, thanks.

Thanks Carey, I have two Mini-Scale Hudsons waiting for a little work, so this is good motivation. I have Valve gear needing recreation, and a front cow catcher, I think I will have to duplicate, or re-cast, so your videos help keep me focused. ( cTr....Choose the Right )

Those 2 side by side made me think of a Lionel 773 parked next to a postwar 665/2065 Hudson - that's a tremendous difference in size. The mechanism sounds a lot quieter than other models from the same build period - what do the internals look like?

So Carey, how many o scalers are left with outside 3rd rail? The last club I know was the Brooklyn, NY club with outside 3rd rail but they are long gone!

The Hudson ( Mini-Scale ) uses a very efficient worm and worm gear. The worm is steal and the worm gear is a fibre style typical of the period. The loco can be pushed down the track, and the worm will turn ( motor not connected ) Its a simple mechanism and the gear box is enclosed. The drivers are removable, but they come out from the top, not the underside as is typical.    cTr....( Choose the Right )

@Stephen Bloy posted:

...Its a simple mechanism and the gear box is enclosed. The drivers are removable, but they come out from the top, not the underside as is typical.    cTr....( Choose the Right )

I sure would like to see some pictures of that! 🤔 🙂

Mark in Oregon

You, Carey, may have the single most interesting collection of collectible antique electric trains around today and the knowledge to go with it.  Somebody appropriately talented needs to document it all in a book.

Cheers,

- Mike

Mini-Scale and Mi Loco also made freight car kits in 17/64" scale.  Here are two I had that accurately modeled their B&O prototypes.

This die cast four-bay offset-side hopper is by Mini-Scale and was made with three castings:  two sides with hoppers and a bottom with end frames and inner sides for the hoppers. The "A" end is modeled by cutting off the brake step.  Four big flat-head machine screws hold it together. Its original Mini Scale trucks are still under it, with their wheel sets modified for 2-rail.  Quite heavy, it weighs just over 2 LBS! I installed Kadee 700 series couplers, but otherwise kept the model original. It is painted and lettered as the prototype was when the kit was issued.  B&O had the largest fleet of these hoppers built in the 1920's and 30's. Their unique feature was having ladders at the car side ends, rather than grab irons which were used by other roads.  The model's B&O number is of a prototype car displayed at Shippensburg PA.

The 1941 Lionel full 1/4"/ft scale die cast four-bay offset-side hopper also followed this B&O Class W-2 design with side ladders, as did the later K-Line clone of that Lionel car.

This Mi Loco 17/64" / ft scale cast aluminum three-bay off-set side hopper was built up with five castings - two ends, two sides and an underbody with the hoppers included. I got it as a partially assembled 'junker' in 2010. It's put together with twenty-eight 3/16" long 3-48 flat head machine screws. I needed more of them, and they were not all that easy to find. Some fellow O scale modelers were a big help with that.  The screw heads are slightly counter sunk. I used automotive spot putty to cover them. It also has Kadee couplers and rides on Athearn trucks. It weighs about 1 LB but lacked rivet detail.  I applied Archer decal rivets, but they do not show up well. It did not have any air brake equipment, so I installed a Scale City Designs hopper car AB brake casting.  It well represents a B&O Class W-7 hopper and is finished with post-War lettering having the "Linking 13 Great States" B&O herald.

S. Islander

Great information Carey, thanks for sharing. I have a couple passenger cars, bits and pieces of a Hudson, and two yellow Mi-Loco freight car boxes with Mini-Scale Congress tool and die detail parts still in cellophane envelopes. I didn't realize Lee green cast everything in Aluminum as all of my parts are diecast.

Hello all thank you for your kind words .

Yes aluminum Mi-Loco

Die-cast ...intended to be Mi-Loco ...but sold under Mini- Scale name by Congress Tool & Die ....who did the tool and die work ...company is still on business.

Both companies used rear wheel drive ..enclosed drive gears ...great runners .

Here is a link to see the Mini Scale Hudson pulling a string of Mini Scale passenger cars ...all die cast ..all very heavy..all glorious 17/64ths

Yes tender is lettered Mi-Loco ...this is very early factory built example ...before Congress Tool and Die ..took over sales .

Also note observation ...Mini- Scale only made a combo and Pullman ...obs is from a modified Pullman ...Hudson is maxed out pulling the 4 Mini Scale cars .. and express Refer

Cheers Carey

https://youtu.be/bu8XAbwuiIU

As requested, and as Carey said, drive to rear driver. Some scratch main roads. The second Hudson I have, was modified to run, centre third rail. They? swopped out the original front truck and rear truck for 1/48 Labough, this included the tender trucks. The drivers had newly machined steel tyres. I had to tweak them on the lath to re-gauge them for NMRA standards. The cow catcher was smashed in postage. Theres work to do!        ( cTr...Choose the Right )

Thanks for posting the additional information Carey. I live outside Detroit so I have been trying to collect some of the Congress Tool and Die Items. My next door neighbor is related to the family that started Congress Tool and Die who made a lot of diecast pulley wheels for the auto industry and others.

@Mike Casatelli posted:

You, Carey, may have the single most interesting collection of collectible antique electric trains around today and the knowledge to go with it.  Somebody appropriately talented needs to document it all in a book.

Cheers,

- Mike

Absolutely!!! This is a very import piece of the hobby which should be appropriately  documented...

Mark in Oregon

Managed to pick up one of the later Min I Scale diecast versions.  It's missing a pilot and a few parts but pretty clean otherwise.  Was custom painted in 1984 by Richard Sherry in Chicago. At some point someone stuffed a can motor in it as well.  I have yet to test it.

@Dennis Holler posted:

Are sure that is not LMS?