I started a conversion on one of those great 2-8-0s years ago. I got the cylinders replaced, installed valve gear, installed a tender dog house, installed pilot-to-running-board steps/ladders, installed cab roof vents, etc. Then, like so many of my other projects, set it aside for when I get old. I just had my 75th birthday, so the time is now for getting it running. I think I was going to number it for one of the BLW high-numbered 1200's. I numbered my Bachmann for one of the Alco 1200's, which looks a little smaller than the MDC model. I also have one of the Athearn light Mikados. It can barely pull the tender, much less a string of cars. It needs more weight over the drivers. Good luck.
Athearn can’t seem to get steam locomotives right. How many times have they tried? The B&M 4-6-2, the 0-4-2, the USRA 0-6-0, the USRA 2-8-2, the SP 4-8-2........ wonder how their challengers and big boys are doing.
I didn’t realize how over scaled the MDC 2-8-0 seems to be, till it is seen side by side with a finer model. The Bachmann 2-8-0 towers over a USRA light mike also but this one looks gargantuan. Almost all the die cast steam engines were too big, we didn’t realize it in those golden days of youthful model railroading with no budget for anything finely scaled, over $14.95, the typical Zamac kit price. Nothing was quite as over scaled , though, as the Tyco 4-6-0. S scale on HO track!