I just thought I would give anyone who might still want one that two of my pushers have the Walthers O&W Sound Equipped H10-44 #279 (Stock # 920-40805) on sale for a great price. HobbiesUSA (hobbiesusa.com) has it for $149.95 which is 40% off and Pacific Western Rail Systems has it for $162.49 which is 35% off the MSRP of $249.95. HobbiesUSA also has the 52'6" Drop End Mill Gondola with load kit (Stock # 920-54123) for $17.49 which is 50% off of MSRP of $34.98 and Pacific Western Rail Systems has evidently a different run and two cars (Stock # 920-54093 and 54094) for $13.49 which is 52% off of MSRP of $27.98.
Does (do) Hobbies USA have an actual webSITE? Where you can place orders and shop? All I can locate is a webPAGE and a eMail address. Thanks, Tom
Tom: No they do not have a website. If you want to order just email them. I have ordered from them many times and they are very reliable. Bob Wintle
But you'd have to know what to order...I was thinking of a place to browse/shop. Any favorites like that Bob (either Bob)? Tom
Tom: The guys at Hobbies USA are Walthers dealers. I guess you could Browse on their website. Hobbies USA sends out an email list several times a week and offers 25% discount at a minimum. sometimes it is substantually more. They are the only Internet dealear I use. Bob
I just received an email from another pusher, Toy Train Heaven (800-326-9332) and they are having a 2-day sale of both #'s of the powered O&W H10-44 (#274 and #279) for $146.24 (42% off) and both #'s of the non sound one for $93.59 (42% off). Sale Terms: All Orders must be; Placed by Phoned or E-mailed Must be Headed - Weekly Specials Sale. EMAILS ONLY After Business Hours Sale runs 09:01 AM 20 April 2010 through 5:00 PM 21 April 2010 How low can they go!
Wholesale Trains has them at $79.19 and $122.39 right now. http://www.wholesaletrains.com/Detail.asp?Scale=HO&SPECIAL=0&offset=650&ID=200802093 http://www.wholesaletrains.com/Detail.asp?Scale=HO&SPECIAL=0&offset=750&ID=200802024
http://www.wholesaletrains.com/Detail.asp?Scale=HO&SPECIAL=0&offset=650&ID=200820143 http://www.wholesaletrains.com/Detail.asp?Scale=HO&SPECIAL=0&offset=750&ID=200820122
If the unit is good enough for your layout, then do it. Now, is it a quick plug or would it need hard wiring (as old as it is I'm guessing hard wiring)
Chuck Hitchcock here in KC has a fleet of the original H10-44s that will all have Tsunami decoders in them.
Terry, further update on the Walther's H10-44: I picked one up off of ebay and am in the process of adding a Tsunami decoder and a specially designed speaker enclosure (by me). You can use either the TSU-1000 decoder (827108) or the AT1000 decoder (827047), but the AT1000 will provide more room for a larger speaker enclosure. There are three different ways to mount a speaker in the loco, but one will produce superior sound to the other two. Either way, it will involve milling or removing the weight that rides atop the motor and trucks and isolating the brush holder on the bottom of the motor from the frame of the motor.
I'm just now finishing up detailing my HO Walthers FM H10-44, SLSF 275, in o/w. These are really fine models, and don't need much added detail, but I've found a few goodies to stick on. Does anyone know where the bell was on these things? Ken
I have searched for that answer, either graphically or textually and have not found anything that will shed some light on the subject. I have not found a photo of either side of the H10-44s where a bell is visible. It could have been mounted up front, inside the hood or underneath the frame out of view.
I believe that "Diesel Era" magazine had a big spread on these several years ago with loads of photos in and around Tulsa. Also, Terry Jankoski ran these and maybe he knows.
Through my local hobby shop here in Topeka, KS I was able to get four H10-44's all have different numbers and two are b/y and two are o/w. They are sweet runners. Richard