Any Hartland enthusiasts out there? I did a search and admire Timmyd’s bashing a 0-4-0 with a taller cab and can only envy those skills. Not geared up for traction like Dennis Paulson. Just want to run trains with the Grandkids and build some structures. Earlier advice was to pick a scale/manufacturer and Hartland’s smaller stuff for my tighter curves seems to fit. Not sure about their couplers. Can they be operated sans Armstrong? Might consider Kadee knucklers and risk authenticity.
I don’t think anybody here has ever been accused of being concerned about the “authenticity” of his trains. They are made to be bashed, modified, tweeked, repainted and otherwise changed to suit the current owner…
Now Warren;…
We all know that it is not nice to suggest “Injuring” in any way, a piece of LGB stock, or even twist up any LGB authentic wire…so, be nice and watch what you suggest…!!!
Fred Mills said:
Now Warren;.......We all know that it is not nice to suggest “Injuring” in any way, a piece of LGB stock, or even twist up any LGB authentic wire…so, be nice and watch what you suggest…!!!
Fred,
That is a crying shame because some of that LGB stuff is very nice for bashing.
Darn!
Does that mean I have to return all my LGB to original, out of the box condition?
You had better get at it, or the Vogel/Brown team will seek you out and do a “Knee Cap Job”…!!!
Fred Mills said:Hmmmmmm really? I thought "Brown hat einen Vogel" and that's the end of the story. Blue Kroks and all!
You had better get at it, or the Vogel/Brown team will seek you out and do a "Knee Cap Job".....!!!!
I don’t have knee caps. I’m a penguin…
Opus
Bill,
You can mount KD’s to anything, maybe with a little tweaking here and there. Don’t even worry about authenticity! Do what’s best for you and is the easiest to operate.
I’ve always wanted a 4-4-0 American, so I might check out a Hartland one of these days.
jb
Got a grat paint job on my LGB Amtrak Genny to a NH Conn-dot unit. Does that count.
Depends…did you do it yourself…or is it one of the “authorized” LGBoA can’t get it wet paint jobs?
The two problem with the hook n loops on the Hartland “mini series” cars that I have found are 1. the springs on the hooks are rather stiff, which sometimes makes uncoupling a bit difficult because the cars are so light, and 2. The plastic is a bit brittle (the loops will often break if (when?) your kid drops the car)
I have wanted one of the more colorfull 4-4-0’s for awhile, two shops I tried to go thur seemed unable to get one. Seems hartland goes in small batches with no regular time frame. One day I will find one in stock somewhere. I like the LGB robustness of them. I used to have a Kalamazoo 4-4-0. Mike
I have used a lot of HLW flatcars for bashes, lots of Macks, and I would rather get my hands on an HLW Mogul than an LGB Mogul any day of the week
The Minicars only thing is they really need metal wheel2 to roll well. I use link and pins on them so none of Miks problems for me 
I Love the HLW stuff, I have a few Macks and some mini cars…hard to beat, for the most part it’s what my kids play with! Now if we could convince him to make his stuff a little bigger!
cale
To all:
The response to my question, “Any Hartland enthusiasts out there?” is both interesting and encouraging. Love the camaraderie!
Victor Smith, is there room in their Mogul for Airwire’s card? And I assume the tender will hold the battery?
Rivet counting in Large Scale?? That’s what I like about this scale, whatever works and is fun. So, after looking at KD’s site on conversion, I will make the switch. For me, knuckles and railroads are like hand in glove.
Now in keeping with Bart Salmons’ suggestion of purchasing through Bob McGowan’s store, and after Bob helps me out in navigating it, I’ll unleash the credit card.
Thanks guys, Bill