N-Scale SP Brass from MORE Co. LIK Enterprises

[robert3985]

About two weeks ago, my son ordered two skirted SP GS-2's from www.brasstrains.com  which were manufactured and imported by two companies I had never heard of... MORE Co., and LIK Enterprises.

He brought them over to me to test run and evaluate, and I have to say that I am highly impressed with the detailing on these SP engines.  They were initially sold in 2002 he thinks, so it took a bit of breaking in for them to start running well, but...now they run extremely well. 

Brass Trains has several other N-scale GS's from MORE Co., all in the same condition, obviously being acquired at an estate sale.  If anybody is interested in some SP engines (and one WP) that will probably never be manufactured in plastic, which have fabulous detailing, great paint and have only been test run (if that), then take a look.

Here's the link:  http://www.brasstrains.com/Classic/Trains/Scales/N-Scale

[Norway2112]

Bob,

I doubt these engines are from an estate, but I could be wrong.  When LIK went out of business, Korea Brass bought up all of their inventory and have been sitting on these engines for a little while.  They're "New Old Stock" and have never been run.  I was able to purchase 4 of them (two de-skirted GS-2, one daylight GS-2 and a GS-6), and was sent pictures of all of these engines too but while the interest was there, the wallet was not!  My guess is Brasstrains.com purchased all of these direct from Korea Brass, and it seems to be a good purchase as they are selling quick!

They run beautifully, and are very detailed.  I would say among the best of n-scale brass.  The mechanisms seem to be a bit more rigid than Key Imports locos and therefore will not operate well on anything less than 19" radius from what I have experienced.  The construction is great, and well thought-out.  I found these engines very easy to install a TCS Z-2 decoder between the motor and bottom of the firebox.  With a complete firebox floor, the decoder and wires are then completely hidden from view.  Overall I'm very pleased with my purchase, I only wish LIK had some GS-1's leftover as I would have loved to had one of those too!

Phillip

[spookshow]

Those are pretty tempting prices if they really are NOS. Weren't they priced in the $1100-1300 range when they originally came out?

Cheers,
-Mark

[robert3985]

I just called my son and gave him the information you guys have posted.  He knows more about them than I do, but was surprised at the NOS possibility, but already knew that they were selling in the 1100 to 1300 range when new.  That MSRP however surprised me!  It's been a while since I bought any new brass, and I have a tendency to horsetrade for whatever brass I get anyway.

He also informed me that he's laid away one of the unskirted GS-2's so it looks like SP is going to be well represented in the Ogden UP-SP-D&RGW yard complex when we get it finished!

[Norway2112]

Bob,

I had mine out of the box last night and was running it.  A couple tips to pass to your son.  The two little detail parts sticking up from the skyline casing at the sand dome hatch are barely attached and will come off with barely a touch.  I would recommend putting a tiny amount of glue or paint on there to help hold them on.

I was pulling a 30 car PFE train with my GS2, #4415.  It pulls the train ok on flat area but even the slightest grade it would start slipping.  For comparison sakes I put a Key MT-4 and Key FEF-3 on the same train and both walked away with it on the same track with no slipping at all.  There is no extra traction tire for the LIK models, but there is extra room in the boiler so I'm going to try and add some tungsten putty to see if I can improve the pulling power a bit.  The 30 car train looks fantastic behind it, if I can make it hit a 1% grade and maintain I'd be happy with that.

Another cool feature on these engines is that the non-functioning cast coupler is a seperate detailed attached using a small screw.  Removal of the screw allows you to pull the entire coupler casting out and leaves enough room to put a working Z-scale coupler pocket in its place.

Phillip

[robert3985]

Bob,

I had mine out of the box last night and was running it.  A couple tips to pass to your son.  The two little detail parts sticking up from the skyline casing at the sand dome hatch are barely attached and will come off with barely a touch.  I would recommend putting a tiny amount of glue or paint on there to help hold them on.

I was pulling a 30 car PFE train with my GS2, #4415.  It pulls the train ok on flat area but even the slightest grade it would start slipping.  For comparison sakes I put a Key MT-4 and Key FEF-3 on the same train and both walked away with it on the same track with no slipping at all.  There is no extra traction tire for the LIK models, but there is extra room in the boiler so I'm going to try and add some tungsten putty to see if I can improve the pulling power a bit.  The 30 car train looks fantastic behind it, if I can make it hit a 1% grade and maintain I'd be happy with that.

Another cool feature on these engines is that the non-functioning cast coupler is a seperate detailed attached using a small screw.  Removal of the screw allows you to pull the entire coupler casting out and leaves enough room to put a working Z-scale coupler pocket in its place.

Phillip

Phillip,

Thanks for the heads-up.  I'll communicate your information to my son later today, but the models are on my workbench, one of them getting properly gauged.  The other one was perfect.  I'll be doing the gluing/painting to secure the parts you mentioned.

The maximum train length on our layout is approximately 30 forty foot cars, and engine and a caboose, except for priority freights, which don't have to fit on "standard" sized passing sidings of 9' 7 1/2" length.  After I've equipped these with their Tsunamis, I'll see about adding weight.

Bob

[Norway2112]

Phillip,

Thanks for the heads-up.  I'll communicate your information to my son later today, but the models are on my workbench, one of them getting properly gauged.  The other one was perfect.  I'll be doing the gluing/painting to secure the parts you mentioned.

The maximum train length on our layout is approximately 30 forty foot cars, and engine and a caboose, except for priority freights, which don't have to fit on "standard" sized passing sidings of 9' 7 1/2" length.  After I've equipped these with their Tsunamis, I'll see about adding weight.

Bob

Bob, I would love to see some pictures and get your comments on the Tsunami install.  The tenders are already punched for sound as you've seen I'm sure.  I have had great luck putting Z2's under the motor, and if you use a dual decoder setup with the Z2 in the locomotive and the Tsunami in the tender you wouldn't have to deal with wires or plugs between the two.  I'm still on the fence about the Tsunami's motor controls, but the downside of not using the Tsunami for motor control is your lose the BEMF feature to modulate the chuff rate as the engines starts loading.

Phillip

[spookshow]

Looking for a little advice here... I'm not an SP/WP guy, so if I were to purchase one of these for review purposes, which one would likely garner the most interest when it came time to resell it?

Thanks,
-Mark

[robert3985]

Looking for a little advice here... I'm not an SP/WP guy, so if I were to purchase one of these for review purposes, which one would likely garner the most interest when it came time to resell it?

Thanks,
-Mark

Out of the models that are left, I think the black GS-2 skirted is going to have the best resale desirability.  Next would be the WP GS-64 since I doubt this one will be seen again in my lifetime.  The Daylight painted GS-2's represent very early daylight engines, and I'm not sure why the GS-6's aren't selling.  I'm pretty sure of the first choice, not so sure of my second choice.

Bob

[spookshow]

Thanks, Bob. Maybe if I procrastinate long enough they'll all sell out and I won't have to worry about it, lol.

Cheers,
-Mark

[spookshow]

Yo, Bob. I'm finally getting around to this, and at this point there are five options left -

GS-2 #4413 (SP Daylight)
GS-64 #481 (WP)
GS-6 #4462 (SP Black)
GS-6 #4460 (SP Black)
GS-2 #4412 (SP Daylight)

Still think that the WP GS-64 represents my best odds of not losing money on the purchase ($750)?

Thanks!
-Mark

[robert3985]

Yo, Bob. I'm finally getting around to this, and at this point there are five options left -

GS-2 #4413 (SP Daylight)
GS-64 #481 (WP)
GS-6 #4462 (SP Black)
GS-6 #4460 (SP Black)
GS-2 #4412 (SP Daylight)

Still think that the WP GS-64 represents my best odds of not losing money on the purchase ($750)?

Thanks!
-Mark

Mark,

Sheesh!...It's a heavy load you put on my shoulders!! Hahaha!  Couple of ways of looking at it. (1) Probably a lot more SP modelers in N-scale than WP steam-era modelers and the GS-6's in black represent the last paint job on 'em.  That's probably why the Daylight GS-2's are still there, because they are early...late 30's I think (I could be wrong, but they got retired from passenger service at least in the early 40's).  (2) The WP GS-64 will probably NEVER be produced in N-scale again unless we start making our own with some fancy new 3D printer technology, so it's gonna be rare...no if's, and's or but's about it.  However, it doesn't have the wide appeal of the SP engines.

It's kind of a toss-up between the black SP GS-6's and the WP GS-64 as far as resale value is concerned, but...I'd bet that you'll get your money out of any of them if properly photographed and written up.  Personally, I like the WP engine, just because it's so flippin' rare to see one in N-scale.

Here's a photo I took of one of my son's black, skirted GS-2's at Echo Curve on my layout.  Nice lookin' engine for sure...and I like his mail train too.

[Cajonpassfan]

Bob, I would love to see some pictures and get your comments on the Tsunami install.  The tenders are already punched for sound as you've seen I'm sure.  I have had great luck putting Z2's under the motor, and if you use a dual decoder setup with the Z2 in the locomotive and the Tsunami in the tender you wouldn't have to deal with wires or plugs between the two.  I'm still on the fence about the Tsunami's motor controls, but the downside of not using the Tsunami for motor control is your lose the BEMF feature to modulate the chuff rate as the engines starts loading.

Phillip

Bob, Phillip et all,
What a gorgeous model, and no, we'll never see that kind of brass workmanship again, in our lifetime or anyone else's... Beautiful!
A suggestion: before you stick a Tsunami in one of these pups, try the new WOW steam decoder by TCS. The motor control is fabulous and the sound just BLOWS ME AWAY! I love my Tsunamis, but this is the next level... and the decoder should just fit in the wide tender.
Best, Otto K.

[robert3985]

Just because I think these are such great little models, here's another photo with two of 'em...


Otto, I did some research on the WOW decoders a few weeks back.  They've got SP noise in 'em now?  I stopped considering them seriously because they didn't have any sound that I could use.  I'll have to go take another look at 'em.

Thanks for the heads up!

[peteski]

Bob, Phillip et all,
What a gorgeous model, and no, we'll never see that kind of brass workmanship again, in our lifetime or anyone else's... Beautiful!

While that might be true, plastic models are getting pretty darn close (detail wise) to older brass models.  Especially on streamlined steam locos.  They also run so much better than brass, and they cost a fraction of what brass costs.  Brass models are also not always perfect. Some shapes are better rendered in injection-molded plastic.

I'm not knocking bras here - I own several brass models and I like them very much.  Like this one:

But (while I hate to use this phrase), the paradigm has shifted.