HCB Brass 4-6-2 Pacific 3160 Class (3400 Class)

Our first article for the blog here is going to be about a recent purchase I made to which I could find very limited information about. This article is to help potential buyers for other HCB products figure out some more about them.

From what I've been able to determine from google searches online, HCB was a Japanese company that produced models imported to the US by AHM. Some boxes I've seen pictures of say AHM along with HCB, however mine came without a box, so your mileage may vary here. 

This particular model is supposed to be of an ATSF "3160 class" according to the box. However 3160 was a class of 2-8-2 Mikado, not a pacific.  Looking through Worley's "Iron Horses of the Santa Fe Trail" I found a match in the 3400 class Pacifics, so from this point forward I'll refer to it as a 3400 Class Pacific. 

Worley's book indicates there were a total of 50 units in the 3400 class, 3400-3449 built between 1919 and 1924. There were a combination of coal fired and oil fired units in service and all seem to have lasted into the early 1950's. Some received the larger square tenders and boxpok drivers to improve distance and high speed operation. Photographs of the engines seem to indicate they were used rather system wide instead of being held in certain operational districts. There are photos of the engines being equipped with flip over stack extenders and the curved folding style stack extenders at different times. 

As for the model, it is a little bit different so far as brass goes. The model is quite heavy and has a decent amount of tractive effort, however this is all because of its metal underframe. There is no boiler weight, and although the model is "brass" it does seem to be a different brass than I've ever seen anywhere else. It's much lighter and has a different feel that everything else I have. Paint finish is immaculate on mine, and this appears to extend to the other HCB pacific's I've seen on ebay. 

Long shot of the firemans side.

So, there we have a view of the HCB 4-6-2 Pacific on the fireman's side. Finish looks good, this one has a slight bend in the cab roof, but that will get masked with paint and weathering.

I will note at this time that the model came with the coal load in the tender. Viewing other HCB auctions seems to indicate this the norm for these models to come with.

Head on shot of the Pacific, Elasco Feedwater heater tank is under the smokebox.

Engineer's side of the engine. 

Power Chassis

View of the power chassis and frame. HCB used a different kind of material to do the base frame (the black metal). This is where the bulk of the model's weight comes from, as there is no boiler weight. The drivetrain is slightly different from most engines out there, I've been told it's similar to MDC's system for driving the wheels. The motor doesn't pick up power from the drawbar like most brass either, there's a wire that goes to the tender, there is no spot above the drawbar connection for a wire to be soldered to on this model. 

View of the interesting drivetrain

A view dead on the drivetrain, a worm gear on the motor shaft powers an idler gear and the main gear on the axle. This setup is a little odd for a brass manufacturer. The drive noise exists but is tolerable, and it runs very smooth. I have yet to really be able to see how it does on a layout but on the test track it seems to have a decent amount of pull. The motor torque on this particular open frame isn't anything to write home about, that will be tested more thoroughly when I get it to the club. Like most open frames, you can achieve slot car like acceleration and top speeds. 

Tender shot.

The tender has some very pronounced rivets on it, and it weighs about as much as the engine. While the tender is painted brass, it appears looking at the bottom of the tender that the frame itself is a silver metallic type metal where the finish is scratched off. 

In all a decent brass model, and usually can be had cheaper than most equivalent brass. If you have any more information on HCB models, please send me a message. 

-Jimmy