Aristo-Craft Mallet Vignette

Aristo-Craft’s 2-8-8-2 Mallet Steam Loco Vignette
Ted Doskaris
April 20, 2007
Revision GE-B


Aristo’s Mallet packaging:

Aristo-Craft appears to have done an excellent job on packaging for the Mallet.
I think this is one the best I have seen Aristo do.

Some time ago I got the new UP Mallet, and I received it with no damage or any of its parts dislodged.

The collective weight of all the empty boxes is 14 lbs from what I measured.
(The big, empty Yellow box for the loco boiler weighed 4 lbs, 9 oz., and the empty Vandy tender Yellow box weighed 1 lb, 12 oz.)

The collective weight of the removed loco with Vandy tender was 20 lbs, 9 oz.
(16 lbs for boiler section and 4 lbs., 9 oz. for the Vandy tender with its 3 axle trucks.)

Thus, the entire large box with all its contents as received weighed 34 lbs, 9 oz and cost me about $31.00 ground shipping from the East Coast to the West Coast.

BTW, the end of the entire large box includes its dimensions and weight listed in KG, which when converted to lbs, turnout out to be nearly identically to what I measured.


Now for the pictures:

Empty Aristo-Craft Boxes for the Union Pacific Mallet with Vanderbilt Tender:


In the following picture, note the empty "dummy" boxes in the foreground that serve to fill out the large box as added packing:


Aristo-Craft Main Box for the Union Pacific Mallet with Vanderbilt Tender.
Note the PMC (Polk's Model Craft Hobbies) and New Jersey, etc. identity on the side of the box:


BTW, compare the Aristo-Craft Union Pacific with "flags and Wings" GE dash 9 outer box as shown below.
This was obtained from the retailer St. Aubins. Note the identity on the side of the box is not PMC.
(Apparently they have been able to get their Aristo products shipped directly without going to Aristo first.):


Initial Aristo Mallet experiences:

Overall, I am very pleased with my Union Pacific Mallet with Vanderbilt tender. It runs smooth and only uses about 2 amps max when traversing my under house layout pulling about 40 cars (Aristo 100 ton hoppers with metal wheels. I know the cars are not period correct.) My circuitous layout has mostly curves and "S" bends with one 270 degree 10 foot diameter loop back.


The packaging was excellently done by Aristo-Craft (Boxes for the Union Pacific Mallet with Vanderbilt Tender shown below.):


I was able to mount the front Aristo knuckle coupler whilst retaining the little cow catcher, but the centering spring attachment is still a mystery as to how it should be installed!
(BTW, When I first ran the loco on my layout that round, front smoke box hatch sometimes would open! I never realized it was intended to open until this happened. I had trouble trying to keep it shut.)


I placed an automotive type vacuum nipple on the Vanderbilt tender draw bar pin to prevent unwanted uncoupling - typically when backing up the loco over those Aristo Wide Radius turnouts. I also moved the mounting pin to the provided, second hole to allow for closer spacing of the tender to loco boiler. As such the loco can still go around 8 foot diameter curves in my rail yard.
(BTW, this large loco sure brings out the faults with those Wide Radius turnouts. You can hear the drivers hit those plastic guard rail abrupt ramps with a clunking sound whilst the loco is traversing the diverging path, and when backing up there is a better than 50 - 50 chance the drivers will climb over those guard rails and derail the loco!)
Also, the tender ladder does not vertically align properly. Apparently it is forced to the offset position by the wire railing hole mount location.


This view shows the automotive nipple over the draw bar pin (It would be desirable for Aristo to include this as standard equipment with the loco):


No problems with the closer spacing:


However, the tender's rear truck mount coupler helps when pulling a 40 car train connected to a car with a truck mount coupler around my 270 degree 10 foot diameter loop back over those Wide Radius turnouts:


Some more operational pictures:

Aristo-Craft Union Pacific Mallet, road number 3670, right view:


UP Mallet Vanderbilt tender with as received draw bar pin location in outermost hole.


UP Mallet and Vanderbilt tender connected with as received tender draw bar pin location. (Note the greater than desired - or required during operation - space between the boiler and tender.):


UP Mallet with Vanderbilt tender connected to boiler section showing half inch closer more realistic spacing:


UP Mallet Vanderbilt tender recess allows for close connection to the boiler's platform (Operation even on 8 foot diameter curves presents no problems.):


UP Mallet and Vanderbilt tender overall length with draw bar pin in optional location - saving a half inch. This length measures 47 inches - not including coupler projections:


UP Mallet pulling a 43 car freight train on my under house layout:


UP Mallet traversing No 6 crossover
(Note that the round hatch on the face of the boiler sometimes hinges open during train operation!):


UP Mallet pulling train on No 6 crossover headed toward loop back (shown in the background) in a direction opposite than typical:




UP Mallet Vanderbilt tender includes an illuminated rear light when the loco is operated in reverse mode; however, the loco front headlight remains illuminated when in such operation. Both of these lights are incandescent types:


The beginnings of an Aristo-Craft UP Mallet PFE Reefer "fruit block" train:


Since this picture was taken, I obtained many more PFE and other reefer cars for a realistic reefer fruit block train. In this regard, It would seem that Aristo could better leverage their Mallet product sales by offering a similar “prime mover” fruit block train set as they have done with the Dash 9 hopper car sets and Pacific type steam loco heavyweight set.

Suggested Mallet improvements would be to add seats & crew to the boiler section cab. A fire box simulated flame would be neat to see, too.


End