Bowser USRA Lt Mikado, Deluxe Kit build

[iis612]

Aside from a few bumps in the road, the valve gear and drivers where easy for me. I will not say that they went together flawlessly. I had to use a few spare rivets.
I am going to give Bowser the benefit of the doubt, as this is the Christmas season, I am sure they are overloaded with customer support requests. I called, and sent them an email yesterday morning. During the phone call they took my information and said that someone would call me back by the end of the business day. I have not gotten that call, nor a return email. Like I said, I am sure they are swamped. I am not bashing them, as they have been around for a while and have some loyal customers. They did not get where they are by ignoring anyone.
I have had a night to rest and clear my head. I will go back at it later today with some fresh prespective, and a plan or 2 to straighten out the kinks. More photos to come. Does anyone know of a decent source for wax cast air hose and steam lines? If not, I have some plastic ones I can use.
Oh, and BTW, shortly after Christmas, I will be getting a Bowser Lt Pacific Deluxe kit as well.
The Pere Marquette used both the Pacific and the Mike in passenger service, so that should round out my loco selection for my home road fairly well.
I have a P2K heritage 0-8-0, a Berkshire, a Consolidation (Which the PM stubornly clung to until the merge with C&O), an S1 (which the PM never had) and an FA (also never rostered). I have to start gathering power for GTW, C&O, NYC, and PRR to fill my operating theme's requirements. Which gives me an excuse to buy a mallet. The C&O used them on fast freight into Toledo occasionally, why not send a few north? But I digress. That is for another thread.

Matt

[iis612]

In flipping through the instructions, I have noticed that there is no provision for directional lighting at the rear of the tender. Can anyone tell me where I might be able to get a lamp bezel without canabalizing another steamer? Perhaps a company that specialiszes in lost wax castings? I might be able to get another from Bowser, and modify it, but I can not seem to reach a human their.
Anyways, I should have some updated pics tomorrow.

Matt

[doctorwayne]

Since you're already dealing with Bowser, it might be an idea to buy the latest copy of their catalogue, which includes Cal-Scale and Cary lost wax detail castings - Bowser owns both. Cal-Scale has cast brass steam and air lines, and also a pretty good selection of headlights/back-up lights. Another source of detail parts for steam, in both brass and plastic, is Precision Scale.

Wayne

[nachoman]

Yep, CalScale, Precision Scale, and Cary. Correct me if I am wrong, but I think Cary parts have been discontinued, and Bowser is only selling old stock. I used to be able to go to the LHS and find a whole pegboard rack of detail parts, but i don't think my LHS has restocked in years . You can check online from suppliers like walthers, and search for "headlight casting" and find one you like. A warning, though: You will likely pay more in shipping than you will for the small detail part. It's best to find a few other things you need to make it seem worthwhile.

[doctorwayne]

Kevin is correct, and many of these places have a minimum order - for Precision Scale, it's currently $30.00. I was in Montoursville Pa. this past October, and bought some stuff at English's Model Railway Supply. One of the items I needed was roofwalks for the Bowser covered hoppers. They had none in stock, but one of the staff went down the street a couple of blocks, to Bowser, to get the required parts. The store and the factory are affiliated. The main reason that I went there, though, was to get a #203 headlight from Cal-Scale, which I have been trying to locate for almost a year: they had none in stock, either.

Wayne

[iis612]

Thanks Wayne and Kevin. I ordered the parts from Bowser.
On another note, I did get in touch with someone about the parts that are missing from the kit. They are sending them to me. That means I should have brass detail parts left over. I will use them to touch up another one of my locos.
There are no new pics today. I don't have time to work on it, so I wouldn't be posting anything new.

Matt

[eightyeightfan1]

Man...I'm glad they make steam in ready to run.
If I opened that box and saw all the rods I had to put together.........It would of been shelved!
I'm glad you have the patience.
Nice job.

[iis612]

I have not been able to work on it, with Christmas and all.
I hope tomorrow I will be able to.
Could someone who has worked on these kits take a look at the valve gear photos and tell me if they see something wrong. The wheels roll freely, but the gear does not seem to make it's complete travel.

Matt

[doctorwayne]

On both sides, the eccentric crank on the main driver should point towards the counterweight on the driver, as in the picture below. Back-off the screws, manually rotate them into position, then re-tighten the screws.
[album]259[/album]

Wayne

[iis612]

Thank you Wayne. Beautiful pic, as most of yours are. I hope mine turns out half as gorgeous as yours.

Matt

[iis612]

Man...I'm glad they make steam in ready to run.
If I opened that box and saw all the rods I had to put together.........It would of been shelved!
I'm glad you have the patience.
Nice job.

Thank you. I hope I can do it justice.

Matt

[jefelectric]

This is an interesting thread. It reminds me of building these die cast kits back in the early 50s. I am surprised that they are still made, with all the RTR that is out there. I now model in O 3-rail, but started to read the HO section as a grandson is starting an HO layout.

[nkp_174]

This is an interesting thread. It reminds me of building these die cast kits back in the early 50s. I am surprised that they are still made, with all the RTR that is out there. I now model in O 3-rail, but started to read the HO section as a grandson is starting an HO layout.

There still are those of us out there whom prefer kits. I get my enjoyment out of building it and admiring my work...rather than seeing a RTR locomotive and cars race around the main. It is also easier to kitbash a kit than something that is ready to run. But there is definitely less of a market for kits than in the past, since operators are no longer forced to build their power.

[iis612]

This one seems to be on hold. I asked for the parts that where missing to be sent to me a while ago, and I have not gotten them yet. I might have to skip ahead some steps to keep this one on track. I don't want to start the next one until I have this one at least track tested.


Matt

[iis612]

The missing parts arrived today, along with a "nastygram" form letter about missing parts and timely contact...whatever. Construction will resume tomorrow, along with pics.

Matt