... but grew more complex as i experienced in the past.



One of two articulateds i shot on evilbay last sunday. Comparing the model loco with prototype photos, i discovered some discrepancies.
O.k. take some Steel and brass wire remove that not prototypical handrails on the pilot deck.
And the compressor exhausts (?) are not placed where C&O used to mount them, cut them of and take some brass wire...

STOP! Sorry, this is a project for the next year. My workbench is full of other stuff.

Greetings Lutz

Looks like an interesting project. I'm looking forward to seeing the pics as you progress (hnt, hint).

Tom

.......and then someone throws some information, into the game.....
If the number is correct, the loco is an H-5, 2-6-6-2, from Baldwin, in 1919 ( #1520-1539 ).
I have pictures of H-4, and H-6, but no H-5's.
In the case of the H-6 1924 Alco ( #1475-1519 ) the bell would have been on top of the boiler, behind the front sand dome, the pump air intakes would have risen vertically, with the filters about one filter diameter apart, and there would have been no step above the pilot mounted headlight, ( at least it's that way on # 1515. ). The number boards would have almost touched at the boiler centerline.
The handrail in your picture would be correct for an H-6 ( #1515 )
Hope that information is useful.

Quote:STOP! Sorry, this is a project for the next year. My workbench is full of other stuff.

Next year is only 21 days away...

Good modifications.

Galen

So, I've spent too much time looking for, and not finding C&O class H-5 pictures, other than Bachmann's, and that's what we're dealing with here as far as I can tell.
The H-5 was a USRA design, and I don't know what modifications C&O might have made to them. I'll ask that if anyone has photos of the front end of a C&O, H-5, 2-6-6-2 ( #s 1520-1539 ) please post them here .
Not only would it help Schraddel, but now my curiosity is up, as I have an Akane, brass, and a Bachmann Spectrum "H-5", and they don't look that much alike.

O.K. Thank you.
Now i know that it is an H-5 where i have to look for.
There are much more ???s.
Steam pipes from the smokebox to the rear cylinders. In Kalmbach's book they are pictured more rearward on the smokebox.
The runningboard and the steps from the pilot deck.
Cab, USRA style, cut off lower edge or forward slant, which is correct?


Lutz

Edit:
Searching in the net i found this:
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.cohs.org/repository/Archives/cohs/web/cohs-21387.jpg">http://www.cohs.org/repository/Archives ... -21387.jpg</a><!-- m -->
That must be an H-5 as the text notes. "Locomotive has still USRA horizontal smokebox door."

Further in my papers i found an copy of "Railway Mechanical Engineer Vol. 93, No. 2, February 1919, pages 75 ff."
An article of the then new "Standard 2-6-6-2 Type Locomotive" inclusive drawings.
A small b&w photo shows an 2-6-6-2 USRA estimated to the C&O.
The text says that there were orders for 30 locomotives.

Don't ask were i have this copy from. It may be from an public online library or archieve.

Meanwhile DHL delivered the second atticulated:




Lutz

" <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.cohs.org/repository/Archives">http://www.cohs.org/repository/Archives</a><!-- m --> ... -21387.jpg
That must be an H-5 as the text notes. "Locomotive has still USRA horizontal smokebox door." "
That photo, with the exception of the "missing" compressor on the RH side, most closely matches the Akane
" USRA 2-6-6-2 ".
I would have more faith in that, being a C&O class H-5.
The H-5, is the only 2-6-6-2 that I can connect with a USRA design, and there were only 20 of them, which were retired in 1952.
Which brings me back to your # 1524 from Bachmann Spectrum. ( which I also have )
The only real difference between it and the Akane USRA 2-6-6-2, is the front end. The placement of the compressors/pumps, the smokebox door, that step on top of the headlight, and the switcher style pilot, which I haven't seen in any of my C&O H class photos.
Ahah !!!! just noticed the builder's plate on the Bachmann....it's American Locomotive Company !! The USRA design H-5 was built by Baldwin.
An ALCO 2-6-6-2 would have to be an H-3, H-4, or H-6 . The Bachmann ( #1524 ) more closely represents a class H-6 ( #s 1475-1519 ) the 1300-1309 H-6's were Balwin built.
Ahah again !!! (http://www.steamlocomotive.com/2-6-6-2/?page=co ) shows that thirty were built, and 20 by Alco, so I stand corrected. " Things usually starts very harmless... " was a very appropriate title for this thread....harmless... until I open my mouth !!
None the less, the Akane USRA 2-6-6-2 is still closer to the photo, than the Bachmann. I still want to see a photo of one of the C&O H-5 2-6-6-2's,,,,,,,,,and I'm still looking.

Sumpter250 Wrote:" <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.cohs.org/repository/Archives">http://www.cohs.org/repository/Archives</a><!-- m --> ... -21387.jpg
That must be an H-5 as the text notes. "Locomotive has still USRA horizontal smokebox door." "
That photo, with the exception of the "missing" compressor on the RH side, most closely matches the Akane
" USRA 2-6-6-2 ".
I would have more faith in that, being a C&O class H-5.
The H-5, is the only 2-6-6-2 that I can connect with a USRA design, and there were only 20 of them, which were retired in 1952.
Which brings me back to your # 1524 from Bachmann Spectrum. ( which I also have )
The only real difference between it and the Akane USRA 2-6-6-2, is the front end. The placement of the compressors/pumps, the smokebox door, that step on top of the headlight, and the switcher style pilot, which I haven't seen in any of my C&O H class photos.
Ahah !!!! just noticed the builder's plate on the Bachmann....it's American Locomotive Company !! The USRA design H-5 was built by Baldwin.
An ALCO 2-6-6-2 would have to be an H-3, H-4, or H-6 . The Bachmann ( #1524 ) more closely represents a class H-6 ( #s 1475-1519 ) the 1300-1309 H-6's were Balwin built.

I think the 2-8-8-2 locos that were built for the N&W and used by the Santa Fe as helpers on Raton Pass during WW2 were USRA designs.

Is that Spectrum a good runner? If I could find some plausible reason (More than the "It is my layout, I will run what I like) to run one in central MI, I would love to have one or 3

Matt

Hello!

On rr-fallenflags i found photos of the USRA 2-6-6-2:
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/wle/wle-s8002vaa.jpg">http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/wle/wle-s8002vaa.jpg</a><!-- m -->
At the first glance, the deviations between the spectrum W&LE model an the photo from 1935:
- small steps on pilot and USRA boiler tube pilot
- handrails on pilot deck
- smokebox door horizontal
- position of marker lights
- shorter tender?
There are far less bashing necessary to get the Spectrum W&LE 8007 model closer to prototype than the C&O 1524.
The Spectrum C&O #1524 looks to me a more generic model. It is more to the as delivered status with some modifications. And i don't know what C&O shops really did on modifications and basing with their engines. I seems to become a mystery as long as no photos of this USRA engines on her later years are avialable.
The W&LE #8007 is not so mysterious. Photos show me what to do to get her as close to to prototype as i could make her with my skills.

@sumpter
I did not know anything about the Akane brass model. Is it possible for you to make an photo?

@Matt
I got two locos and two expierences.
The #1524 was declared by the seller as "like new, not used". I found the modell running a little jerky especially on higher speeds backwards. I found one driver a little bit out of quartering. I fixed it and the model runs much smoother.
The next problem was the rear group of drivers. The models drivetrain has much in common with an Diesel loco model. A center mount motor drives via forward and rearwar driveshafts two worm gears and afterward via spur gears to the drivers. The two driver groups are beared exactly like Diesel trucks.
The steam pipes are as closely on the top of the rear cylinders. For that reason the rear group can't equalize properly. Under some circumstands the first and second drivers of the rear group can be lifted off the rails.

Two brutish cuts solved the problem. The steam pipes were shortened about 1mm on both locos.
On the #1524 there was an similar problem caused by the original handrails. This i eliminated by making new handrails as seen on the first photo on the tread.

The second loco, the W&LE marked by the seller as "used" runs out of the box very smoot and very well.

Both locos were equipped by me with ESU decoders, the Lokpilot Basic. They have an very good Back EMF.

I hope i could help you

Greetings Lutz

Schraddel Wrote:Hello!

On rr-fallenflags i found photos of the USRA 2-6-6-2:
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/wle/wle-s8002vaa.jpg">http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/wle/wle-s8002vaa.jpg</a><!-- m -->
At the first glance, the deviations between the spectrum W&LE model an the photo from 1935:
- small steps on pilot and USRA boiler tube pilot
- handrails on pilot deck
- smokebox door horizontal
- position of marker lights
- shorter tender?
There are far less bashing necessary to get the Spectrum W&LE 8007 model closer to prototype than the C&O 1524.
The Spectrum C&O #1524 looks to me a more generic model. It is more to the as delivered status with some modifications. And i don't know what C&O shops really did on modifications and basing with their engines. I seems to become a mystery as long as no photos of this USRA engines on her later years are avialable.
The W&LE #8007 is not so mysterious. Photos show me what to do to get her as close to to prototype as i could make her with my skills.
@sumpter
I did not know anything about the Akane brass model. Is it possible for you to make an photo? Greetings Lutz

That ^ photo, looks just like the Akane, which I have lettered for the wrong road!!! The Akane is a Baldwin, and was exclusive to the Wheeling and Lake Erie ( the photo link has WLE in it )......which also means that the Bachmann is probably more correct for the C&O. I got caught using only one reference, without photo verification. :oops: :oops:
I'd still like to see an actual photo of a C&O H-5.
Anyway, the Bachmann is the top, and the Akane is below it:
[attachment=6474]
I would expect the cab to be the straight front USRA design.

Thank you sumpter250!

Meanwhile i have blackened out the "white wall tires" and the edges of the running boards:

A little bit dye makes a significant optical difference.
For now i delay working on this loco. It is better when there are photos showing to me what exactly i have to do.
To make an aproach of this model to an C&O H5 as close as my skills and possibilities will allow.

Greetings Lutz

The work is not delayed on the W&LE Mallet.


There was an dreadful "open air" area beneat the firebox. And the trailing truck does'nt look right too.
So i cut some styrene sheet and glued it under the firebox to block the sight thru. It is only one sheet in the middle possible for not disabling the sviveling of the trailing truck too much.
The sharp corners of the equalizing bar (?) of the trailing truck were filed round. The cast on sprung hangers were removed an replaced by an brass rod glued into drilled holes. I added new equalizer bars and hangers made of styrene sheet. They have no technical function, they only should look right. And it was not possible to built them in full length because the truck has to svivel. So there are gaps which guaranted the free movability.



This an an photo i made for comparison with the real loco.
The smokebox was stripped from all obsolete parts, numberboards, marker lights, long handrail stanchions, plumbing, head light visor and these shields behind the marker lights. The numerous holes were filled with short plastic rods and ACC. The marker ligths, to my astonishment made of die cast, were recycled and mounted on brass arms to their new positions. The handrail were bend into a shape to meet more prototypical appeareance. New short stanchions were fitted also.
On the pilot deck i bend and soldered new handrails.
A real problem for me is the smokebox door. On the photo it is horizontal, on the model it is vertical.
Any suggetions?

Lutz

" Any suggetions? "

Find a brass casting for a replacement door, then file off the original.....and replace it
Or.....leave it as is.
In either case leave it until you have a good replacement ( scratchbuilding a new door could be considered, do several different methods [ brass, cardstock, plastic, etc. ], and then choose the one that looks best ).

Sumpter250 Wrote:" Any suggetions? "

Find a brass casting for a replacement door, then file off the original.....and replace it
Or.....leave it as is.
In either case leave it until you have a good replacement ( scratchbuilding a new door could be considered, do several different methods [ brass, cardstock, plastic, etc. ], and then choose the one that looks best ).

Yes i leave it as it is because i did'nt find any parts to replace it.

The next thing i won't leave was the tender. In comparison with the few photos i have found in the net, the Spectrum tender looks too long.
The tender of one of my Trix mikados, an USRA design also, looks right.
What to to?
Yes shorten the Spectrum tender:


I took the saw from the tractor tool box an start sawing. Just one section marked by the rivets on the tender deck has to be removed.


Here the tender body halves will be glued together. The photo shows the reinforcements made of styrene sheet.


Next was the tender underframe. It is made out of this "light" alloy cast and so i clamped it down.


The coal bunker extensions were made of styrene sheet. Here i look on the prototype photos to get it right.
You see the seams of the cut. And in the background is an unaltered Spectrum tender of the same type.


The underframe with his reinforcements.
I also don't leave to an uninterupted electrical current flow through the mounting screws for the tender trucks, so i soldered the wires directly on the wipers.
In this case with pick up from twelve loco drivers too it may be not so dramatic, but on smaller locos it will.



After painting it all matte black it is time to took a look on the prototype photo again.


A look from the side. You can't see thru under the firebox, the "ashpan replacement" in form of an single styrene stripe prevent it.
The shortened tender with its new bunker extension.


And that was the left over section. Bachmann made the botton extra thick to prevent model railroaders from drilling holes for installing speakers and sound decoders in soundless locos?

Greetings Lutz