04-17-2017, 09:44 PM
Lately, old steamers are finding their way to me. To go along with my Big Boy, I just acquired this old Mantua Pacific:
The paint is peeling, the seams were never filed off, the pilot is missing, and it sounds like a blender, but it runs strong. A little cleaning and lube should help it out. It also came with a brass tender.
I also got this Bowser H-9 mechanism. I had an old junky shell, which I think is an IHC:
I modified the mounting areas, drilled holes for mounting, and put lead in the boiler. It's a little loud as well, but quieted down with just a few minutes of running.
Finally, I enjoyed building my Bowser Casey Jones so much, I've been looking for other Bowser kits at shows and on eBay. I finally won a Pennsy K4 on eBay, and it arrived today, along with my ladders and grabs from Intermountain (see Reefer Madness):
I'm also working on valve gear from Bowser with an MDC Harriman Connie. OK, I've got a few questions.
I looked for pilots for the Pacific. I don't really like the plastic kit pilot. I have a Cal-Scale brass pilot; I'd like to solder it to some sheet brass pieces and build a pilot. Anyone ever done that? Any advice? Also, the cab looks small--are there better cabs available?
The IHC shell has two sand domes. Is it from an 0-8-0? I want to cut the back one off and patch with styrene, to look more normal.
Finally, the K4 has a Belpaire firebox. I don't model PRR, so is it possible to grind off the square box? Does it resemble any other Pacifics without the Belpaire?
The paint is peeling, the seams were never filed off, the pilot is missing, and it sounds like a blender, but it runs strong. A little cleaning and lube should help it out. It also came with a brass tender.
I also got this Bowser H-9 mechanism. I had an old junky shell, which I think is an IHC:
I modified the mounting areas, drilled holes for mounting, and put lead in the boiler. It's a little loud as well, but quieted down with just a few minutes of running.
Finally, I enjoyed building my Bowser Casey Jones so much, I've been looking for other Bowser kits at shows and on eBay. I finally won a Pennsy K4 on eBay, and it arrived today, along with my ladders and grabs from Intermountain (see Reefer Madness):
I'm also working on valve gear from Bowser with an MDC Harriman Connie. OK, I've got a few questions.
I looked for pilots for the Pacific. I don't really like the plastic kit pilot. I have a Cal-Scale brass pilot; I'd like to solder it to some sheet brass pieces and build a pilot. Anyone ever done that? Any advice? Also, the cab looks small--are there better cabs available?
The IHC shell has two sand domes. Is it from an 0-8-0? I want to cut the back one off and patch with styrene, to look more normal.
Finally, the K4 has a Belpaire firebox. I don't model PRR, so is it possible to grind off the square box? Does it resemble any other Pacifics without the Belpaire?