Scale-Craft Southern Pacific Class P-13

[Carey Williams]

Hello all

1938 Elliot Donnelly's Scale-Craft introduced the Southern Pacific Class P-13 Pacific. ....both in O & OO gauges.
O scale model pulling a string of heavyweight passenger cars. ..believed to be made by Pomona circa 1938-9 ..fiber sides , wood roof & floor ...full interiors with lights . Made for a Los Angeles based layout "California Southern"

Please see link for video
https://youtu.be/nOXvFkCOOhE


Cheers Carey

[Dennis Holler]

Lovely engine and great example of the Scale Craft stable of locos!

[bob turner]

These are not the favored Scale Craft locomotives, since the locomotive itself is in 17/64, and the lead cast tender is 1/4" scale, to match the SP Mountain. However, I have one in my collection, thanks to Allan Wehrle (RIP) and Maroon.

I have paired it up with a 17/64" tender, and Dave will note one wheel of that seems to be riding high. I have done nothing with the locomotive itself except display it, but I can see the back end needs to be raised some day, and maybe it needs to get run a bit.

As I noted in my "Trackwork" thread, I have all four loops working like a charm, and may have to set up the camera for a long video. I have this vague feeling that my camera does not have the bandwidth to do more than about ten seconds, so we shall see . . .

Herewith:

[webenda]

I have paired it up with a 17/64" tender, and Dave will note one wheel of that seems to be riding high.

So will I, Bob. NOTE--One flange appears to be on top of the rail.

+

Is it that or is the truck twisted?

[ScaleCraft]

That is a TT.....Turner Trademark.

I hated those. Like it was cobbled together from various other SC engines...plus, every one I ever saw was way too tall for anything else, and I have had 17/64ths engines.

[Dennis Holler]

At the very least I always thought the boiler was to large in dia, but of course that owes to them using previous SC parts as much as possible. Cylinders are probably to large again owing to them being the Mountain cylinders and I even thing the drivers are too large because weren't they only something like 74" on the real SP engine?

All that said, I have to have one just cause SC made one lol... so I have recently added one to the roster thanks to Carey lol Whether I will ever get around to painting it and putting it together is another question!! At least when I bought Jim's Baldwin F3's I added a complete nice running set of locos!

[bob turner]

Again, 17/64 scale. The P-8 thru 13 had 72” drivers, and in O scale an 80 “ driver is fairly close to 73” in 17/64 scale. Things are just bigger in 17/64.

The cab is the wrong shape, and maybe a few minor details could be better (headlight, domes, stack?) but the thing that makes it look awkward is the 1/4” scale tender.

My trucks are all equalized except for the ones with actual springs. My display board got out of gauge a while back. And sometimes I am in a hurry to do something else.

[R.K. Maroon]

Bah-humbug on you guys -- I don't have any problem with the Scale-Craft P13, at least not with John Fisher's version:


https://dl.dropbox.com/scl/fi/ol5l1o4r7rart357ocrdq/Scale-Craft-4-6-2-SP-T-NO-633_01.JPG?rlkey=07281qbig10qbid5b16o3y93l


https://dl.dropbox.com/scl/fi/0r5e07op6igz8v3dakg5o/Scale-Craft-4-6-2-SP-T-NO-633_02.JPG?rlkey=7uwadzg75bv2m4hneg50ftlj3

A short video of this model in action can be seen here:
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/uvgqec1grg99g8bru1o8y/05-Inside-Pacing-Shot.mp4?rlkey=vm29fkhzzhcnt4ayhq4n06rk0&dl=0

John, like many O-scalers, didn't think much of this model as Scale-Craft rendered it. John addressed its shortcomings in several ways. First, he had Bill Pirie(sp?) install smaller drivers (73"). John then installed a lost wax air compressor, headlight, train number boards, pilot air hoses, new smokestack, and Lobaugh tender trucks. John did the paint and decals, which is his forte. I haven't done any research to see how well it does or does not match the T&NO prototype, but this model's place on my roster is secure.

If there was an emoji for the bronx cheer, you all would be getting it right now

[ScaleCraft]

I don't have any problem with the Scale-Craft P13, at least not with John Fisher's version:

John, like many O-scalers, didn't think much of this model as Scale-Craft rendered it. John addressed its shortcomings in several ways. First, he had Bill Pirie(sp?) install smaller drivers (73"). John then installed a lost wax air compressor, headlight, train number boards, pilot air hoses, new smokestack, and Lobaugh tender trucks.

I rest my case. You do all that.....especially remove the Hudson drivers, yeah, yer on yer way.

[bob turner]

Well, I brought it home, and was going to slam a K4 mechanism in it for a test run.

Nope - cylinders are different, and it would take a lot of fooling around to do it. So I shall break my current rule of avoiding machining driver tires, and convert Allan’s drivers to 2-rail. I used to know how to do it, obviously, since I have four K4s and spares. The Hudson got Lobaugh drivers, and I could do that for this model by machining only one tire.

I shall update. . .

[Dennis Holler]

Bob, we expect some pictures!!!

[bob turner]

Cut the steel tube into a bite-sized chunk and started to machine the first tire. Although the steel appears to be high nickel content, it cuts ok. I prefer iron pipe for tires, but not enough to go out and scour the local plumbing shops, all of whom now use PVC.

But then I discovered a complete set of 79" Lobaugh drivers, so maybe I won't have to machine tires at all. I bet I have machined almost 50 tires in my short life, and would be happy to never repeat the exercise.

The only question remaining - ream out the 3/16 axle holes to accommodate the Lobaugh axles, or just use 3/16 rod and put putty in the key slots. If I go 1/4" then I have to ream out the axle gear as well. Looks like a brand new gear; I hate to touch it with a boring tool or ream.

Pictures? Maybe, but you all know what this thing looks like. If I get carried away with new boiler bands, cab, firebox sheets, and dome re-contouring I will do another photo shoot - but I think I will just 2-rail it, test it, and get back to my 17/64 light Harriman Pacific project. The 2-6-6-2 is basically done, awaiting only installation of gearboxes and motor. Incentive is low, since I have a 2-6-6-2 on the outer loop, and all loops are, for the moment, operational.

When I depart, remember that a guy with 250 locomotives cannot keep them all running. Test, lubricate, and then maybe . . .

Edit: I just machined two driver tires before heading to the airport. Maybe if I just do one or two a day I will not go fruit basket.

Update: did three today. Intent was two, but one rolled off into infinity when I cut it off. They are actually going quickly. I could double my speed with a turret.

Saturday update: two more. Enough to convert the P-13 using the original drivers. Eight minutes per tire, now that I am all set up. Off to fly the Stearman.

[bob turner]

All drivers machined. Ready for assembly - but I need to trim the flanges by a couple thousandths.

I took my lathe tools to the airport where I have a better tool grinder, and sharpened them. Should have done that before I started. Trimming even the insulated drivers was like cutting plastic - smooth! I use whatever the postman brings for insulation, and saturate it with green Loctite.

Never thought I needed Fish Paper. Dunno what that even is . . .

[bob turner]

Done. Test-run. Photo as soon as the sun comes out.

I note that while machining drivers, a friend had a short project involving an 0-8-0. Went pretty quickly, since I was all set up with the proper collets and cutters. Then I pulled my own 0-8-0 - a USH in Southern green - to see if I could capture a gearbox for it. Turns out that fifteen years ago I put an NWSL mod O.5 in it. And parked it.

One of the drivers was frozen! A little cutting fluid (couldn't find the Liquid Wrench) and it ran like a Swiss watch. No need to get a gearbox for it.

Moral of that story - let these things sit for a decade, and do not expect them to run. Do not even try, until you have disconnected the gearbox and lubricated/tested everything.

Edit: Got the photos. They will all go here so my name doesn't show up more than four times as much as other forumites. The big flaw - I forgot to paint the lead truck frame. It is shiny black.

Only differences you can see - flanges and larger counterweight on middle drivers, a tailbeam, and slightly more level.







Update Feb 23 - fixed a few glitches - notably the right side eccentric was given to falling off (held with a 1-72 screw, and the direction of rotation . . .). I soldered that eccentric, made a couple of adjustments in insulation, re-lubricated, and it is now smooth as glass even on my very rough track, hauling a string of scarlet and black Mobilgas tanks.

[steamaheadstephen59]

Bob I think I will comment, It looks great!! I prefer the first tender or larger of the two, and the tail beam is a nice addition. The larger counter weight driver would not have been noticed by me, had you not mentioned it. It all works to me, as the Scale Craft P13 was rather loose on accuracy any way, and is kind of a freelance SP effort. That wouldn't stop me from buying one, when the opertunity comes up. I love my Scale Craft Hudson why wouldn't I love the P13. Thanks for the pictures. I enjoyed them.