Monday Mountain thread

[R.K. Maroon]

I would like to address part of Roger's question that has been so far overlooked. Some of the older models were actually pretty darn close to the prototype, especially given that they had no internet, no decades and decades of railroad books and historical societies, etc. So some modelers and model builders did care. However, there were a much smaller number of models offered, and many were not really all that accurate overall. Even the highly regarded Atwater F3 and All Nation F7 were at best accurate only for a small number of the many F-units made. But it was what the modelers had available to them, and they seemed to have a good time with them. If you go back before the war, there were an even smaller number of production models available, so you get things like boxcab electrics (like the Beddell) offered as an oil-electric. Heck, the electric boxcab version did not even have a true prototype, and the oil-electric was pure fantasy. But people bought them, built them, ran them, and had fun. Can I get an ahem?

For what it is worth, the line of my interest generally ends with models that do not have a prototype. I am not a snob, but it's just one way I limit the hobby. I don't buy PRR steam for the same reason -- it's not that I don't like it, but I can't own everything (really...no, really!). There is also a "too ugly for me" factor. The (thankfully) very rare Walthers (not Baldwin) E-unit is in that class. The Baldwin E7, E8, and F3 are on the border. But most other doorstops that would be unacceptable for many are otherwise fine for me.

Jim

[rrjjf]

Maroon,

Regarding fidelity to prototype, many of the prewar models incorporated details created by their creators that are lost to many of today's modelers. Ken Henry's pre WWII B&O P-7 Pacific kit and finished models had 19 spoke 80" drivers machined from castings made from his own patterns. The PRR K-4s has 17 spoke drivers and they are more common to find at O meets. I have a Ken Henry P-7 built by Russell Wilcox, a deceased friend that Russ built back in 1937/38 from Ken's parts. Russ told me he would go down to Camden Station here in Baltimore to measure and study the details on the real locomotive to get the details as correct on his model as possible. He didn't need no "stinkin drawings".

I think we have lost something in this hobby when so many "modelers" expect perfection from the importers. Currently, I am finishing up an All Nation generic 4-4-0 from a kit that was probably produced in the 1980s or 90s by All Nation before they sold the steam loco components to Babbitt Railway Supply in Minnesota. This late kit came with a Pearce ball bearing gearbox in lieu of the original Varney open worm and gear. Motor is in the tender and this little model runs very smoothly. Actually, properly set up, the original gearing by Varney is quite smooth and quiet.

For myself, this is a fun project that allows me to detail the loco to satisfy my own likes while maintaining a believable model with correctly installed details. I will probably letter it for the B&O. I have no idea if the B&O had a loco that looked exactly like this but I know they inherited many oddball locos from small railroads they absorbed so it will be a one of a kind oddball.

When the American is complete, I want to finish my Lobaugh USRA Pacific kit and detail it to look like a B&O USRA P-5. I have already machined and installed a correct set of drivers in the mechanism with 17 spokes to replace the original Lobaugh 16 spoked drivers that came with these kits. I will probably install an Aluminum USRA tender behind it that was sold by All Nation for many years, the origin of which may have been pre WWII Megow or possibly Scale Model Railways. Will this model be the ultimate B&O P-5? No it will not, but running on my railroad pulling a heavyweight consist it will serve the purpose.

There seems to be plenty of older USA made O scale locomotives becoming available to restore or build from untouched kits that have languished in collections for 50+ years.

I have a decent number and variety of these kits to keep me busy in my shop for the rest of my modeling life.

It has been and still is a challenging hobby.

Joe Foehrkolb

[rogruth]

Answers to my questions are coming.
Seems as though everything was/is done.

[J. S. Bach]

...snip... There seems to be plenty of older USA made O scale locomotives becoming available to restore or build from untouched kits that have languished in collections for 50+ years. ...snip... Joe Foehrkolb

And, unfortunately, fewer who would want to build them. I wonder how many are being acquired for their "collectability' and not to be built or run.

[bob turner]

Not me - I have found pristine Lobaugh Mike and Mountain kits from the late thirties, with original decals, perfect blueprints, and even paint. I build them.

Some collector bought a Varney ten wheeler for $750 some years back at OSW. I think that is still a record price.

[rrjjf]

If I purchase a locomotive kit or an older model to rebuild, I purchase it to work on it. I may not keep it when the work is complete but I enjoy building and improving these locos. Oftentimes an older model made for outside third rail operation sells for a low price because very few modeler have the machine tools or want to spend the time required to convert a loco to 2 rail. My SMR NYC L-2a Mohawk is an example of that. I picked it up at an estate auction for less than $200.00 and since it has been converted, it is a good running 2 rail loco.

Joe

[Rufus T. Firefly]

If I purchase a ...................to rebuild, I purchase it to work on it. I may not keep it when the work is complete but I enjoy building and improving these ...................

Very much my philosophy as well. The small tank car I just wrapped up was bought for that very sort of fun, and also for some more practice playing with my newer small torch,

[R.K. Maroon]

I share Joe and Martin's sentiments here. About half of what I work I plan to keep, the other half is part of what I call my "catch and release program". I have found that working on a model and then seeing it go to someone else for them to enjoy is really quite satisfying -- especially if they will run it. Note that this is not an invitation for you to send me your model to fix. I have a closet full of fish as it is, and more keep arriving, even without me having to put a hook in the water. I have found that if I just sit on the side of the river as it flows by that occasionally a fish will just jump out of the water and onto the bank.

But back to the thread. I promised a few more shots of the GN mountain. Here is the chassis sans boiler:



I am guessing this is a Scale Model Railways or Jack Ferris model that somebody has replaced the motor (which is a 9000 Pittman) and gearbox (KTM). It could be a post-war scratchbuild though or maybe a mashup. Either way it needs some work. Note the loose valve link and the poor alignment between motor and gearbox. Here are a few more shots:



Here is the underside with gearbox removed:



It took me just a second to realize what I was looking at with this drawbar. Never seen one like that before:



That is quite the novel use of an old tootbrush. My first inclination is to replace it but it has potential value as a conversation piece.
Jim

[bob turner]

Nice photos. Thanks!

[bob turner]

Here is my Monday Mountain for the end ofJune:



Lobaugh, from a pristine kit. I do not think I willever do another skyline casing - just too difficult!

Striping is with those neat paint pens you can buy at craft stores. I outlined them with a very thin black stripe on one side, done with water-based paint and a ruling pen.

[rogruth]

Wow! Very nice, Bob.

You did the stripping by hand?
If I tried that it would look like some free-form piece of modern art.
Well,what some call art.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

That is quite the novel use of an old tootbrush. My first inclination is to replace it but it has potential value as a conversation piece.

Clever idea, actually.

[bob turner]

This was a Mountain, before I got hold of it:



And it is Monday! And yeah - back from a pretty good party!

[bob turner]

Here is my first A-N Mountain - narrow gauge, with a wood block tender

[Jay Criswell]

Jim,

Is the gear box stabilized in any way? The way it looks in your photo the shaft will rotate and the coupling will fall out.

Jay