Model Train Journal

Can't remember if I posted this one here or not.It's all scratch built except the 700E tender trucks which I plan to remove when a more appropriate set arrives. It isn't great by any stretch, the fire box is square on top and has too big a step, kind of like a lot of other Belpair attempts end up. Heck some Scale Craft K4's look about the same!

When you collect things like this, you accept the inaccuracies as being a part of the history. I made the mistake twice of upgrading an older model with nice things like accurate cabs, boiler bands, lost-wax appurtenances, etc. I do not think the owners were pleased. I didn't charge them; I was just trying to make more accurate models. I won't be doing that again without explicit instructions.

Speaking of Scale Craft and inaccurate Belpaire, here is my I1 impression - boiler is Scale Craft, slightly enlarged by splitting the belly. Frame is Lobaugh Berk, extended. Drivers are those horrible but accurate CLW glass-filled plastic deals - note the flanges (I prefer all drivers flanged, even if the real thing had blind drivers). And the tender is scratch, with Lobaugh trucks. Power is Pittman/NWSL, and getting the NWSL into those plastic drivers was a trick! Runs like a watch on my 74" radius loop.

Bob, I like that loco, you have some nice lines and curves on that firebox. I have an drawing from I think an M1, maybe it was a K4 showing the radius across the top and the angle back and intend to utilize that info to modify one of my SC K4's to see if I can improve it... Time will tell.. I seem to think and plan more than I actually "do".


1/2 scale HK Coventry K4

And a few others, not sure where these came from.



These all give a pretty good representation of what that firebox should look like though.

I guess I came close. I have four K4s of Scale Craft origin, and plan on a fifth with the original 1737 look, including that ridiculously small tender.
The riveted long distance tenders all had six axles, but the welded ones had the eight axle configuration I show here. There is a set of Lobaugh side frames for these trucks on eBay right now, for reasonable.

Here is an example of a stock Scale Craft K4 - note the blind center driver, and the incorrect counterweights. This is one of the better examples, since the builder (not me) chose to drill and place small pins in the smokebox, instead of the more common ugly nails or riveted overlay strips.



Also note the lack of a flange on the sand dome, where it meets the boiler. Any time I work on a Scale Craft, I fix that little detail. I do that on Lobaugh tank cars as well.

The last remaining one was looking pretty ratty until it got fresh coat of paint.

https://www.rgusrail.com/nyprr4483.html

Pete

I know it would be under the insulation, but even that beautious I1 shows the nice curved edge and radiused top of the firebox. Nice pictures for detail work as well!

The portion of shelf covers a good bit of PRR doorstop bandwidth. The scratch I1, a Blumm M1 with Mi-Loco K5 tender, and a couple of Saginaw products on the lower shelf.... Somewhere lurking is a Pratt switcher and SC K4... Have to forgive that IMP stuff on the next shelf up though lol.

Dennis Thats a nice collection of door stops etc. Ive sort of stopped buying anything as its to expensive from Aussi at the moment. Its important to be patient, and grateful in this hobby.

Totally agree, some of the best things have just popped up for good prices when I was not expecting them!