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Bassett Lowke LMS "Hugh's Crab" mogul in live steam refurbish

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  • Member since
    November 2012
  • From: Kokomo, Indiana
  • 1,463 posts
Bassett Lowke LMS "Hugh's Crab" mogul in live steam refurbish
Posted by emdmike on Saturday, August 17, 2019 1:41 PM

One of my recent purchases was this beater Bassett Lowke mogul, one of the early versions modeled after the Hugh's Crab style with its elevated cylinders.  Quite ratty looking with a past refurb gone wrong.  Tender paint was so thick and full of runs it could be measured.  Engine boiler color wrong, cab sides wrong color and with a broken solder joint.  I cleaned things up, masked off the boiler, primed with red oxide primer and reshot in LMS Crimson Lake maroon.  I stripped the tender shell back to bare tinplate.  Its frame was still quite nice so I left it alone.  Still need to clean up the boiler railings.  All the gold emblishments are gone as well.  I did test the model on air before painting, ran well in both directions.  The alcohol fired, vaporizing style burner also works as it should with no leaks.  I will be running the model in steam, so a top shelf quality refurb was never in the plans.   I still need to source new decals from the UK.   The tender is in primer now with the first color coat to come shortly.       Mike

Here is how she looked when purchased

in progress pic

Silly NT's, I have Asperger's Syndrome

  • Member since
    January 2019
  • From: Henrico, VA
  • 9,728 posts
Posted by Flintlock76 on Saturday, August 17, 2019 3:58 PM

Mike, I was thinking your refurb of that Basset-Lowke might make a good CTT article.  An interesting switch from the usual O and S gauge articles.

  • Member since
    November 2011
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Posted by Postwar Paul on Saturday, August 17, 2019 4:38 PM

Wow !

She looks great in Crimson Lake ! You are currently running live steam, which has always been on my bucket list. I may still get there someday, but I am currently enjoying every aspect of this great hobby, and there is no rush.

But your work is great! Enjoy !!

Paul

keep a post in' !!

lovin it !

  • Member since
    November 2012
  • From: Kokomo, Indiana
  • 1,463 posts
Posted by emdmike on Saturday, August 17, 2019 9:27 PM

Remember Paul, everyday we wake up is a gift and no one knows when we will get called home.  Age has nothing to do with it and only the man upstairs knows when our time is.  If you can afford to pick up one of the O gauge live steamers, by all means do so, even if you dont run it right away.   The tender looks so much better, as does the locomotive.  More pics tomorrow when I get it somewhat put back together.     Mike the Aspie

Silly NT's, I have Asperger's Syndrome

  • Member since
    November 2012
  • From: Kokomo, Indiana
  • 1,463 posts
Posted by emdmike on Sunday, August 18, 2019 1:44 PM

Here she is all back together again.  Just needing decals from the UK to finish the job once the paint cures for awhile.   All will work out ok as The Doctor is in the area today!   Mike the Aspie

Silly NT's, I have Asperger's Syndrome

  • Member since
    November 2011
  • 2,071 posts
Posted by Postwar Paul on Sunday, August 18, 2019 4:57 PM

Looks great !

Can't wait to see with decals !

  • Member since
    November 2012
  • From: Kokomo, Indiana
  • 1,463 posts
Posted by emdmike on Sunday, August 18, 2019 7:12 PM

BTW, if the CTT editors want me to write a article on refurbing and waking up a live steam O gauge model.  Let me know, then maybe they can fix my email addy here as well.  I have tried and it wont let me so the current email addy is no good.  I have a few pics and can write a nice article about what all I did.  I have done that for a magazine dealing with my antique garden tractor hobby.  Not only refurb of nearly 100 year old model, but also done by someone on the autism spectrum at that.     Mike    allis920diesel at yahoo.com is my new email addy. 

 

Silly NT's, I have Asperger's Syndrome

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