PRR MP54 Pantographs

[Anonymous]

I am in the midst of kitbashing some HO electric MU cars, kinda like the MP54's that PRR ran for years. Problem is pantographs. IHC sells pantographs from the GG1. Are they similar in size to what the MP54's used? I've also seen several folks that sell European pantographs (www.eurorailhobbies.com has bunches of pantographs made by Sommerfeldt) that look great and seem to be relatviely inexpensive but it is hard to tell the size of them.

I'm not looking for an exact match, something that is close is good enough size wise and detail wise. I do not plan to run current through the wire/pantograph so non working models would be fine.

Any ideas?

[ndbprr]

They are identical in shape and should be the same since they ran on the same routes as the G's. Walthers also had versions in their catalog at one point and made large and small pantographs of that style.

[Anonymous]

Thanks. I was pretty much thinking (hoping) the same. I remember the Walthers pantographs from the 70's, but have had little luck finding any. I'll need about 10 (most likely 12 as I'm sure I'll screw a few up!) which is why I was wondering about the European ones I've seen on the net. They seem to be really inexpensive.

[ndbprr]

Can't help you there. If you order the ones for the G's be sure to order the insulators that support them also. You shouldn't mess them up there is just a hoile in the center where the mounting screw holds it to the roof so once located just mark the hole, move the pantograph out of the way and drill it out, then screw it on. By the way, one per car on MP54's and some didn't have any. They had a shoe that touched a shoe on thecar with the pantograph above the diaphragm to transfer power.

[dknelson]

I think Walthers actually had kits for the MP54s themselves, complete with pantographs. I would take a look at the Bowser catalog to see what they might have., since at one time they offered the Varney GG1 as a kit (maybe they still do?) and have other traction stuff in their catalog as well. The Bowser catalog has lots of other interesting stuff in it that is not to be found in the Walthers catalog.
Dave Nelson

[ndbprr]

Walthers no longer offers the MP54 much to the consternation of us PRR modelers. If you check Ebay for them they go for as much as $75.00. PRR fans hope against hope someone will make them in plastic as they are as much PRR as GG1's for most of us. Many of us want a dozen or more of them fo our commuters.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for all the inputs!!

ndbprr

I do have a few of the old Walthers kits that I managed to find on ebay and because they came without boxes and were partially assembled they were somewhat reasonable. MP54 in plastic????!!!!????? That would be sooooo cool. I think they would be just as popular as the NYC subway that Proto put out - if not more so. Given the years that these were in service - they would look at home next to K-4's, GG1's, E units all the way up to the 80's!

[jrbarney]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dknelson

I would take a look at the Bowser catalog to see what they might have., since at one time they offered the Varney GG1 as a kit (maybe they still do?) and have other traction stuff in their catalog as well. The Bowser catalog has lots of other interesting stuff in it that is not to be found in the Walthers catalog.
Dave Nelson

Dkelly and Dave Nelson,
Just checked page 82 of my copy of the Bowser catalogue. Sorry to disappoint you, but in bold face type for both the original and final versions of the Penn Line GG-1, there is a note which says:
Pantagraphs (sic) are not available
Bob
NMRA Life 0543

[dknelson]

Thanks Bob. I am not surprised that Bowser discontinued the Varney GG1 since it was shorter than true scale and more then one manufacturer has offered scale length GG1s in HO plastic (mine is Pemco). Still it is too bad they discontinued the part. I suspect it was, if nothing else, durable.
Dave Nelson