Just completed another project!
The engine is a brass Ken Kidder 2-6-0. I painted it for my fictional Central Illinois Railroad (not the real one), and since older steam engines like these often had a name ("General", "Jupiter", etc.), I decided to name it after its importer with a small "Kidder" on each side of the cab. The coal load is real crushed coal, and the colors are wagon red, black, and gunmetal metallizer. The whole thing is finished with semi-gloss lacquer, except for the polished brass domes and bell which have gloss clear lacquer. I also used NWSL 28:1 gearing and a 1220D-9 motor with a small flywheel, so it's a very strong and smooth runner! Overall, I'm pretty happy with how it turned out.
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Darth Santa FeOverall, I'm pretty happy with how it turned out.
As you should be..That is one sweet looking engine..
But,keeping in mind those old timey pictures where are the men standing on the running board,leaning out the cab window,standing in the gangway etc?
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
Nice job, looks great.
Very nice little HOj locomotive you have there, son.
Or didn't you know that the Ken Kidder 2-6-0 is a model of an Imperial Government Railways 7100 class loco. In Japan that design is referred to as Benkei, the name of the one that survived to end up in the collection of the National Railroad Museum. The original name of #1 was Yoshitsune.
Welcome to the wonderful world of Japanese prototype modeling.
(Ken Kidder imported models of Japanese locomotives built by American manufacturers which were already being produced in Japan. That way the cost of tooling had already been paid and he was sure the product would be produced on schedule for the agreed price.)
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - with an 0-8-0T once imported by Kidder)
Darth,
Nice work there!
I'd like to find a HOn3 version someday.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
Thanks a lot, everyone!
tomikawaTT, although I don't know about it in quite as much detail, I did at least know the prototypes were built in the US for Japan. While working on it, I was also looking at info on the Kidder imports and what they were based on, as well as other steam engines from the same period to get a better idea on the sorts of colors used. It's a bit oversized for HO, but I think it can still pass for something on a US railroad. And although my interest is in American prototypes, I wouldn't mind having a 500 series Shinkansen set in HO. Looks like something straight out of a "futuristic" movie...
tomikawaTT Or didn't you know that the Ken Kidder 2-6-0 is a model of an Imperial Government Railways 7100 class loco. In Japan that design is referred to as Benkei, the name of the one that survived to end up in the collection of the National Railroad Museum. The original name of #1 was Yoshitsune.
Very nice looking little engine! Yes the prototype was for Japan but that is also a classic Porter Mogul that came in a variety of sizes so it is also well suited to the US. The engine was available from Kidder in both ready to run and kit form (which was rare for brass imports) and was reviewed at least twice in Model Railroader. In the January 1965 issue of MR they noted they noted it was a replica of the Benkei, one of eight American style locomotives built 1880-1889 for the Hokkaido railroads. Interestingly however Kidder actually modeled the locomotive to S scale to run on HO track, since the Hokkaido railroads were 3'6" gauge. So it is actually to Sn3 1/2. But the review said not to worry about this because again, these locomotives were built to several sizes by Porter and in fact it is close to a small HO scale Mogul anyway. Price for the kit in 1965? A whopping $19.50.
The RTR version was reviewed in December 1961 at which time it cost $17.50. The review, without noting that in fact this engine was S scale narrow gauge of Japanese prototype, noted that it was "mighty small" for HO with 41" drivers and 28" pilot wheels. So in S this is a very tiny engine (and prototype) indeed.
The July 1962 issue of MR devoted an article to this model and how it could be modified into an 0-6-0 and a heavier 2--6-0. "A Versatile Little Rascal." It is an enjoyable article, and for those with the complete MR on DVD well worth looking up.
Dave Nelson