non-Pennsy Pacific in HO?!?!

[PennsyHoosier]

LOL Ron. I understand. We PRR types have our cake and get to eat it too. Now if Andre would take the time to kitbash a K4 according to his description above, I might be swayed from my current infatuation (running on 20 years now). But until then...

[AggroJones]

Pennsy's K-4 is one of the sweetest looking Pacifics. Second only to the Southern Pacific P-10. [tup]

[andrechapelon]

QUOTE: Originally posted by AggroJones

Pennsy's K-4 is one of the sweetest looking Pacifics. Second only to the Southern Pacific P-10. [tup]

The operative phrase is DISTANT second.

Andre

[andrechapelon]

QUOTE: Originally posted by PennsyHoosier

LOL Ron. I understand. We PRR types have our cake and get to eat it too. Now if Andre would take the time to kitbash a K4 according to his description above, I might be swayed from my current infatuation (running on 20 years now). But until then...

Sorry, but it'll be a while before I can get around to that. There are other priorities.

Andre

[rrinker]

All this complaining about the K4, well, why do they have to make EVERYTHING in Santa Fe? HUH? How about a DIFFERENT road for once!

(sorry Andy S... <g>)

--Randy

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by AggroJones

Pennsy's K-4 is one of the sweetest looking Pacifics. Second only to the Southern Pacific P-10. [tup]

Make that second and third. Southern's Ps4 is far and away the best proportioned, most attractive Pacific ever. [:D]

[espeefoamer]

The Pennsy did have one K4 with skyline casing. I like the K4 generally, but the PRR streamlining job on a few K4s was really UGLY[:(!]!

[espeefoamer]

The Pennsy did have one K4 with skyline casing. I like the K4 generally, but the PRR streamlining job on a few K4s was really UGLY[:(!]!

[espeefoamer]

We need a Southern Pacific P8 pacific with vanderbilt tender[:)].

[PennsyHoosier]

I agree, the streamlining on the K4s actually obscured the beauty of the engine.

Man, I am sure glad there are so many manufacturers that make Pennsy K4s. I'm having ice cream with my cake tonight.[:D]

[Anonymous]

Being a Pennsy fan I love the K4, but wanted to have a P&LE Pacific
I haven't found anything close to any of the different classes the P&LE ran.
While doing research I noticed so many variations as Mark mentioned. Even on the same roads.
In my opinion , a manufacturer could make a good profit by selling a few base locomotives and sell detail kits as add ons to detail it for specific roads and classes.
I have a couple of early IHC Pacifics I remotored and regeared and a Rivarossi Pacific.
I also added electrical pickups on the tenders of the IHC locos and they do run great.
The biggest problem I have (detail wise) is that they have the Baker valve gear.
Not to many roads used Pacifics with the Baker valve gear other than the Erie.
Once I find a suitable replacement valve gear the rest of the detail changes are minor.

[orsonroy]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Ray Marinaccio

Being a Pennsy fan I love the K4, but wanted to have a P&LE Pacific
I haven't found anything close to any of the different classes the P&LE ran.

Ray,

Looking at the three P&LE Pacific photos on the Fallen Flags website, you cab use the Bowser K-11 Pacific as a starting point for representational models of all three:

http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/ple/ple-lmtd-r.jpg
P&LE 9227: pretty much the stock Bowser K-11 kit.

http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/ple/ple-s9240n.jpg
P&LE 9240: Bowser K-11, modified USRA cab, Delta trailing truck, Elesco feedwater heater, and the old Athearn curved-side tender (which is a B&A proto, so it's close).

http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/ple/ple-s9246.jpg
P&LE 9946. This one is tough, but I'd use the K-11 chassis, the Cary USRA heavy boiler, a USRA cab, Delta trailing truck, and the old Athearn tender.

Yes, this is a lot of work, but is the only non-brass way to get most steamers we need. Start mixing and matching steam kits and parts.

QUOTE:
In my opinion , a manufacturer could make a good profit by selling a few base locomotives and sell detail kits as add ons to detail it for specific roads and classes.

In my opinion, we'll never see this in our lifetimes (and I'm only 34). No one wants to build an ATHEARN boxcar these days; what makes you think some manufacturer will want to loose their shirt by producing a dead-end steam conversion kit? Bowser and Precision SCale make most of the parts we need already to convert steamers into our own prototypes. If you want to start steam kitbashing, just start ordering individual parts, like we've been doing for the past 75 years!

[Anonymous]

We need a generic Pacific that ressembles UP's, SP's, NP's, and CNW. Just like the Spectrum 2-8-0. Looks like several other large 2-8-0 and is decorated for multiple roads.

[Anonymous]

Ray,
Guess I should have specified the K-5B like #9240.
The Bowser K-11 Pacific would be a good starting point for the 9227.
The K-5B had 79" drivers. A bit large to fit the Bowser K-11 frame.
IHC and Rivarossi stretched the wheelbases to allow for the larger flanges and allows enough room for the larger drivers with "normal" flanges.
I had also thought of using a Hudson chassis as a starting point.

I really think kit-bashing is the way to go if you want a specific steam locomotive, but I realize not everyone is into that.
There are people who will custom build a locomotive for you.
Give them your business.
Why wait?
How much would you pay for a custom built locomotive?
Ray

[Virginian]

This desire for a specific prototype is, aside from pure collectors, why the brass steam locomotive market has been around for decades, and will likely continue. My advice, if you really want something, get it. If a plastic or cast model becomes available, you can sell the brass.
I have a Spectrum Class J and a BLI Class J on order. I also have a brass J that I thoroughly enjoyed for 25 years before either of these existed. And I ain't gonna sell it either. Not ever, if I can help it.

[Anonymous]

CUSTOM BUILT STEAM IS OFTEN WAY TO GO IF YOU WON'T DO THE WORK YOURSELF. CHECK W/ HISTORIC SOCIETIES FOR LOCO CONTEST BUILDERS. ALSO, CHECK OUT www.eddystonelocomotives.com BUILDER HAS BEEN REAL STEAM LOCO MECHANIC, CAN PROVIDE ODD AXLE SPACING, DRIVER SIZES.

[Anonymous]

Excuse me but the SP, UP, and C&NW were very specific types of Pacific locomotives and an manufacturer would not do those as a specific plastic molding. The Athearn USRA pacific was found on many railroads and copies were made into the thrifties for many railroads.

Other Pacifics available were Athearn in the 1950's made the B&M P-4, you might still find these around although they were dropped from the line in the mid 60's and the early ones were rubberband drive.

Mantua also makes a Pacific and the Bowser/Cary boiler can be used on them for a USRA Heavy Pacific. As is it is almost a dead ringer for a B&O Pacific and with minor modifications can be used for a MP Pacific.

Life-Like used to have a Pacific and I remember an article making one into an NP version.

There are plenty of Pacifics available you just have to do a little work to adapt them to your prototype.

By the way I have 4 brass PRR K4s and one K2 Pacific[:D]

Rick

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by jesionowski

Excuse me but the SP, UP, and C&NW were very specific types of Pacific locomotives and an manufacturer would not do those as a specific plastic molding. The Athearn USRA pacific was found on many railroads and copies were made into the thrifties for many railroads.

The Western Maryland, Union Pacific, and Santa Fe, for example, all had various classes of Consolidation. But they all have a certain overall look to them. Thats what the Spectrum 2-8-0 is. It looks like a consolidation of large consolidations.
Some classes of UP, SP, NP have a similar look. There not so distinct that a generic composite model couldn't be made.

[orsonroy]

QUOTE: Originally posted by jesionowski

Excuse me but the SP, UP, and C&NW were very specific types of Pacific locomotives and an manufacturer would not do those as a specific plastic molding. The Athearn USRA pacific was found on many railroads and copies were made into the thrifties for many railroads.

Sorry Rick, but the modern trend in plastic steam IS to crank out road-specific engines, not generics. Look at BLI: out of the 15 steam engines they've cranked out over the past 2-1/2 years, only two are generics. Life Like has made four steamers and is making a fifth, and only two were generic. Even Bachmann Spectrum is making road-specific engines with their heavy 4-8-2, 2-6-6-2 and 2-10-0 models.

Besides, the UP, SP and C&NW are VERY popular roads with modelers (three of the top ten, in fact). No manufacturer would have a problem selling out a run or three of any of their engines in plastic!