HO Scale Union Pacific Wedge Plow

[Mountain River RR]

Greetings to all,

I am trying to find an HO scale model of Union Pacific's single track wedge plow that appears half of the plow is cylinder shaped.

Overland Models has an awesome brass version for only $500, but I need a much cheaper styrene model....or plans for building one.

Thanks in advance for your help!!!

Keith

[mlehman]

Sorry, nothing cheap to buy RTR like that. But you could probably bash a fair rendition from a tender model that is close, because IIRC (no pics, so just guessing here) the UP made that plow from a retired steam loco tender.

[hon30critter]

Hey Keith:

Do you do any scratch building? Your plow just begs to be built from scratch.

As was mentioned, the 'round' body came form a steam tender so your first objective would be to search eBay for a suitable plastic tender. They shouldn't be too expensive. Here are a couple of current listings, but there isn't much time left on them. I wouldn't worry if you don't get one of them. There will be more listed on eBay soon I'm sure:

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Spectrum-HO-Scale-Vanderbilt-Hicken-Style-Tender-Item-no-89911-/322687067792?hash=item4b21a5e690:g:rekAAOSwLIhZfKQp

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Spectrum-ho-scale-item-89901-Vanderbilt-Tender-/322687087620?hash=item4b21a63404:g:t4sAAOSw8d5ZWxRt

The next challenge would be to form the blade. I have done it several times using brass sheet but you can do it with styrene sheet as well. These Roundhouse instructions have the patterns for cutting the blades out of flat stock. Scroll down to the Wedge Plow instructions:

http://kitbash.ourpage.com/3in1/1517a.pdf

I roll the brass sheet around the handle of an X-acto knife to form the shape. Once you have both halves of the plow formed, your can file the leading edges to get a proper fit.

Another option would be to find an old Riverossi plow like this:

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Mixed-car-lot-including-Rivarossi-snow-plaow-/162655720565?hash=item25df095475:g:MksAAOSwKnVZqdDr

Mating the plow to the tender will require you to use your imagination. Measure twice (or more) and cut once! If you still have access to the brass plow listing study the pictures carefully, and remember that when you are scratch building you have a fair amount of leeway. Many of the real railroads built them from scratch too! Concentrate on getting the plow the right height above the tracks. If you use brass you can't have it rubbing on the tracks obviously.

Finally, if you have never scratch built rolling stock before and you are daunted by the scratch building option, don't be! Just buy a couple of tenders in case you mess up the first one. If you have scratch built before, then this will be a piece of cake.

Cheers!!

Dave

 

[G Paine]

Except for brass, I can not recall seeing any plow maunfactured that was not a single track version, meaning a V plow with the V centered on the track. Any right or left handed plows (double track) I have seen were kitbashed or scratch built.