Picked up a NWSL brass Booth Kelly 2-6-6-2T this morning, taking me back to my roots in HO modeling. Back when I moved from Lionel 3 rail toy trains to HO scale modeling when I was 11-12 years old. I got a Athearn UP GP38-2, rolling stock and such for my birthday. But steam was and always has been my primary intersest. Espically logging for some reason, even though I grew up far any prototype operation of that kind. At the huge Great American Train Show(remember when those were huge and packed with people?), I found a new in the box(blue box era) Mantua Booth Kelly logging mallet for just over $100(if I remember right I know it was expensive). Some wheeling and dealing with dad and he purchsaed the model from the dealer. I cut my teeth on fine tuning that engine to run as smooth and quiet as a modern Kato diesel. I can motorted it with a GSB Tan Can, NWSL universials and so forth. I ran her till she was totaly worn out. Fast foward to this morning when I got the chance to buy the brass version from NWSL/Toby. I will can motor this one, paint and weather.
So my layout, which is just raw benchwork will return me to my modeling roots and the fun of logging modeling in the steam era. While a small Shay/Heisler or Climax might have fit my spare better(I do have the chassis of a PFM Heisler missing its boiler/bunker/cab parts), the mallets alway fasinated me with all the churning rods. Now its time to sell some of my other stuff and find the proper log cars for the BK lumber railroad. Should make for some fun hunting this fall and winter. Mike the Aspie
Silly NT's, I have Asperger's Syndrome
That is a beautiful model. I have the Mantua version with a tender.
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I hope you are completely happy with your new choice of modeling.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
I hope so as well, its very familiar area for me to model. I used to have a bakers dozen PFM shays along with a AHM/Rivarossi Heisler. I picked up the drive chassis for a PFM/United Heisler for 5 bucks at a train show. I see a few folks part out brass engines on evilbay, so I hope one day to find the boiler/cab/bunker assembly to complete the model. Right now I am pondering track plans. Mike the Aspie
emdmikeI see a few folks part out brass engines
Someone just recently parted out a Sunset Heavy USRA 4-8-2 and got about three times what the complete model is worth.
I hope that it does not become too much of a trend.
SeeYou190 i know i on the model forums the guys post up links of model kits being broken up & sold , if there is money to be made ,it will happen emdmike I see a few folks part out brass engines . Someone just recently parted out a Sunset Heavy USRA 4-8-2 and got about three times what the complete model is worth. . I hope that it does not become too much of a trend. . -Kevin .
i know i on the model forums the guys post up links of model kits being broken up & sold , if there is money to be made ,it will happen
emdmike I see a few folks part out brass engines
That is a beautiful logger.. May I suggest the PFM/United Class B 2 Truck Shay? The one I had back in the 60s was a smooth runner.
I kinda wish I got the United Shay instead of the United Santa Fe 1950 Class 2-8-0.
I had both when I was a teenager.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
I used to have 4 PFM Shays, a Hillcrest, a C3 "flywheel" shay that came with 8 wheel power pickup and a flywheel from the factory, a late run Pacific Coast and a B2. Yes they do run well, especially once remotored with a modern can motor. I am more of a rod logger now, better road speed. Hopefully one day I can find the superstructure to complete my old Heisler. The PFM/United geared models are night and day better than the plastic Shay geared models. Especally in the durablity department.
I have considered the acquisition of a brass Shay for switching.
I read that John Allen used a Shay as a switch engine from time to time.