I was given this kit as a present, and I have been working off and on on it since Christmas. 90 Percent of the origional kit was missing, including the tender, frame, wheels, and many details. The cast brass details are from Precision Scale Co. The numberboards, brass piece that braces the fire box, and thing around the pop valves are custom made by me.
Here is the link to my Flickr page: Edwin's Trains | Flickr
Here is the link to my YouTube too:Edwin's Trains - YouTube
I still am confused on how to upload photos to the fourm, if anyone could help.
Missing parts aren't a problem, they are an excuse to use fancy brass details!
-Edwin
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
Nice work there! The original chassis was one of the worst in HO history, so I'd say you came out ahead having to build your own for it.
_________________________________________________________________
I forgot to mention this in the origional post, but the frame is a Mantua/Tyco berkshire frame from the late 70's. It required very little modification. Just the brace for the firebox, a washer for the front truck, and some filing around where the rear truck will be.
You are very brave to tackle that model!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jim
Looking at these pictures takes me back. Building engine kits used to be my thing, I loved it! I've built a few MDC kits, and 3 Bowsers. I wish I had bought a few more of the Bowsers when they were easily available. Never built an Arbor, however...
It looks like it will be a fantastic engine. It goes without saying, but you will need to extend the frame for this much longer boiler, but should not be difficult.
Have fun building, it looks like a really fun project!
Paul
Road Foreman of Engines Looking at these pictures takes me back. Building engine kits used to be my thing, I loved it! I've built a few MDC kits, and 3 Bowsers. I wish I had bought a few more of the Bowsers when they were easily available. Never built an Arbor, however... It looks like it will be a fantastic engine. It goes without saying, but you will need to extend the frame for this much longer boiler, but should not be difficult. Have fun building, it looks like a really fun project! Paul
Thank's! The Mantua frame is long enough for the whole loco, except for the piliot mount. I will make a brass piece there that extends the frame and gives the piliot the correct spacing from the smoke box.
I did some work on the piliot. I made a piece out of brass, and epoxyed the piliot to it. I also did some work on the piliot truck mounting system. These are pictures of that. There is also a picture of the screw I put in to hold the cab to the boiler.
20230613_145946 by Edwin's Trains, on Flickr
20230613_150025 by Edwin's Trains, on Flickr
20230613_150355 by Edwin's Trains, on Flickr
20230613_150835 by Edwin's Trains, on Flickr
20230613_155800 by Edwin's Trains, on Flickr
20230613_160111 by Edwin's Trains, on Flickr
20230613_163428 by Edwin's Trains, on Flickr
I am remembering my first loco kit: an MDC 2-8-0 that I bought in 1981 for $29( boy, how times have changed). It was the Harriman version, lettered for Burlington. This went together well enough, although the original worm gear was plastic, and eventually stripped out. I bought a brass replacement gear from MDC, working well after all these years.
Anyway, I had a Rivarossi Pacific that broke a drive wheel, and I wound up taking the boiler and trailing truck to mount on the 2-8-0's frame, to kit bash a Mikado. It worked out great, but in my case,I had to extend the rear of the frame out back under the cab, because the new boiler and firebox is so much longer. I was just mentioning that you may want to look at the back end of the frame where it has to extend under the cab. You might find that a little more length is needed. But, it's your call. I was just mentioning that's what happened in my case...
Last night, I did some work on the body mounting. In the 1st picture, if you look down where the smoke stack will be you can see a little nut. This is the same one as the one I placed on the sand dome. In the 2nd picture, you can see the screw that holds the piliot truck on. It goes through the steam chest and threads into the nut from the 1st picture. If you were wondering, the nut is epoxyed in.
20230614_091748 by Edwin's Trains, on Flickr
20230614_091854 by Edwin's Trains, on Flickr
Edwins TrainsI forgot to mention this in the origional post, but the frame is a Mantua/Tyco berkshire frame from the late 70's. It required very little modification. Just the brace for the firebox, a washer for the front truck, and some filing around where the rear truck will be.
Great job and a good solution to get this old model running.
I look forward to seeing more of your work.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Soo Line fan The kit was super easy to assemble and runs great to this day so yours should run pretty well once it is
I have got to say, old mantua frames are very nice and smooth runners once finished. They are also reliable and a great chassis for modification. Easy to work on too. That's why I chose this one. I am currently working on the trailing truck. It needs a ton of work, but I am nearly done! I know there are some things off about it, but it is Arbour Models. I will be sure to post some pictures.
I did some work on replacing the rotten front and back parts of the rear truck with brass pieces. The metal from these kits is called NYE-600 and is mostly zinc, combined with Florida weather = zinc rot. I know the spacing is not correct, and I am thinking of fixing that. Tell me what you think about this so far.
20230618_204302 by Edwin's Trains, on Flickr
Looking great so far! It's got lot of heft, gonna be a puller!