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Bowser Kit

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  • Member since
    July 2007
  • 162 posts
Posted by oo-OO-OO-oo on Tuesday, January 29, 2008 10:56 PM

The first kit you linked to, the Consolidation, doesn't have a headlight, just MV lenses for the headlight and marker lights.

That kit was a fine entry level kit, went together by carefully following the directions and checking everything as I went.

The 0-6-0 switcher looks really interesting, and it's not something available RTR

Try one, you'll like it

Eric

I wish I was a headlight

On a northbound train

  • Member since
    June 2006
  • From: northeast ohio
  • 966 posts
Posted by 0-6-0 on Monday, January 28, 2008 11:22 AM

Hello I would say go for it I have built 2 kits the 4-6-2 , 2-10-2 they are not that hard. One thing I will say is make the valvegear rivets a little tighter then they say it will free up as you work with it. And get some spare rivets they are really small and can get lost fast. Good luck Frank

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: New Joizey
  • 1,983 posts
Posted by SteamFreak on Sunday, January 27, 2008 9:39 PM

Here's a Mantua side-tank shifter kit I found on eBay.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Mantua-HO-Scale-Model-Kit-Booster-Kit-213-0-4-0

I don't think a Bowser would kit should be any more difficult than this, aside from the detail kit, which you can wait to install if you're not comfortable doing it yet. I don't know where the quartering comment came from; since when do kits come with unquartered drivers?

The great thing about Zamac is it's strength, so you don't have to worry about damaging finicky little plastic parts. I say go for it if you want to give it a shot.

  • Member since
    September 2002
  • From: California & Maine
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Posted by andrechapelon on Sunday, January 27, 2008 8:51 PM

 loathar wrote:
Before you get too excited, note that all but 2 of their kits are on back order. I thought someone said they were discontinuing their loco kits.

They're discontinuing the standard kits. The deluxe kits are still available according to the Bowser website.

Andre

It's really kind of hard to support your local hobby shop when the nearest hobby shop that's worth the name is a 150 mile roundtrip.
  • Member since
    November 2007
  • From: Southern California
  • 1,475 posts
Posted by New Haven I-5 on Sunday, January 27, 2008 8:42 PM

- Luke

Modeling the Southern Pacific in the 1960's-1980's

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    August 2004
  • From: Amish country Tenn.
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Posted by loathar on Sunday, January 27, 2008 8:15 PM
Before you get too excited, note that all but 2 of their kits are on back order. I thought someone said they were discontinuing their loco kits.
  • Member since
    July 2006
  • 3,312 posts
Posted by locoi1sa on Sunday, January 27, 2008 7:08 PM

  Hi I-5

 If it does its just a grain of wheat bulb with 2 wires. The head light housing will have to be drilled for the wires. Plus you may have to make a lens for it. I make mine with 5min epoxy dropped onto a plastic coffee can lid and trimmed to fit.

   Pete
 

 I pray every day I break even, Cause I can really use the money!

 I started with nothing and still have most of it left!

  • Member since
    November 2007
  • From: Southern California
  • 1,475 posts
Posted by New Haven I-5 on Sunday, January 27, 2008 6:38 PM

- Luke

Modeling the Southern Pacific in the 1960's-1980's

  • Member since
    August 2004
  • From: Amish country Tenn.
  • 10,027 posts
Posted by loathar on Sunday, January 27, 2008 11:00 AM
 andrechapelon wrote:
 davidmbedard wrote:

Starter as in never-built-a-kit before?  No.  I would start with a Roundhouse kit and move up from there.  The Valve work and quartering work is something that a beginner would have lots of trouble with.

David B

What quartering work? The drivers are already mounted and quartered. As for assembling the valve gear, just take your time and be careful. Riveting valve gear isn't all that hard.

Andre

Your right. Doing the valve gear isn't that hard. But do yourself a favor and buy an extra pack of rivits before you even start!Wink [;)]

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    April 2003
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Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, January 27, 2008 10:20 AM

New Haven:  Don't let these guys throw you.  It just ain't that hard, but apparently some people think that you must be a master mechanic to assemble what used to be regarded as an entry level kit.  My friends and I routinely put these together as teenage beginner Model Railroaders, and if we could do it, you can too!

  There are differences in the Bowser kits.  The ex-varney kits are about as close as you can come to a shake the box steam engine kit.  The ex-Penn Line (Pennsy) and original Bowser kits (pacific, mountain, challanger, etc.) are a bit more complex, but not difficult.  The folks at Bowser are aware that some folks have fear of valve gear, and offer these pre assembled if you want to go that route.  If you decide to put your own valve gear together, order a few extrta rivets.  Should you make an error, simply drill the bad rivet out and replace/  Having extras on hand will save waiting on spare parts.  The rivet tool Bowser offers is also probably a good idea.  In the unlikely event you seriously mess anything else up, Bowser offers replacement parts at reasonable prices for anything in the kits.  The folks at Bowser are knowlegable, helpful, and stand behind their stuff.  If you run into anything that gives you a problem, call them and they'll help you out.  Afterall they want you to enjoy the kit so you'll be a repeat customer.  Apparently they're doing something right as they are one of the few old line manufactuers still in business.

  If there are some older modelers in your area, chances are that they'll be pretty skilled in assembling steam locomotive kits.  They'd probably be happy to give you the benefit of their experience.  Also if you can run down some basic model railroading books from the 60's on back such as Linn Westcott's HO Primer, you'll find that steam loco kit assembly is well covered.

  There's nothing quite like putting together your own loco.  With a little bit of paitence you'll have an engine you're really proud of.

JBB

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    July 2006
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Posted by locoi1sa on Sunday, January 27, 2008 6:36 AM

   Dont listen to these guys. Only you know what a good starting point kit would consist of. The thought that you are considering it is a good starting point. I have been building one for years. Its not the kits fault its mine. I keep changing things that seem to bother me. Im not a rivet counter but every time I get a new picture or see some details that I hadnt seen before I change the model to it. Right now I could pickel and paint and have a great model that pulls like the prototype. Dont get me wrong its what you want to do not what you can do. I think once you get started you will see what I mean. To me there are basic, detailed, super detailed, or WOW are you nuts detailed. Mine is in between the last two.

     Great modeling and keep the model in Model Railroad. Because Buy and Set on track Railroad is too much to type.

         Just my My 2 cents [2c]

            Pete
 

 I pray every day I break even, Cause I can really use the money!

 I started with nothing and still have most of it left!

  • Member since
    September 2002
  • From: California & Maine
  • 3,848 posts
Posted by andrechapelon on Saturday, January 26, 2008 10:57 PM
 davidmbedard wrote:

Starter as in never-built-a-kit before?  No.  I would start with a Roundhouse kit and move up from there.  The Valve work and quartering work is something that a beginner would have lots of trouble with.

David B

What quartering work? The drivers are already mounted and quartered. As for assembling the valve gear, just take your time and be careful. Riveting valve gear isn't all that hard.

Andre

It's really kind of hard to support your local hobby shop when the nearest hobby shop that's worth the name is a 150 mile roundtrip.
  • Member since
    June 2007
  • From: Indiana
  • 3,549 posts
Posted by Flashwave on Saturday, January 26, 2008 5:21 PM

 PASMITH wrote:
Here is a Bowser Mountain kit that I modified when I was a teenager many many years ago:

Peter Smith, Memphis


NO. Bowser are for people with little to do for a season. If you wish for a good starter, find a nice Accurail. As for engines, I haven't had any issues with Bluebox locos.

*Prepares to be assulted by a hundred 1:87 scale flaming arrows*

-Morgan

  • Member since
    January 2004
  • From: Memphis
  • 931 posts
Posted by PASMITH on Saturday, January 26, 2008 3:58 PM
Here is a Bowser Mountain kit that I modified when I was a teenager many many years ago:

Peter Smith, Memphis


  • Member since
    August 2004
  • From: Amish country Tenn.
  • 10,027 posts
Posted by loathar on Saturday, January 26, 2008 3:53 PM
Mantua kits are pretty EZ to build. You can find them on E-Scam from time to time. I think you can even buy the valve gear already assembled from Yardbird.
  • Member since
    November 2005
  • From: Central Illinois
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Posted by ICRR1964 on Saturday, January 26, 2008 3:15 PM
The Bowser Steamers are little bit more difficult to build with the valve gear than the MDC. Bowser always had better detail out of the box though. The kit you are looking at is a good starter point though. Good luck!
  • Member since
    November 2007
  • From: Southern California
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Posted by New Haven I-5 on Saturday, January 26, 2008 3:13 PM
 The Roundhouse Kits on eBay are usually missing parts &/or don't have the style I'm looking for.

- Luke

Modeling the Southern Pacific in the 1960's-1980's

  • Member since
    November 2007
  • From: Southern California
  • 1,475 posts
Bowser Kit
Posted by New Haven I-5 on Saturday, January 26, 2008 2:59 PM
 Is this a good starter kit?  http://bowser-trains.com/holocos/B-6/B6.htm

- Luke

Modeling the Southern Pacific in the 1960's-1980's

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