Thanks for the input everyone. I never thought to use brass sheet that was that thin. That might be thin enough to bend and not break easily. I'll have to try that.
As for the drivers, I know they're not 100% correct (I have two LMB brass H10's to use as reference) but they are close enough for my purposes. I'm not a rivet counter... my goal is to have a few good looking locomotives on an operational layout eventually. Plus, my 1 and a half year old son won't know the difference!
SidecarJoeGI am working on a pretty rare project, I'm sure. I have about 4 Mantua Mikados...I want to convert these mikados into P&LE H10's and H9's. The H9's were a slight modification from the typical USRA mikado. The H10's were similar but they had the elesco feedwater heaters and were the first of the super power engines. At any respect, I am looking for parts.
Not all that rare. A Mantua to H-10 conversion is on my backlog pile. The drivers are the wrong size (57" instead of 63") but the base boiler dimensions are very close.
I found a company that might have the step type pilot (yardbirds) that should fit.I next need to find the air compressors and sheilds similar to what the berkshire at the top of this page has on it (they run them between the steps on the pilot also similar to a NYC J1, J2, or J3 hudson has). In the past I sort of made a shield out of two pieces of brass, but it doesn't look that good and definitely doesn't work out as well as some of the stuff I've seen on brass engines.
Nobody makes 'em; you'll have to scratchbuild them, like I have to for all of my NKP Mikes:
It's actually not that hard. Plastic won't work at all, so you have to use .005 or .008 sheet brass. No big deal: just layou out the parts with a fine-tipped Sharpie, cut them out, file as needed, drill as needed, and glue 'em on.
The final, although not critical piece is the running gear. The connecting rods are fine and even the main piston rods would work out fine. But I'd like to locate the more standard USRA running gear than use the standard Mantua stuff. Like I said, this is being more nitpicky than anything else and really isn't critical to the rest of the project. Any ideas where I can find this stuff?
Any ideas where I can find this stuff?
Yep: either Yardbird again, or scratchbuild. Precision Scale has some valve gear kits, but they're all for larger engines and won't work. Bowser MIGHT be a possibility; check their online instruction sheets for likely candidate parts (get a new set of cylinders while you're at it; the Mantuas are too small for a boiler that large). Be quick: Bowser is running out of parts.
Also, has anyone ever replaced a motor in one of these engines with a can motor? If so, what did you use as the gearbox? I have a pacific that I want to modify as well and the body is good but the motor is bad. Any thoughts would be appreciated!
The simplest way to remotor a Mantua is to use the Alliance Helix Humper remotoring set. Find the one made for your specific engine, and it's a $40 drop-in prplacement can motor, idler gear and flywheel, all premounted on a white metal frame. It takes 3 minutes to install.
Hope this helps!
Ray Breyer
Modeling the NKP's Peoria Division, circa 1943
The Mantua conversion kit had a Sagami can motor. Most of their engines sold c.1990 or later came with the can motor. I don't know if Model Power still has them in stock or not, you might find one on ebay or a flea market. I used it to convert several Mantua engines and it can make a huge difference.
Search Walther's for the PSC parts. PSC is manufacturer #585 and search for super detailing parts HO scale. Quite often Walther's has PSC parts in stock. You can also buy a PSC paper catalog for steam parts. I did that some years ago. There are times I have ordered directly from PSC if I could not get the parts from Walther's.
http://www.precisionscaleco.com/
I have found PSC parts from online shops when I used Google search.
Rich
If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.
SidecarJoeG Also, has anyone ever replaced a motor in one of these engines with a can motor? If so, what did you use as the gearbox? I have a pacific that I want to modify as well and the body is good but the motor is bad. Any thoughts would be appreciated!
Mantua used to make a can motor conversion kit that fit most of their stuff. It was a can motor and a cast Zamac bracket. I put one into a Mantua Pacific and it made a good runner into a very good runner. The stock open frame Pittman motor had a lowest creep speed of maybe 5 scale miles per hour. After putting in the can motor lowest creep speed dropped by a factor of 100. It would creep tie by tie. This kit didn't have a separate gear box, it was just a worm gear to spur gear, adjust the gear lash with shims setup. Worked good. Yardbird probably has it, or something like it.
David Starr www.newsnorthwoods.blogspot.com
I have found the air pumps in Cal Scale's catalogue, but no luck with the sheilds. The only ones I seem to be able to find are the UP / NYC Niagara style sheilds that have the additional radiators with them.
Are there places that I can buy extra parts from brass manufacturers possibly?
I will check out Precision Scale. Thanks.
Joje:
Have you tried either Cal-Scale or Precision Scale for some of these parts? I know that both companies make Elesco FWH castings and air pumps and shields. Cal-Scale is distributed by Bowser, and Precision Scale is in Montana. Both companies are great to deal with, IMO, I've used them a lot when I've modified steam locomotives.
If you live near a hobby shop, both catalogues should be available for perusing.
Tom
PS: Welcome to the wonderful world of steam loco kit-bashing. Hopefully, Darth Santa Fe and Dr. Wayne will read your post, also. They're the 'kings' of kit-bashing, IMO.
Tom View my layout photos! http://s299.photobucket.com/albums/mm310/TWhite-014/Rio%20Grande%20Yuba%20River%20Sub One can NEVER have too many Articulateds!
I am working on a pretty rare project, I'm sure. I have about 4 Mantua Mikados. 3 of them run perfectly, one has a worn out bushing. At any rate, I want to model a western PA heavy industry town / area focused on the P&LE and PRR railroads (I great up in Pittsburgh and was born only a few years before the mills shut down). Anyways, I want to convert these mikados into P&LE H10's and H9's. The H9's were a slight modification from the typical USRA mikado. The H10's were similar but they had the elesco feedwater heaters and were the first of the super power engines. At any respect, I am looking for parts.
I found a company that might have the step type pilot (yardbirds) that should fit.
I next need to find the air compressors and sheilds similar to what the berkshire at the top of this page has on it (they run them between the steps on the pilot also similar to a NYC J1, J2, or J3 hudson has). In the past I sort of made a shield out of two pieces of brass, but it doesn't look that good and definitely doesn't work out as well as some of the stuff I've seen on brass engines.
The final, although not critical piece is the running gear. The connecting rods are fine and even the main piston rods would work out fine. But I'd like to locate the more standard USRA running gear than use the standard Mantua stuff. Like I said, this is being more nitpicky than anything else and really isn't critical to the rest of the project.