I have recently been browsing through my collection of 'Model Railroader' magazines, listing interesting articles in each and every issue. I stumbled on an article featuring the rebuilding of a steam loco to look like the real prototype. I have always wanted to add a Finnish steam engine to my layout but I've never really known where to start. The one I find most interesting is called "Ukko-Pekka" or Hr1 which featured two different wheel arrangements depending on whether it was used for passenger 4-6-2 or goods 2-8-2. I was wondering if anyone could guide me through the steps of 1 finding a suitable loco to start off with and 2 how to go about altering it to fit the prototype and 3 what are the key points I need to look for in comparing models with the prototype. I have considered using maybe a German loco as a starting point as some have similar wheel arrangements, but also similar looking smoke deflectors.
The prototype is 72 ft 10 in. long, with a driver diameter of 6 ft 3 in.
Some pictures can be found at:
http://www.jukkajoutsi.com/junakuvat.html
https://www.flickr.com/photos/allanscotson/sets/72157624096343960/
A video at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PV6Z3yM-ew0http://www.jukkajoutsi.com/junakuvat.htmlAny advice would be most appreciated.
The video is here
Really interesting whistle. I don't mean to hiijack your thread but what is the function of the side shields at the front of the loco?
Can't help with your question but I'm sure those who do these mods will be along shortly.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
An interesting challenge. Your instinct to look to German prototypes seems on point, and lines like Fleischmann, Brawa, Piko seem to have some eligible items as starting points. There is also the Frateschi 4-6-0 which somewhats has the lines of your Finnish prototype in the photo you linked to.
http://www.frateschi.com.br/site/index_eng.php?page=loco-tenwheeler_eng
In looking at the European steam models on this website (which shows the Brawa and Piko models)
http://www.eurorailhobbies.com/products.asp?CA=1
I was particularly struck by the beautiful models of Dutch steam from a firm called Artitec, although many of them seem to have Belpaire fireboxes.
Dave Nelson
You have the added benefit of 2 it seems in operation in modern times, that means there is probably a wealth of photos for reference. To me the the general feel of the engine is rather Japanese, with smoke deflectors, large drivers and pretty skinny strait tube boiler.
As for a starting point, you did not mention the scale you are looking for. I think most of us would assume HO. Driver size is pretty import to get at least close when choosing a base to build from. I try not to go plus or minus 5 scale inches and even then sometimes thats pushing it. 75 inch drivers mentioned are kind of an odd ball size in commercially available HO scale steam at least in the US. Most European models are OO scale and that will throw things off if you are going for true HO scale (again assuming HO scale)
There are lots of other questions to ask yourself about how far you want to go on a project and or how accurate do you want the finished engine to be? Is any 4-6-2 running gear good enough, for example an IHC 4-6-2 with a close 71" drivers, but has a baker valve gear, heavier counter weights, wrong crossheads, different cylinders etc. Same goes for basically the rest of the engine in boiler, tender shell, tender trucks, etc.
I'm not trying to deter you from doing the project, there is just lots of planning involved and it's not particularly easy.
Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/60361449@N02/
Anthracite Modeler - YouTube
RDG CaseyMost European models are OO scale and that will throw things off if you are going for true HO scale (again assuming HO scale)
RDG Casey - only British models are OO scale, all other European models are true HO scale - for the last 50+ years. Fleischmann used to be a little oversize in the first post WW II years, but that´s long, long time ago.
What made you come up with such a wrong statement?
Thank you for your extensive reply. I am modeling in N scale just to be able to have a bigger layout in a small space. I tend to find there are a few locos close to size but with wrong drivers etc.
Kajus,
I'm surprised that nobody has mentioned this before, but Bachmann have made a model of a Finnish locomotive, the Type Tr2 2-10-0 which was built in the USA for use in Russia, but were delivered to Finland after World War 2. These are no longer in production but one might be located on Ebay or in a dealer somewhere...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_locomotive_class_Ye
This is not an Hr1 of course but it is a true Finnish locomotive and available ready to run, if you can still find one.
Another locomotive supplied by the USA after World War II was the 0-6-2 tank type Vr5. This was a prototype rebuilt to look completely different for use in Finland. It started off as a standard Porter 0-6-0 saddle tank, and although they didn't operate in Finland like that, they were delivered that way. So there is an excuse for an 0-6-0 saddle tank, which I think Bachmann used to make also, along with other manufacturers.
In the very early days, Finland had a number of "old West" type locomotives and Bachmann's new version of the 1860s 4-4-0 might be useful.
M636C
Sir Madog RDG Casey Most European models are OO scale and that will throw things off if you are going for true HO scale (again assuming HO scale) RDG Casey - only British models are OO scale, all other European models are true HO scale - for the last 50+ years. Fleischmann used to be a little oversize in the first post WW II years, but that´s long, long time ago. What made you come up with such a wrong statement?
RDG Casey Most European models are OO scale and that will throw things off if you are going for true HO scale (again assuming HO scale)
I stand corrected, it was a bit of an assumption on my part. I guess my only direct interaction was with British equipment. But, while it may seem difficult to fathom, unless you go out of the way looking for them, non American prototypes are pretty much non existant at least in the area I live.
I have found a possible model for my loco. a BR Standard Class 7 Britannia.
It has the right gauge driving wheels, i.e. 6 ft 2 in. The engine is 68 ft long however, that is 4 ft shorter than the Finnish loco, so in N scale I need to try and figure out a way of extending the model by 12 mm.