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The brass Testudo 4-6-6-4 Challenger arrived today!

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  • Member since
    March 2005
  • 1,512 posts
The brass Testudo 4-6-6-4 Challenger arrived today!
Posted by philo426 on Friday, August 7, 2020 3:02 PM

Found it on the Bay for a great price!Needs some work but it runs well and it just needs some cosmetic touch up abd the tender has to be lettered.Very cool!   

  • Member since
    October 2001
  • From: OH
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Posted by BRAKIE on Friday, August 7, 2020 4:43 PM

Congradulations!  Thumbs Up  Those were and remain smooth running and nice looking 4-6-6-4s. The first one I saw was at Halls Hobby's in Columbus(Oh).. It was a massive locomotive compared to the other brass steam engines in the show case.Surprise

I dunno maybe it's because I live through what I call the  brass  steam locomotive glory years in the 60s but, I always favored brass steamers from Tenshodo, United, PFM,Sunset, Balboa and IIRC there was two others.

 

Larry

Conductor.

Summerset Ry.


"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt  Safety First!"

  • Member since
    March 2005
  • 1,512 posts
Posted by philo426 on Friday, August 7, 2020 6:48 PM

Yes I am very impressed with the way all of the drive rods move!Glad I bought it!I used good old Model Master Flat Black to touch up the bare spots .Blended in perfectly!

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Posted by philo426 on Friday, August 7, 2020 11:55 PM

Ok don't have the correct decals so I will use negative masks utilizing vinyl stick on letters.I will apply the vinyl letters ,airbrush a couple light coats of black abd then peel them off exposing the white UP letters.  

  • Member since
    January 2017
  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
  • 18,255 posts
Posted by SeeYou190 on Saturday, August 8, 2020 9:13 AM

BRAKIE
I dunno maybe it's because I live through what I call the  brass  steam locomotive glory years in the 60s but, I always favored brass steamers from Tenshodo, United, PFM,Sunset, Balboa and IIRC there was two others.

Most of my brass locomotives are made by Samhongsa in Korea.

I do have three United/PFM models made in Japan: A logging 2-6-2, and MA&PA 2-8-0, and a SOUTHERN 4-6-2.

I also have a Tenshodo USRA 0-8-0 that is made in Japan.

The Japanese models have a very different feel to them, and they seem much more rugged.

-Kevin

Living the dream.

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    March 2005
  • 1,512 posts
Posted by philo426 on Saturday, August 8, 2020 11:40 AM

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Posted by philo426 on Saturday, August 8, 2020 4:49 PM

Got the tender lettered today.Used negative masks by painting the side of the tender white, applying vinyl letters and overpainting with black.I am pleased with the results.!Very cool !

  • Member since
    March 2005
  • 1,512 posts
Posted by philo426 on Saturday, August 8, 2020 8:53 PM

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    March 2005
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Posted by philo426 on Saturday, August 8, 2020 11:27 PM

I had a strange problem in that pilot truck would derail on the straight test track.Upon close examination I discovered the pilot wheels were plastic and the flange was gone!Luckily I had a wheel set that fit .Problem Solved!

  • Member since
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  • From: Bradford, Ontario
  • 15,797 posts
Posted by hon30critter on Sunday, August 9, 2020 12:29 AM

The lettering came out really nice!

Dave

I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!

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Posted by philo426 on Sunday, August 9, 2020 12:36 AM

Thanks runs very well!

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Posted by philo426 on Sunday, August 9, 2020 2:18 PM

https://youtu.be/Fw5WDeUnduU

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Posted by philo426 on Thursday, August 13, 2020 7:31 AM

Tried to run it last night on EZ track 22 inch curves.......nope!wider radius curves are in order!

  • Member since
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  • From: OH
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Posted by BRAKIE on Friday, August 14, 2020 7:49 PM

philo426

Thanks runs very well!

 

While I was running my United Santa Fe 2-8-0 I got to thinking.. A 60 year old engine running like it did when it was new.. That speaks volumes for the Japanese craftmans that buillt those locomotive and the Pittman motors they used.

Larry

Conductor.

Summerset Ry.


"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt  Safety First!"

  • Member since
    March 2005
  • 1,512 posts
Posted by philo426 on Friday, August 14, 2020 7:56 PM

No doubt!it is very well built and solid.. The motor is a little noisy and draws some amps but my Bowser 4-6-0 is louder!

  • Member since
    November 2005
  • From: St. Paul
  • 823 posts
Posted by garya on Friday, August 14, 2020 9:10 PM

philo426

No doubt!it is very well built and solid.. The motor is a little noisy and draws some amps but my Bowser 4-6-0 is louder!

 

 

Just about anything is quieter Stick out tongue

Not familiar with Testudo.  When was the model built?

Gary

  • Member since
    March 2005
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Posted by philo426 on Friday, August 14, 2020 9:37 PM

1954!crazy how well built it is!

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