Great customer service!!!

[randyaj]

As some of you are aware I am assembling and detailing for Great Northern, a Bowser challenger kit. When working on the kit I discovered the hex wrench was missing from the kit, and in the process of trying to tighten the bolts without it(not my finest hour) I damaged one of the main rods. I looked up Bowser's website, found a order phone number, and gave them a call. I explained to them that the hex wrench was missing but I had damaged the main rod. Even though the second part was my fault they are sending me both parts totally free no shipping and handling even!! The Bowser representative told me that they have recently reduced the prices on their kits in an effort to help renew interest in kit building again. WIth reduced prices, and service like this, the challenger will not be my last Bowser![8D][:)]
Randy

[NZRMac]

Hey Randy, is it a difficult build? or something a novice could handle?

You can't beat great customer service.

Ken.

[randyaj]

I'm not sure that I would recommend it to a novice. If you are comfortable riveting small driver parts, are very patient in assembly(the mechanism must roll freely, or all is for naught). By the time I have the engine and the tender detailed for GN I will have about a 100 hours into the project. If you want to build a Bowser kit I would start with a more simple design like the consolodation or such. Or Bowser makes car kits such as hoppers and such as well.
hope that is helpful
Randy

[Adelie]

You can buy the valve gear pre-made from Bowser, which is one of the more intricate tasks in building a steam kit. Even with that, it is still a time-intensive project.

One nice thing about them is that they are heavy, so once done and running they'll pull your car up a 2% grade!

Always good to hear of a company providing customer service well.

[tatans]

100 hours!!! I would say that's a pretty substantial task, is it all metal? you may be right on the button re: riveting , one small blow too many, it's all over timmy ! it's about time companies got back to kits to add some heart to the hobby.

[dknelson]

The Bowser kits have always been there. Back when they were new they were regarded as "easy" kits because the parts all fit together, the metal was clean, and most holes were already drilled and tapped for you.
I recommend the Bowser catalog to anyone because they offer stuff, such as parts, that are not to be found in the Walthers catalog.
Dave Nelson

[davekelly]

Maybe this is why Bowser has been around so long. Glad to see Bowser believes in customer service and you are back on track to fini***hat locomotive!

[jockellis]

G'day, Y'all,
I've gotten good customer service from Bowser, Walthers and Model Die Casting. I agree with Dave Kelly that that is why they all have been around since before most of us were here. I'm sorry MDC was folded into Athearn with so few of its old kits remaining under the Roundhouse name.
Incidentally, the Bowser site has a history of the original Bowser locomotive and its builder. I e-mailed him and gut a nice reply. I have one of the original, cast brass kits. Talk about heavy!
Jock Ellis
Cumming, GA US of A

[underworld]

Bowser is a GREAT company! I haven't ever done any of their kits but I bought some repro parts from them, and they were fantastic to deal with.

underworld

[:D][:D][:D][:D][:D]

[Berk-fan284]

I have a couple of Bowser kits (Challenger and USRA 2-10-2) and one of their Bachmann repower kits for the 4-8-4 Northern. Good company and kits I give them the two thumbs up any time!

[randyaj]

Yes it is all metal, and it is a task requiring some skill and patience. But the part that I love about it is that I am building it. When I buy a locomotive, like my Genesis steam locomotive, it is nice and all, but when I run one of my MDC or Bowsers not only is it detailed specifically for the prototype, but I have the joy of saying "I built that!" In a "ready to run" world, a world of fast food, taping 3 shows at once because we are so busy, the world of kits provides the submersion of entering into the depths of the hobby and the satisfaction of making something with my own two hands.
Randy

[davekelly]

Randy,

I agree with you 100 percent! Although I haven't tackled a Bower loco, I know where you are coming from. I spend quite a bit of time on my structure kits, painting things that no one will probably ever see. The key is - I know it's there.

Dave

[oleirish]

You guys are all right on,I've built two Roundhouse shays,and love them.I bid on an bowser articulated loco but was out bid,I'll get anthor chance some day.[^]
JIM

[twhite]

Randy--how about posting some photos as you get your Challenger built? I, for one am anxious to see how you go about converting it to the GN 4000, since I think those Alco-builts for the GN/NP/SP&S are just about the handsomest 4-6-6-4' s ever built (with the exception of the Rio Grande Baldwin L-105's). I agree with everyone else on the post--Bowser is one of the really FINE model railroad companies.
Tom [:D]

[randyaj]

I will give it a try. One warning though, I have compromised in a couple of areas in relationship to the prototype. I didn't remove the cab and replace it with a more prototypical cab(would have entailed lengthening the boiler a big job I wasn't willing to tackle). The tender also isn't the exact tender pulled behing the 4000. I purchased a Vanderbuilt tender (one that Great Northern used extensively, just not one the 4000) I added the side panels that grace the tender, so it looks as a prototypical GN tender just not exactly like the tender behind the 4000. Right now I am waiting on the parts from Bowser to fini***he runnng gear and so I am detailing the body to fit the 4000. I will try to get some pictures and post them here; thanks for asking.
Randy