Modifying Model Power N Scale 2-8-2 to NKP 587

jdtractorboy

Member since
March 2001
From: Flat Rock, IL
94 posts

Posted by jdtractorboy on Thursday, January 3, 2008 9:26 AM

Good New Year All!

And welcome to my first post in '08!

I am about to buy a Model Power 2-8-2 and was wondering if anyone has used this as a base platform for an NKP 2-8-2?

The first modification is to add a larger tender (I think). Did these 2-8-2's use a tender similar or the same as the 2-8-4 Berkshires? If so, mabe I could start by swaping out a LL Tender for the MP!

Any advice or suggestions or just plain good old KNOWLEDGE!?

Chuck

Ask not what your Model Railroad can do to you...Ask what you can do to your Model Railroad! Modeling in N-Scale a Fictional Crossing of the NKP, WM with other "trackage rights" for fun!

Reply

orsonroy

Member since
March 2002
From: Elgin, IL
3,677 posts

Posted by orsonroy on Thursday, January 3, 2008 10:25 AM

NKP 587 started off life as LE&W 5541, which was an original USRA light Mike. So in general, the MP USRA 2-8-2 model is an excellent starting point for such a conversion.

Now, on to the details. Do you want to model 587 as an in-service engine, or as a railfan excursion engine? The reason I'm asking is because of the tenders. The long tender that 587 currently has is NOT her original tender, and she NEVER ran in service with one like that. Those tenders were patterned after the Berkshire tenders, but were bought new by the NKP to add to several Mikados (25 of the tenders were built) to extend their range. 587 while in service ran with either its original USRA short tender, the tender with built-up coal bunker sides to add three tons of coal capacity, or a stretched tender similar to the USRA long tender.

I model in both HO and N, but haven't yet converted a USRA light Mike in N scale. I have done several conversions in HO, including a model of 587 as she looked between 1949 and 1952:

The main additions to this model are a new NKP pilot, the smokebox front angled numberboards (called "flying numberboards"), the cylinder braces, and a new tender (USRA long, from a Bachmann USRA 4-8-2). In N scale, the only place I know of for the pilot and flying numberboards are off of a derelict Berkshire model, likely an older Rivarossi or Atlas model. The USRA long tender can come off of a Bachmann USRA 2-6-6-2. If you want the excursion-service tender, use the one off of the Rivarossi Berkshire as well.

Let me know if you need any more information!

Ray Breyer

Modeling the NKP's Peoria Division, circa 1943