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Ken Kidder Mogul

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  • Member since
    April 2023
  • 158 posts
Ken Kidder Mogul
Posted by Road Foreman of Engines on Wednesday, November 22, 2023 3:14 PM

Here's an ancient Ken Kidder Mogul, probably from the'60's, if not before. This was one of my first brass engines,coming to me in '84. It was naked brass, no lacquer.I painted it with Floquil paint and primer, the red is Testor's. The original 3 pole KTM open frame motor died. I just finished a successful remoter with a 5 pole skew wound motor. Very similar to many G gauge repairs I've made, except for the size.

Paul

https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipNZmAy-DReXH63-EBJaEuFU2YzcxuxKngF37E4nva-BDAfA6g--rtK1yiezP1dAKA?key=Z2w1X3FaREJ3TWNlMER1czBrQVJnMmZ6VV9jSlRB

  • Member since
    January 2018
  • From: Douglas AZ.
  • 635 posts
Posted by Little Timmy on Wednesday, November 22, 2023 5:33 PM

That's a very good looking engine !

Love those old timers.

( you just reminded me that I need to get a few of them.

 

Rust...... It's a good thing !

  • Member since
    March 2002
  • From: Milwaukee WI (Fox Point)
  • 11,439 posts
Posted by dknelson on Thursday, November 23, 2023 9:31 AM

Oooh nice job on the Russia iron boiler jacket

What is interesting about the Ken Kidder mogul is that the prototype was Japanese, made in America but exported, although it had features that were very typical for Porter moguls.  It is also interesting that because the prototype was Japanese, the scale of the model was adjusted so that HO track would be the corrected gauge.  The actual scale of the model is close to S scale, which seems incredible given how small the model is.  So the track ends up being close to 42" gauge.  But even when Kidder brought out the engine in HOn3 it still looked reasoanble because the prototype was so tiny.  

Dave Nelson

 

  • Member since
    April 2023
  • 158 posts
Posted by Road Foreman of Engines on Thursday, November 23, 2023 9:57 AM

Happy Thanksgiving!

  That is Floquil Russian Iron paint. I tried to brush it, but had to strip it off and try again with an airbrush. I have been to several train museums in Japan, and have seen American Porter Moguls displayed. Now it makes sense. I'll add some pictures to the link, if I can find them. The standard gauge in Japan is 3'6", except for the Shinkansen high speed network.

Paul

  • Member since
    April 2023
  • 158 posts
Posted by Road Foreman of Engines on Tuesday, November 28, 2023 12:47 PM

Road Foreman of Engines

Here's an ancient Ken Kidder Mogul, probably from the'60's, if not before. This was one of my first brass engines,coming to me in '84. It was naked brass, no lacquer.I painted it with Floquil paint and primer, the red is Testor's. The original 3 pole KTM open frame motor died. I just finished a successful remoter with a 5 pole skew wound motor. Very similar to many G gauge repairs I've made, except for the size.

Paul

https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipNZmAy-DReXH63-EBJaEuFU2YzcxuxKngF37E4nva-BDAfA6g--rtK1yiezP1dAKA?key=Z2w1X3FaREJ3TWNlMER1czBrQVJnMmZ6VV9jSlRB

 

Just for grins, I've added some pictures of the Ken Kidder running on my display loop. I love this tiny, tiny engine! Pulling Mantua old timer cars.

Paul

  • Member since
    June 2005
  • 4,365 posts
Posted by Darth Santa Fe on Tuesday, November 28, 2023 11:09 PM

Very nice!  I also got one of these a few years ago, and I painted the coiler using Testors buffable gunmetal laqcuer.  Russia iron's a hard color to match, but it seemed pretty close to photos of the Lionel #5 boiler which was made with real Russia iron in the 1900's.  Although the metal itself is gray, the reflected color can apparently change to green or blue depending on what sort of oil was used by the crew to clean the boiler as well as whether it was reflecting the sky or surrounding trees.

_________________________________________________________________

  • Member since
    April 2023
  • 158 posts
Posted by Road Foreman of Engines on Wednesday, November 29, 2023 10:16 AM

Thank you for your comments,everyone! I'm just excited to have this engine running again. I saw the prototype in the museum in Kyoto, but never made the connection that this was the Ken Kidder engine. Ken Kidder imported some unique and fun little engines. They will now be on my radar at train shows!

Paul

  • Member since
    April 2023
  • 158 posts
Posted by Road Foreman of Engines on Monday, December 4, 2023 4:28 PM

Enjoying the " jewel- like" running qualities of this engine!
It's a beauty!

Paul

  • Member since
    August 2022
  • 115 posts
Posted by Vintagesteamer on Tuesday, December 5, 2023 10:01 AM

Aster Hobby will be offering the same prototype as the old Kidder Mogul in G scale live steam late next year.  She will come in her Japanese trim or 2 different USA road names and trims.  Looks to be a stunning model.   

  • Member since
    April 2023
  • 158 posts
Posted by Road Foreman of Engines on Tuesday, December 5, 2023 6:34 PM

Thanks, Mike. Maybe someday I'll take the live steam plunge. If I do, I'll probably have lots of questions about firing/ running.

 Here's a little tidbit: I went back through my videos, and I've seen two of these Porters at two different museums: the one in Kyoto is number 1, named" Yoshitsune", the one in the Tokyo museum is number 2, named" Benkei". The paint is otherwise identical. They are clean and polished, and beautifully displayed.

Paul

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