Woooow..... Impressive!
My question is; what do you do with these monsters? (DD40, Big Boy, est)
Well, the great thing about that response was that they can hardly be accused of pushing it on to me!
Magnus
Lillen wrote:"Magnus, The Bowser Challenger is an old style kit that was popular in the 1960's. Compared with the newer technology these old models look and run very very poorly. I would suggest you not attempt one. I'm not sure if all the parts are still available from Bowser. The extra detailing kits are essential and I doubt that are still available. The total cost would be over $200.00 and you are left with a third rate model, even if you assemble it with great care." How do you guys feel towards that statement?
How do you guys feel towards that statement?
I feel they're heavily underrating them. The only problems with Bowser's Challengers are the over-sized boiler (about 5 scale inches on each side) and exposed driveline. Other than that, they're great models. $200 isn't bad either, considering the next one up (Athearn's) is over $400.
Maybe whoever it was that sent you that response should see this topic :http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/1132087/ShowPost.aspx(The Challenger is FINALLY finished!)
_________________________________________________________________
Lillen wrote: I got this message from caboose in Denver when I asked about this kit: "Magnus, The Bowser Challenger is an old style kit that was popular in the 1960's. Compared with the newer technology these old models look and run very very poorly. I would suggest you not attempt one. I'm not sure if all the parts are still available from Bowser. The extra detailing kits are essential and I doubt that are still available. The total cost would be over $200.00 and you are left with a third rate model, even if you assemble it with great care."How do you guys feel towards that statement?Magnus
I got this message from caboose in Denver when I asked about this kit:
"Magnus, The Bowser Challenger is an old style kit that was popular in the 1960's. Compared with the newer technology these old models look and run very very poorly. I would suggest you not attempt one. I'm not sure if all the parts are still available from Bowser. The extra detailing kits are essential and I doubt that are still available. The total cost would be over $200.00 and you are left with a third rate model, even if you assemble it with great care."
If you check Bowser's website http://bowser-trains.com/holocos/challenger/challenger.htm, the kit AND the superdetail parts are listed and should be available.
Churchy
cudaken wrote:Darth, can it be made DCC with sound? What radius can it handel? I have gotten much better at tearing down steam engines and fixing them so buliding one may not be out of reach. Far past where I was when you helped me with the Mess I sent you Is there any speical tools need to quater the drive. From what little I know this is the part that seems the hardest. Working the metal should not be tuff for me.
Is there any speical tools need to quater the drive. From what little I know this is the part that seems the hardest. Working the metal should not be tuff for me.
The motor is isolated from the frame, so yes, it can be made to have DCC and Sound. Before you do, you'll want to do a couple things before installing it, since the stock driveline is too noisy to hear sound over. First, you'll want to replace the stock Athearn style couplings with good quality ones. This is where most of the noise comes from. You'll also want to try putting some sort of sound dampener in the hollow boiler, since the tube shape seems to amplify motor noise.
The Challengers can handle curves down to an 18" radius, but at that tightness, the boiler has a 1" over-hang! Better make sure there are no trees growing that close to the track!
The drivers should be perfectly quartered from the factory. I've built four Bowsers so far, and none of them have had out-of-quarter drivers. If you do somehow get one like that, NWSL makes a quartering tool ("The Quarterer").
New section will have to have some 18" but more than likely 20" + turns. Will map that out my next 2 days off. Plus want to push 10 to 15 coal cars up a 3% grade to the mine. I am all so getting a little bored buying engines. I am sure your Challenger would out pull my PCM Y6-b but it is a power house in it's own right. Time to sleep with images of Challenger dancing in my head.
I am sure your Challenger would out pull my PCM Y6-b but it is a power house in it's own right.
Time to sleep with images of Challenger dancing in my head.
The Bowser Challenger should be able to handle those curves fine. It should also be able to push that many cars up a 45 degree angle! It already weighs just over 2lb. on its own, but if you fill that hollow boiler with weight, you could probably get it up to over 3lb.!! Bowser does actually have a weight available for the Challenger (part #3020, $11.50). I'm not sure how big it is, but for the price, it should fill all empty space.
A dancing Challenger in your head...well, I guess anything's possible with dreams.
cudaken wrote: Darth, can it be made DCC with sound? What radius can it handel? I have gotten much better at tearing down steam engines and fixing them so buliding one may not be out of reach. Far past where I was when you helped me with the Mess I sent you Is there any speical tools need to quater the drive. From what little I know this is the part that seems the hardest. Working the metal should not be tuff for me. New section will have to have some 18" but more than likely 20" + turns. Will map that out my next 2 days off. Plus want to push 10 to 15 coal cars up a 3% grade to the mine. I am all so getting a little bored buying engines. I am sure your Challenger would out pull my PCM Y6-b but it is a power house in it's own right. Time to sleep with images of Challenger dancing in my head. Ken
Darth, can it be made DCC with sound? What radius can it handel? I have gotten much better at tearing down steam engines and fixing them so buliding one may not be out of reach. Far past where I was when you helped me with the Mess I sent you
New section will have to have some 18" but more than likely 20" + turns. Will map that out my next 2 days off. Plus want to push 10 to 15 coal cars up a 3% grade to the mine. I am all so getting a little bored buying engines.
Ken
Ken, I'm pretty sure that the drivers are already quartered on the axles. The tricky part is getting all the bits of the valve gear and side rods in the right place.
-Dan
Builder of Bowser steam! Railimages Site
You know, I don't have the patience or time to build a challenger. I'll stick with my Genesis challenger.
I hate Rust
From the far, far reaches of the wild, wild west I am: rtpoteet
West Coast S wrote:Anyone interested in one in 1:32 scale? Over our feet in length, impressive doesn't begin to describe it , the wife forbids me from buying one, wah, wah...Dave
GearDrivenSteam wrote:Just a thought, but why not just paint the worm gear flat black? If it was mine, I really wouldn't let it bother me. Great job.
A better idea might be to blacken it (I think Micro-Mark makes blackening fluid). If the worm were painted, the paint could chip off all over and cause all sorts of problems.
While I was typing this, I decided to look for the blackening stuff. It's called Neolube. It blackens, lubricates, and improves electrical conductivity, all in one! I might have to get me some-a that.
http://www.ares-server.com/Ares/Ares.asp?MerchantID=RET01229&Action=Catalog&Type=Product&ID=83181
Hoople wrote:Darth, PCM makes there brass big boy with the rear drivers rigid to the frame. It does 26" radii apparently.
Yes, but it's still a limited edition brass model. What I said earlier (2 years ago now!) is the Bowser models are the only non-brass ones with true articulation. I've heard (and seen) the PCM brass Big Boy is also the most detailed HO model in existence. If only I had an extra $3,000 to burn...
Lillen wrote:Would you please help me by telling me what parts I would need to order to build this one? Do the motor come with the engine and so on? I've looked at bowsers homepage and the ordering part is, well for lack of a better word, poor.
You mean, which kits will you need to build it?
The four kits required to build it (with the Big Boy tender) are:Bowser #100300 Locomotive kit ($123 US)Bowser #100325 Superdetail kit ($62)Bowser #150681 Electrical kit ($27.40)Revell/Monogram or Con-Cor Big Boy kit
At the moment, Bowser has the Locomotive and detail kits on backorder, but the electrical kit is still in stock. http://www.bowserorders.com/.sc/ms/dd/HO%20Bowser%20Miscellaneous/3815583/Bowser%20ELECTRICAL%20KIT%20MONO%2014%20WHEEL%20%20TENDER The motor and all the drive parts do come with the locomotive kit.
Would you please help me by telling me what parts I would need to order to build this one? Do the motor come with the engine and so on? I've looked at bowsers homepage and the ordering part is, well for lack of a better word, poor.
QUOTE: Originally posted by oleirish You stated that the Bowser Challenger and Big Boy have true articulation.A little more info on that please[%-)] I have an rivarossi 2-8-8-2 Big Boy It is Articualated[%-)]
QUOTE: Originally posted by oleirish I hope you used loctite on your running gear?
QUOTE: Originally posted by Darth Santa Fe My Bowser Challenger that I started building almost 4 months ago is almost done!![:D] All it needs is 1 more marker light (which I lost and need to find), a couple more pieces around the smoke box and some decals.[:)] Here are some before and after shots of it: BEFORE: AFTER: I think it's turning out pretty well.[:D][:D][:D]
QUOTE: Originally posted by Darth Santa Fe QUOTE: Originally posted by claycts Thank you, I will now order one, was worried about how they ran. Want to build another? Only kidding George P. Only if you add the detail, paint the engine and pay me $100. I'd build the valve gears in my special modified way, which makes it much more realistic. My way Bowser's way See any difference besides the black paint on their's?
QUOTE: Originally posted by claycts Thank you, I will now order one, was worried about how they ran. Want to build another? Only kidding George P.
QUOTE: Originally posted by tyco_ryan Not to steal the topic.... However the Big Boy I orderd last week arrived a couple days ago. Just could not pass up that discount they are having. Also seriously thinking about ordering the T1, just have to see how $$$$$ works out in the next few days. Anyway, like mentioned above, any tips on riveting, or any other words of wisdom...? I spent some time yesterday, searching the web for any info. But found very little....
QUOTE: Originally posted by Leon Silverman Does this Challenger have true articulation (with the rear drivers rigidly mounted to the boiler instead of rotating like diesel engines)?
QUOTE: Originally posted by Brunton It appears you've also left the gear in "neutral," or very close to it. Your valve piston won't move much, if at all (or did I miss something obvious?). Will you be adding the reversing linkage?
Mark P.
Website: http://www.thecbandqinwyoming.comVideos: https://www.youtube.com/user/mabrunton