ATSF 4-6-2 Pacific with boxpoks?

ATSF 3463 Feb 21, 2013

  1. ATSF 3463

    ATSF 3463 TrainBoard Member

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    Someday I want to replicate this engine...

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/nationalregister/7142732215/

    ...and besides the expensive Pecos River version... any recommendations for utilizing one of the cheaper 4-6-2's out there, and how one would go about trying to modify the drivers to the boxpok style seen here? Any alternative 6-wheel driver sets that come close?
     
  2. drasko

    drasko TrainBoard Member

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    The Kato japanese pacifics seem like a good start with half arse decent representations of these boxpocks. where abouts in kansas are ya?
     
  3. Cajonpassfan

    Cajonpassfan TrainBoard Supporter

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    Well, one of the Micro Ace Hudsons might fit the bill, but by the time you buy it and buy and build all the other pieces to make it look even remotely like a Santa Fe 3400 class rebuild $300 starts looking like a bargain and the PRB Pacifics can be had for close to that if you watch eBay. You could also start with a ConCor Hudson mech, the drivers are the right size (79"). None of the USRA based Pacifics available have drivers large enough to bother. But you could build a non rebuilt 3400, with their original 73" spoked drivers on the cheap....
    Otto K.
    PS: 3463, do you have a name?
     
  4. John Moore

    John Moore TrainBoard Supporter

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    Probably the only way you are gojng to get those drivers is to have them made. I don't think that the materials used in Shapeways stuff is strong enough for that use so the next thing might be etched brass. There is an outfit up in PA that makes replacement brass wheelsets, including Boxpox, but I believe looking at the site that they are pretty much HO.
     
  5. James Norris

    James Norris TrainBoard Supporter

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    Very similer looking boxpok wheels where used on the Bullied pacifics (SR Merchant Navy class) and West Coutry (SR Battle of Britan Class) pacifics here in the UK. Graham Farish make n scale models of these, maybee the wheel sets could be used?

    James
     
  6. Ghengis Kong

    Ghengis Kong TrainBoard Member

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    So the Model Power USRA Pacifics have scale 73" drivers?
     
  7. John Moore

    John Moore TrainBoard Supporter

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    The 4-4-0 and Pacific share the same drivers. And my 4-4-0 measured out at 72 inch without counting in the flange which would put them at 73 inches and a little change maybe if the flange is used in the measurement. Close enough for the 73 inch drivered loco I am bashing.
     
  8. r_i_straw

    r_i_straw Mostly N Scale Staff Member

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    That is what I used to kit bash a Southern Pacific P14 pacific.
    [​IMG]
     
  9. randgust

    randgust TrainBoard Member

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    Sorry...gotta say it out loud...

    There's just so much 'more to it', from the domes, to the cab, tender, trucks....on and on.... every signature item on ATSF big steam is a fight.

    Suddenly paying for the brass doesn't look qute so bad. And I love to do this stuff. But we are lucky that it's been made at all.

    If you could convince a certain forum member to make a resin shell... and the tender.... then you're talkin', because some of the vintage mechanisms would put brass to shame. Unfortunately the old brass Jamco 3400 (which seems to always be on Ebay) is a bit of a clunker. But the Pecos River one gets an "A" from Mark: http://www.spookshow.net/prb462.html and if you look at the number of brass steamers that earn that grade, its a pretty exclusive club. I count 9 that earned it out of Marks all-time list.

    You're talkin' to a guy that had a 'make it do' Bachmann 4-8-4 for years and finally got a Hallmark, and did a lot of work on the mechanism to make it run as well as the Bachmann did after I'd put a lot of work in it. But even at the price I paid, yeah, it was worth it. Sometimes a 20-year wait is appropriate.

    BTW I'm working... on the 12"=1' rebuild on the 1316 and if you get my drift, contact me.
     
  10. ATSF 3463

    ATSF 3463 TrainBoard Member

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    Topeka... home of Super Hudson 3463. :love:

    Hey Otto, yes, my name is Jason. Thanks for the information, that's a big help.

    Considering the after-market that scale rail-roading seems to enjoy, it's a wonder that somebody doesn't do some sort of photo-etch wheel sets to better replicate things using existing mechanisms.

    Thanks for the info James, will check those out.

    Oh, I'm not afraid of tackling projects if I have to. I'm new to rail-roading itself, but been modeling 1/72 aircraft for near about 30 years now and worked quite a number of years in a hobby shop that specialized in trains, so they're not totally foreign to me. Having a PRB Pacific would be nice, but unless I'm wrong, their availability seems to be limited in comparison to the other mechs out there.
     
  11. oldrk

    oldrk TrainBoard Supporter

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    I just got this today for a C&O project. MicroAce 4-6-2.
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     
  12. ATSF 3463

    ATSF 3463 TrainBoard Member

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    So on locos like the Micro Ace 4-6-2, how is the structure of the drivers composed... i.e. I'm guessing that those black inserts are plastic... and can they be removed/replaced?
     
  13. oldrk

    oldrk TrainBoard Supporter

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    I would say that all of the plastic 4-6-2s have plastic drivers with metal tires and axles. The MicroAce is.
     
  14. oldrk

    oldrk TrainBoard Supporter

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  15. ATSF 3463

    ATSF 3463 TrainBoard Member

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    Hmmm... wonder if they could be replaced with sheet styrene with the proper pattern?
     
  16. John Moore

    John Moore TrainBoard Supporter

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    Some manufacturer's drivers are press fitted into metal tires while some others are press fitted into solid metal wheels that have been machined out to accept the center driver portion. Either way both styles are very close machined tolerances that rely on the friction of the press fit rather than glue to hold them together. Of the two styles the latter is the most forgiving and could be feasibly glued in place. You are also looking at either .060 or .080 plastic sheet which requires some quality cutting tools to handle. I am not saying that it could not be done but I don't think by hand.
     
  17. John Moore

    John Moore TrainBoard Supporter

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    Perhaps the wheel could be available on another wheel arrangement. I don't know if you desire to try to get the actual driver size or not and that could also lead to issues with the wheel spacing on the chassis but for what it is worth this is the driver set from the Bmann ATSF Northern.

    [​IMG]
     
  18. Cajonpassfan

    Cajonpassfan TrainBoard Supporter

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    3425.jpg

    Hey, Jason, welcome!
    The 3400 Pacifics and 3450 "little Hudsons" were rebuilt with 79" LFM's, also known as Universal Disks, not Boxpoks (manufactured by Locomotive Finished Metals Co. of Atchison, KS, in you neck of the woods). They were distinctive and didn't look anything like the other disk drivers, see photo. Your best bet, other than buying one by PRB, would be making some kind of inserts or overlays, etched, cast, or drilled and filed, but that is a lot of work. Good luck!
    Rick, would you mind measuring the driver diameter and axle spacing on your new Japanese acquisition?
    Regards, Otto K.
     
  19. r_i_straw

    r_i_straw Mostly N Scale Staff Member

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    They look very similar to the Bachmann Northern drivers. Maybe that would be the way to go if one were set on kit bashing something.
     
  20. Cajonpassfan

    Cajonpassfan TrainBoard Supporter

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    Not to argue wih one of the masters whose work I admire, but the LFM's only have three large openings per each half, not four. One could of course wing it....:)
    Kind regards, Otto
     

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