About making and selling a super detailed plastic N&W Class A, such as the Proto Heritage, or Genesis lines? I have always dreamed of this engine since I rode behind the 1218, but I just can't afford the brass numbers that go for two grand or more.
<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Black Cloud: About making and selling a super detailed plastic N&W Class A, such as the Proto Heritage, or Genesis lines? I have always dreamed of this engine since I rode behind the 1218, but I just can't afford the brass numbers that go for two grand or more.<hr></blockquote> Amen to that idea, I though about trying to kit bash one from a challenger but never got around to it.
Hi guys, what scale are we talking about? I presume not N scale. I think Atlas, in partnership with someone, imported a model of the "A" a few years ago, but I am not up on my steam and do not know if it was accurate. Anyway, I don't know about your modeling scale, but in N scale, good running steam is hard to find. Harold
I'm talking about HO scale. I have seen the popularity of N&W steamers on Ebay, and the fact that LL has sold out their Y6b's twice and is starting a third run. Not to mention the popularity of Bachmanns so-so J class engines. I've even modeled some Bachmann Mountains as N&W K's for a buddy whom sells them everytime. With that many N&W consumers, I can't imagine that one of these companies wouldn't produce an A class. I was just wondering if anyone out there knows anyone in the industry that may be able to grab the ear of the right people that may listen to demand. I know I would buy several. Anyone else?
What's your thoughts on the new version of the J that Bachmann are doing, it certainly looks better to the (read "my") untrained eye, there's a pic on their website under "new products".
It does look better, and I appreciate the fact that they put a working coupler on the front. But, and its a big BUT, I am wondering if it will use the same Spectrum drivetrain. You know, the single worm-drive motor unit that will still need wheel adjustments to make sure it doesn't shimmy down the tracks.
You are looking at 80,000 to 100,000 dollars just to make an injection mold base for a delrin or nylon boiler. Really all you would need is a correct boiler and cab casting, the rest could be from any x-4-x frame/wheel set. Take the Challenger boiler off a Rivarossi or Bowser, and put "your" 1218 boiler on, add a 2 wheel pilot truck and a 4 wheel trailing truck, paint, decals, and you are in business. Convert a plastic boiler, remove the wrong domes, put suitable domes on, slick it out with putty, paint it with a solid enamel, let dry, then make it be your master for a mold. Once you have the mold, pour the mold with "lost wax", cool, and remove it, pour another. We did 10 to 14 at a time all on one tree. It is easier than you think. When the brasses cool, saw them off the tree, and sand blast to clean them up. File or grind the sprue clean. Make a drill jig, and drill all necessary holes. We sold some that way, some we made the finished engine. If you furnish the waxes, any foundry will assemble and pour how ever many you can afford, all at one time. We got some poured in solid lead, but that may not be legal today. Lead can make about a four pound engine, brass around three. Better plan on a Pittman DC-71 motor, or two big can motors, because it isn't likely to stall. Here is what the tree with 14 boilers looks like when cooling the brass castings. The cold water shatters the ceramic. [ 30 November 2001: Message edited by: watash ]</p>
