Tag Archives: steam locomotive

Adding weight and sound to a steam loco

Techniques,

Pete Hall has been busy working on HO scale steam locomotive models. He sent photos and details on how he adds a speaker and extra weight to the boiler. Here’s Pete with more.

This began with a task to install sound in a CB&Q Mikado. The tender cavity is small because of the deep coal bunker, so the electronics fills that space and precludes installing my standard 27mm speaker. I decided to install a 691-1291 Bowser twin-sugar-cube speaker in the boiler.

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Upgrading a Proto2000 0-8-0

Locomotives, ,

Pete Hall has been busy upgrading a Proto2000 USRA 0-8-0. He sent along details and some great photos. Click on any image to review a larger size.

My friend Chris Vanko runs a Northwest model railroad, and asked me to upgrade his Proto2000 0-8-0 to be more “NP-ish.” He provided the photos and the model, and I added a few things here and there to help it come to life.

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Workbench Wednesday

Workbench Wednesday, , ,

Malcolm H. Houck has been working on a couple of brass locomotive projects and sent a progress image of his NYO&W Class S 2-8-0 Double Cab. The railroad did not use the “Camelback” term for these locos.

The tender shell was formed from 0.010-inch brass sheet. A NWSL Riveter with a fence for positioning was used to impress the rivets. A new die was made from 01 oil hardening tool steel and finished with a bit of home alchemy heat treating. Malcolm snapped this shot to illustrate a temporary “lay-up” with the major locomotive parts at hand.

What’s on your workbench?