Large Scale Central

Changing stack and smokebox on SPC Annie

Modeling
#1

Thinking about changing stack and smokebox on middle one, the South Pacific Coast Annie.

I do not like those extended smokeboxes: do know the spark and cinder catcher assembly is in there when straight stack is used but for the most part I think those extended smokeboxes look dorky at best.

A few years ago bought John H. White, Jr.'s book American Locomotives an Engineering History, 1830 - 1880. Has discussion of extended smokeboxes on pages 123 and 124. The whole smokebox and spark arrestor discussion runs pages 114 to 124.

Anyway, back to the model. Original stack is seen on shelf in front of loco. A couple years ago I extended the height by about 3/8 inch, 10mm, to satisfy my sense of esthetics.
Last week ordered diamond stack from Bachmann for around $10 along with various G and On30 bells for some kitbashing and detailing projects.
With the diamond stack having the cinder arresting structure in it there would be no need for the smokebox extension.
Wood burning Virginia & Truckee on top shelf has had its smokebox extension sawn off for accuracy’s sake and boiler repainted for same reason - although - the actual V&T 4-6-0 #26 was built around 1900 and looked little like Bachmann’s: nevertheless, I like it a lot.

Will need to come up with brackets for the headlights on V&T and most likely the SPC loco.

#2

On the other hand, the PRR 4-6-0 is attractive with extended smokebox as is.
The boiler and some other things got repainted though.
And, yes, there is a prototype for a striped cab awning on a PRR subsidiary loco, a 2-8-0 on page 47 of Kalmbach’s Steam Locomotive Cyclopedia.
(http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa309/FSW4picts/G%20gauge%20projects/IMG_7377.jpg)

(random tangential question - if B-mann did up a PRR Annie painted like mine, think it might be a seller for them?)

Out of box appearance
(http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa309/FSW4picts/G%20gauge%20projects/IMG_0355b1.jpg)

Thing is, once the smokebox is sawn off the deal is close to irreversible.

#3

If you saw the Master Mechanic’s front end off, just be aware where the little wires for the smoke unit are. they’re a pain to splice

(http://i397.photobucket.com/albums/pp52/steamnut1917/P4080001.jpg)

It may also lead to cutting back the pilot

(http://i397.photobucket.com/albums/pp52/steamnut1917/P4090001.jpg)

And adding other shtuff…

(http://i397.photobucket.com/albums/pp52/steamnut1917/P4110001_01.jpg)

But eventually you’ll probably end up with something you like… or can live with.

(http://i397.photobucket.com/albums/pp52/steamnut1917/P4120001_01.jpg)

#4

Like Great Northern’s green boilers like you did.

Hmm, hadn’t thought about cutting back the pilot, will look at that.

Splicing smoke unit wiring is a non-issue, on account of allergies and asthma in the family it gets removed.
On one loco the empty space created is used for a 9 volt battery to power the headlight. Insertion of battery is via smokebox door after center switch section is cut out.
Point of having battery headlight is if you lose track power at 10 pm the train is easily locatable.

#5

A subdued GN “Glacier Park” has been the standard on my pikes since the n-scale days (25-some-odd years ago, when I got 3 B’mann consolidations at 70% off during a clearance sale, the N-scale AV, when it came into being, didn’t repaint them) I think it translates well to an Eastern road scheme just by going about 3-4 shades darker (usually Forest or Hauser green and Barn red). I “justify” it by saying the railroad management was fiercely proud that they stayed independent (rather than merging with a larger RR), and paint is a relatively cheap way to express it… not that you can tell, except in bright daylight, on the filthy “transition era” freight stuff I usually run. The “Roaring 20s” public run stuff is a little “cleaner”, and the 19th century “heritage” stuff I’ve built are all shiny and bright… just like the real world.

Feel free to use it. And any other idea you find useful.

Edit: Oh, and I also have a nice 1880’s style smokebox door that I sawed off my LGB Mogul when I updated it to a 1900 era Alco, if you need it.

#6

Mik just Mik said:

Edit: Oh, and I also have a nice 1880’s style smokebox door that I sawed off my LGB Mogul when I updated it to a 1900 era Alco, if you need it.

Hmm, 1880’s style …
Plan with known parts is to glue on the smokebox front like on the V&T loco.

#7

Backchannel me your addy, I’ll drop it in the mail.

Just “pay it foreward” someday, when you can.