How to be a Prototype modeler
Updated 03/28/01
One persons story and a sample of his work.
His name is: Kris Kollar
I've had a fascination for trains and things mechanical from my earliest days despite the fact the my professional career path has led me into personnel administration. My love of the Pennsylvania Railroad started when I entered the military. Young and 3,00 miles away from home, the name PRR was my link to home. Today after 12 years in both the active Air Force and now the Pennsylvania Air National Guard my desire to learn about the 'P' Company is stronger than ever. I enjoy researching and accurately modeling steam and first generation diesels. Presently I do not have a layout so my modeling efforts center around building rolling stock and collecting reference material. My goal is to model a portion of the Sunbury Branch near the terminus in Wilkes-Barre, PA, the area both my wife and I grew up in.
Jeannie, my bride of 10 years is extremely supportive of the hobby. She's the kind of girl who actually suggests I should spend more on my trains. The love of railroading must be genetic since my sons, Jayme and Jordan, have both been bitten by the train bug. Our family lives in the sweetest place on earth, Hershey, PA.
Here's are samples of Kris' work:
NOTE: These photos show the project about 60% complete. All brass detail parts are included in the super detail kit unless specifically noted in the descriptions.
The headlight has been moved to the top of the smoke box. The generator now sits atop a scratchbuilt bracket anchored to the front of the smokebox. New brass electrical junction boxs were scratchbuilt from bar stock. The electrical conduit/handrail is routed over the top of and around the headlight. A new brass airtank replaces the old cast in place glob which hung beneath the fireman's side running board. A scratchbuilt steam turret and its brass piping run from the top of the Belpaire boiler down through the running board.
Up front I added an after market cab control box on the running board. The conduit is all brass rod soldered in place while the electrical generator has a brass steam vent which formed follow the contours of the smoke stack. The gray styrene in the engineer's side running board shows where I changed its configuration. Note the white corner gussets. I added a new power reverse and brass rod linkage (the linkage stanchion is a left over, but modified, uncoupler bar stanchion). Both these parts were cast in place however they were cut, ground and/or shaved off. Grab irons were added to the sand dome as well as an angular brass fitting to the base of the steam dome. Also the base of the steam dome was carefuly thined to reduce its height and to allow it to properly conform to the boiler. Follow the factory installed black hand rail rearward to the cab wall. I added brass wire conduit that continues from the last stanchion, up along the front of the cab wall, into a junction box then over the top of the firebox.
08/31/1999 Update - This project has now progressed slightly with the addition of the pilot. The observation deck on the smoke box was made from brass sheet stock. Also the piping beneath the running board is now in place.
This shot shows the details of the scratchbuilt cab ventilation hatch and the white circular top of the steam turret. The white band behind the sand dome replaces the original but poorly cast boiler jacket band. Note how the conduit goes around the back of the headlight.
This view shows the scratchbuilt tender doors and missing bunker extensions. I included angle iron bracing, door hinges and a sliding lock bolt. I dressed up the cast in place doors by adding strip styrene batons and grab irons. Although not sure of their purpose I added the vertical styrene strips on the front tender corners. My guess is that the canvas weather curtain attached to the tender at this point. The front tender steps have been thinned dramatically with a mill file. I also filed the half circles in each step with a round mini file and thinned the profile of each step with a #11 X-Acto blade. Lastly to create the horizontal slot above the front wheel on the lead truck I thinned the metal from behind with my Dremel, drilled several holes and cleaned up the excess with a #11 blade.
The shot clearly shows the details added to the rear of the tender. The super detail kit provides for the corner marker lights, back up light, uncoupler bar/brackets and the trainline while I added the remainder. I formed new rear side steps and foot boards. I added the electrical box, the center marker light and conduit to each light (the orange bands around the conduit is telephone wire insulation used to simulate electrical conduit connectors. Although I used the original kit ladder it has been completely reworked. I scratchbuilt the safety rails around the doghouse and added its grab irons. I built a new slope sheet with brass uspports and a Con-Cor ladder.
The sides have styrene patchs, new foot holds in the sill and poling pockets in the lower rear corners.
This shot shows the completed front end of the L1. Initially the steam dome did not match the circumference of the boiler very well and resulted in an unsightly gap. I carefully reduced the thickness of the steam dome's mating lip by using a #11 Xacto blade. I checked my work very frequently to ensure a close fit. To be added: dummy coupler, chain to connect coupler and coupler bar, brass etched number & builder's plate.
I removed the cast on air pump and replaced it with one from Cal Scale. Look closely at the ash pan. I noticed in photos that the 1:1 version had an indent in the middle of the ash pan. I initially installed them but chose not to modify the pan. However when I put boiler and chasis together I learned the reason for this feature. It allows the trailing truck to freely swing in its arc of motion. Use a sanding drum in your Dremel and a round file to replicate the indents. To be added: brake shoes, new tender trucks & a bracket in front of the air compressor.
A good view of the top of the tender. Displays scratchbuilt slope sheet and water hatch. One of the bunker doors is slightly ajar for variety. You can determine the original location of the dog house by the filled in hole in the center of the deck. Also to the right of the dog house you'll see another filled mounting hole. This is one of the original mounting holes for the water hatch. To be added: Water scoop pipe cover, water scoop drains, water scoop actuator control. To be eliminated: the screw hole on the tender deck (moved to the tender floor)
Another view of the complete locomotive (less a couple items).
Thanks for sharing your work with us Kris. It shows just what can be done with a little effort.... Al