Swiveling rear engines/the Arrow

[NW Modeling List]

Eric,
 
I did an article in the November/December 2005 issue of the arrow on improving the Riv Y, remotoring and proper articulation.
 
Kurt S. Kramke


On 02/04/15, NW Modeling List wrote:












Frank:





Before ?brassbashing? a VGN PA, please note that BPL Brassworks (http://www.railmodel.com/) still lists a Division Point 
project to import two versions (square and sports cab); DP-5001 and -5002. I can?t find this project ?announcement? anywhere else, including on the Division Point site (http://www.divisionpoint.com/site/) , 
so I wrote a note to Jack Vansworth asking if this project was still under consideration. I?ll post his reply, if/when I get one. 






If the project is still under consideration, I?d expect a model price in the $1800 - $2000 range, although the PA?s weren?t festooned with appliances like DP?s 
recent H-10 Mikado models, which landed in the US at a list price of $2015 (black paint schemes) to $2195 (P&LE green paint schemes.) 






The good news is that we wouldn?t have much to quibble about over the hue of paint on the PA models.





Jack has shown that he?s willing to work with some of the historical societies, and has done pretty darn well by the N&W (other than the Trainmaster lettering 
snafu.) I?d like to have an accurate model of both PA versions, but would probably (well, definitely) have to restrain myself to a sports cab version to ?represent?, given the likely price. Two Branchline coaches and a kit-bashed combine would fill out a 
?Virginia Creeper? quite nicely?a modeling and painting challenge within my scope of time and skill.





I doubt the PAs would get produced without advanced reservations for at least 80, and maybe 100, (combined) of the two versions. But I wonder whether N&WHS 
could get ?dealer pricing? from DP, if we guaranteed orders for 50 or so models? That could lead to a $400+ per model benefit to Members plus some cash in the N&WHS coffers. But the Member reservations would have to have teeth in them to insure that the 
Society doesn?t get hurt.





Straw poll, any one?





-Eric Bott








From: NW-Modeling-List [mailto:nw-modeling-list-bounces at nwhs.org] 
On Behalf Of NW Modeling List

Sent: Tuesday, February 03, 2015 2:57 PM

To: NW Modeling List

Subject: Swiveling rear engines/the Arrow









Matt, in one of my clinics I spend some time discussing threshold's of tolerance: i.e. what bothers you. And this will vary from individual to individual. As I said, the rear engine swiveling bothers me, but it hasn't bothered me enough 
to keep me from some locomotive purchases. Factors include things like 6 coupled or 8 coupled, and how much I have to pay for one that doesn't swivel. Watching the cylinders on the rear engine swing out is mildly irritating. Hasn't kept me from the Bachman 
C&O H5 and the Proto 2-8-8-2, but I do prefer the Powerhouse 2-8-8-2. I noticed that the Precision VGN AG is now available for a bit over $3,000. So VGN guys now have to think about the Rivarossi at around $4-500, the Key at around $800-$1,000, and the Overland 
creeping up on $2000 (although the availability of the Precision may cause that to drop). One other point: a good number of Gem/Akane VGN AG's were sold, although they were just C&O Alleghenies with a different box. Anybody who can come up with the correct 
AG dome (I'm still expecting someone to do it in 3D printing)may be able to sell a few. 











But the spread of what bothers some people is interesting. Personally, the MTH Virginian triplex gives me a headache. You and I know people who get hystercal at what they perceive as the wrong shade of (pick one): Tuscan Red, Pevler Blue, 
Enchantment Blue, Brunswick Green....you get the idea. 











On a related note (thanks for the reminder, Harold)we welcome articles where someone has taken a stock model and "fixed" or detailed it to make it closer to a true N&W or Virginian prototype. [Sidebar: if anyone has successfullly kitbashed, 
brassbashed, or scratchbuilt a Virginian 4-6-2, please tell us about it]. 












And one other point in a memo that's already too long (shocker, I know). Generally, and this involves scores of locomotives, an articulated N&W 2-8-8-2, even with a fixed rear engine, is usually not a minimum radius problem. Partly because 
it is articulated (which was Anatole Mallet's point)and partly because the drivers are comparatively small. A PRR Q-2 or Santa Fe 2-10-4 is more likely to be a problem, but will take 30" usually. A UP 4-12-2 usually needs 34" or more. 












Now with all that said, any of you who have successfully rigidized the rear engine of a Rivarossi, BLI, Bachman, or Proto articulated, an article is invited. 












Frank Bongiovanni







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