HO steam details for "Turret"

Sun Feb 24 01:26:30 EST 2019

I've searched books and examined my models to explain that "turret" and "turret cover" are two different things.  On various Y class engines there is a turret on top of the boiler in front of the cab. There is a long pipe running from the steam dome to the turret. In this case the turret is a distribution box with four lines running out of its back side into the cab. Perhaps "manifold" is a better term. One pipe in, four out, plus one short pipe with a globe valve. A fairly simple setup for N&W locomotives, and there is no turret cover.  There is not a lot of piping or exposed globe valves like engines on some roads which use a cover with a hinged lid. The pipes running out of the turret provide steam for various steam driven applicances on the locomotive. I have 5 books covering some or all of N&W Y classes and no where are drawings which adequately show this. All the drawings are side views. 

So I have 4 models:  Rivarossi, Precision Craft, and PFM/United Y6b, and a Key Y6a.  My findings: the Rivarossi makes an attempt.  The Precision Craft is very good.  The 1960 vintage PFM completely misses the mark.  The Key get an A.  The Key Y6a is a stellar model.  In all fairness, the PFM is a decent model for its age.  It is a smooth runner, but with gear noise.  Detailing is good, but the turret and pipe from the steam dome look ridiculous.  If I had only drawings to study, I could not have figured this out. I bought the PFM model at an estate auction 25 years ago for a modest amount, unpainted in its box. No way would I spend $1,200 for one on eBay now.

To answer Marty's question, I couldn't find any HO castings close to what is on my Y6a. The shape of the Cal-Scale turret 190-323 is close, but the piping on it would mostly need to be cut away.  Same for the Cary 13-173.  The fix for this would be to scratch built.  A rectangle of brass 8mm x 3.5mm x 3mm will make the turret.  3 sizes of brass wire for piping, and two castings for pipe fittings with globe valves.  That's it. You don't even need to bend the pipes. If I get the time I will take some photos of these models.

My theory why the S1a was the only N&W class with turret covers is that they were copies of the S1 bought from C&O. All C&O's modern steam had turret covers.

--Rick Morrison

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: NW Modeling List 
  To: NW Modeling List 
  Sent: Saturday, February 23, 2019 3:41 PM
  Subject: Re: HO steam details

  I always thought "turret" was the name given to the cover over the valves just in front of the cab. To the best of my knowledge, N&W never used such a cover on any of its power until the S1's, which came from Baldwin with such a cover. So Roanoke used such a cover on the S1a's. But the Y5's and Y6's did not have such a cover. So I'm not sure what Marty is looking for.

  Jim Nichols

  On Saturday, February 23, 2019, 1:43:41 PM CST, NW Modeling List <nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org> wrote: 

  I am looking for advice on detailing N&W HO scale steam engines.  Some parts are both easy to identify and find in catalogs, such as the low water alarm (Cal-Scale 333), dual side mount air pumps (Cal-Scale 334), and a variety of feedwater heaters from Cal-Scale, Cary, and Bowser.  But there are a couple of parts I haven't found a commercially available part for yet.  The first is the steam boiler inspection hatch mounted on the upper side of the boiler on most of the modern steam engines.  It looks like a small steam  dome, but most domes I see available look larger or taller.  The other is the turret for Y5's and Y6's.  Most of the turrets I see available for sale look smaller with more exposed valves.  Was this a matter of N&W just putting a cover over a conventional looking turret?

  Marty Flick

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