Modifying Y models; Was Re: N&W caboose project Spring Mills Depot status

[NW Modeling List]

I have modified a Broadway Y6b into a Y6a. While the boiler is cast metal,
it can be cut by a razor saw or a cut off wheel on a dremel motor. I then
glued the smoke box back together with super glue (medium set CA) after
removing the smoke generator and the section containing the feedwater
heater. I also cut the running boards with a razor saw, and relocated them.
Then I relocated the air pumps, and added a feedwater heater onto the side,
as well as new piping. It's not a perfect conversion, but it's close enough
to represent a Y6a, and way cheaper than buying a brass one. Before I ever
started cutting my BLI's up, I practiced on a couple rivarossi's so I knew
where and how to cut. I'm cutting another BLI up now and documenting it to
hopefully put into the Arrow some day. I'm also cutting up a spectrum C&O
2-6-6-2 to turn into a Z1b.

The problem with starting with the Proto as a base, if I recall correctly,
is the frames on the Y5, Y6, Y6a, Y6b are much larger, as are the cylinders
and probably won't look right to represent a Y6.

Jonathan Jones

On Sat, Apr 16, 2022, 3:49 PM NW Modeling List <nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org>
wrote:

>
> As with any project, it depends how detailed you want to make it, and what
> era you are doing.  Or in the case of N&W steam, what year.
>
> The smokebox length, feedwater heater, and air pumps are the key
> identifying features, the things that when you take a quick glance at the
> model make you say, "oh, that's a Y6, not a Y6b."  The first Y6b's as built
> had a smaller, oval smokebox door.  The Y6's and Y6a's either all or mostly
> got the larger slanted stack and the streamlined tender.  You could change
> out these details on a Y6b to make an as built Y6 or Y6a.
>
> Backdating a Y6b I believe is more manageable than updating a Proto Y3.
> Not only would you need a new tender, but you would have to install the
> covered sand pipes, the pipe connecting the cab and the steam dome which
> divides the rear sand dome, the slant cab, and the outside bearing journals
> on the pilot and trailing trucks.  The basic construction seems similar
> enough that I have considered placing the top half of a Rivarossi Y6b
> boiler onto a Proto Y3 chassis, but that still doesn't solve the pilot and
> trailing truck issues.  Being diecast metal instead of plastic, the
> Broadway/Precision Craft Y6b would probably be unrealistic for most
> modelers to modify.
>
> Col Jeffries' Giant Of Steam, N&W's Magnificent Mallets, and NJ
> International's USRA 2-8-8-2's are probably the 3 best books for comparing
> the differences in the Y classes, and when they were modified.
>
> Marty Flick
>
> -----------------------------------------
> From: "NW Modeling List"
> To: "NW Modeling List"
> Cc:
> Sent: Saturday April 16 2022 7:50:18AM
> Subject: Re: N&W caboose project Spring Mills Depot status
>
> Now you've done it, Phil!
> I have been buying up Y6b's with plans to either cut down the boiler,
> and/or create a 3D model/print of whatever I need to change it over.
> Can anyone point out differences, besides the feedwater heater and air
> pumps, and the shorter smokebox ?
> Which locos had forward leaning stacks - all Y6 variants, or just the "b"
> It seems like a pretty do-able conversion?
> I've overlaid a Y6b blueprint over an Y6a image
> What glaring items am I overlooking?
>
> Definitely in over his head,
> Mike Rector
>
> [image: image.png]
>
>
> On Fri, Apr 15, 2022 at 6:37 PM NW Modeling List via NW-Modeling-List <
> nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org> wrote:
>
>> I wish the companies that produce HO-scale Y6b models would consider
>> offering the Y6a, since there would be a lot of parts/drive mechanism that
>> could be common to both.
>> While the Y6b was the zenith of steam, a Y6a still exists (2156). Seems
>> like
>> little effort would be expended to offer a model of an existing engine,
>> much
>> as was done for 611 and 1218.
>> Phil Miller
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: NW-Modeling-List <nw-modeling-list-bounces at nwhs.org> On Behalf Of
>> NW
>> Modeling List
>> Sent: Friday, April 15, 2022 10:33 AM
>> To: nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org
>> Subject: Re: N&W caboose project Spring Mills Depot status
>>
>> Anybody got any guesses why no model manufacturer hasn't offered a
>> reasonably accurate, plastic, steam-era N&W caboose in the past 50 years?
>>
>> Seems like they would only sell about a 1000 of them in the first year.
>>
>> I can't even remember how many SMD cabs I reserved. But it was/is a lot.
>>
>> John Garner, Newport VA
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