Modifying Y models;

Mon Apr 18 19:30:08 EDT 2022

A very nice conversion! Thanks for sharing that. That would be a great article for the Arrow. Go for it! 

Phil Miller

From: NW-Modeling-List <nw-modeling-list-bounces at nwhs.org> On Behalf Of NW Modeling List
Sent: Sunday, April 17, 2022 1:02 PM
To: NW Modeling List <nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org>
Subject: Re: Modifying Y models; Was Re: N&W caboose project Spring Mills Depot status

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 <mailto: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

  <http://index.php/inbox/attachment/filenameOriginal/image.png/filenamefs/INBOX128032d2b5ca33bd970f64a6301fa75ae2eb22> 

On Fri, Apr 15, 2022 at 6:37 PM NW Modeling List via NW-Modeling-List <nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org <mailto: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 <mailto: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 <mailto: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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