Bowser B6 0-6-0 Switcher

Bowser has a PRR B6 0-6-0 Loco on their website. It is listed as a Delux kit, i.e. drilled for detail parts and parts included. I am not a master modeler, I am assuminmg someone with medium skills should be able to assemble and make a very good model. I am looking for opinon’s.

I know Bowser is currently out of stock and no estimated in stock date(if any). I am partial to the Bowser instead of the Proto 2000 0-6-0. This is not based on any tangable facts. Just a stubborn Scot.

Sort of. You can make a nice LOOKING model, but to make those Bowsers run nicely, it takes a bit of know-how and work. Also, if you are running DCC, replacing that open pittman motor is a must.

David B

Bowser kits are excellent, and make smooth-running, well-detailed models. You need a certain amount of care in building them, of course, as you would any kit, but they’re not particularly difficult. While I haven’t done the B6, I did build their USRA Light Pacific. Here’s a pic:

(I added smoke & steam, but that’s all[:)]) I’ve not added any other detail parts to the model, other than the ones that came in the kit.

That’s no longer true, in re: the motor, David. The motors they have now have the brushes isolated, so while they don’t have a ready-to-go socket, you can easily wire in a decoder. And the new open-frame motors are very smooth-running, quiet, and have a low current draw. I would recommend a fairly heavy-duty decoder, though, since they can draw more current in stall mode than a can motor, without self-destructing. (I’m not sure how you would go about stalling one, though![:)]) As I said, if you take some care, the Bowsers can run as smoothly as any others. And out-pull anything on the planet that doesn’t have traction tires.

You definitely do not want to keep a couple of them on your railroad without proper support. With time they will make it sag they weigh so much. The only one I ever had a problem with was the E6 4-4-2. It wobbles and I never did figure out why.

I haven’t built the B-6, but I have built their A-5 0-4-0. The assembly is very straight-forward, with instructions that are very easy to understand.[:D] The 0-6-0 and 0-4-0 both use a can motor and gear box, instead of the usual open-frame motor. The gear box requires no adjustment to work perfectly, so that and the pre-drilled holes for the detail kit make it one of Bowser’s easier to assemble models.[:D] My 0-4-0 runs as smooth and silent as an Atlas diesel, has excellent low speed control, and has a nice, slow top speed.[:D]