This review is on Bowser’s current version of their New York Central K-11 4-6-2 kit.[:D]
Bowser still uses the same boiler, frame, cylinders ,and detail parts that they’ve been using for this engine since 1951. The tender is now a diecast model instead of the brass 4-8-2 Mountain tender originally used. All the parts look surprisingly good for the age of their molds, but the engine does have a major seem going across the top that takes a lot of work to file off. The tender has a lot of seems around it that need to be filed off, and there was a gap in the front that had to be filled. The building instructions are very detailed and easy to follow. They did accidentily get the drawbar on the wrong side of the spring in step #2 (the spring should be between the drawbar and frame). The mechanism takes some work to build, with the siderods being the hardest part, but it’s an excellent mechanism when built properly. The kit now includes a better valve gear than the original models, but the front rods have to be bent to clear the crossheads, and the crosshead guides have to be absolutely straight to clear the siderods. The cast on detail is actually pretty good, and matches pictures of real K-11s very well. Bowser makes a detail kit for it that includes various pumps, two choices of marker lights for the engine and a pair for the tender, a passenger pilot, a better bell, and a turbo generator, but I didn’t want to spend the extra $30 on it, so I just used an extra turbo generator I had from another kit, modified the original bell, stuck a dummy coupler on the front, and made two steps for the front of the cylinders out of copper sheet, and it looked fine. I believe the prototypes were all black, so that made painting very
Interesting to think that this model has been in continuous production for over 55 years. For those who are interested, the Bowser catalog has some photos of the prototype.
One of the fellow rails in the club I was a part of in Massachusetts in the mid-60s ran several of these as high speed freight engines; I was always impressed with them and determined I would buy and assemble one one day. I finally got around to ordering one in 1976; it arrived, I remember, the week before I got my assignment notification for Lajes Field, the Azores. I packed it in my hold baggage with the intention of putting it together over there but I never got around to it. In fact, it wasn’t until I retired two years later that I began construction only to discover that I had a warped tender shell - the only time I remember anything in a Bowser kit being bad; by that time I had lost the receipt but Bowser was nice enough to send me a new tender shell. Put it together in about three months and it ran like a jewel.
I don’t know why but I thought that my tender was die-cast; it has been a long time and I could be thinking of something else. I do remember that that parting SEAM on the top of the boiler was a real bear to file down.
You made a good purchase; how many of these die-cast lokes have you assembled now???
Looking good! 2 things-Did you have to mess with quartering the drive wheels? Would you consider replacing that moter or do you think it’s good enough?
Darth, I am thinking as well about trying a Bowser kit. Missed on a Hudson by a $1.00 on E-bay. By the way, the Dash 9 lives again. Found 2 more cracked gear in the trucks. They will stay in gauge again so no more shorts.
R. T. POTEET, you probably did have a diecast tender. I don’t think Bowser’s original brass 4-8-2 and tender have been made since the early 60s, or late 50s.
So far, I’ve built 5 metal engine kits.[:D] First was a Bowser A-5 0-4-0, and then a Bowser Challenger. Third was a Hobbytown RSD-5, fourth was this one, and most recently was a Bowser T-1 4-4-4-4.[:D]
loathar, the drive wheels were all quartered fine, and the motor is definately good enough (not as quiet as a can motor, but much more powerful!).
cudaken, if or when you do try a Bowser kit, just be sure to take your time with it, and you’ll have yourself one fine steam engine.[:D]
Good to hear the DASH is running again.[:D] 2 more cracked gears? Wow, I thought it was supposed to be early P2Ks that had that problem, but I guess Athearn’s not perfect either.
Darth, I now feel I am up to a Bowser kit. I have came along way from when you helped me with the Dash 9. I think I proved my metal when I opened a new BLI Ma1 that cracked center gear. Did not feel like waiting 4 months for a repair on a new engine. BLI sent me the parts for free.
I still have along way to catch up to your level but I am getting there.
Do you have any PIC of the Challanger? What did it cost you? I finaly have a Big Boy, but still feel the need for a Challanger.
My recollection is that back in the day the Bowser NYC 4-6-2 came without a NYC tender and you had to get the tender separately, whether from Bowser itself or Penn Line or Varney or Mantua or whatever.
I’ve added a couple more details since I took this picture.
Here it is without most of the detail kit. Pretty big difference, isn’t it?
Because I used the Con-Cor Big Boy tender and electrical kit for it, I could also make a full interior out of parts from the Big Boy.[:D]
I don’t remember the exact cost, but it was around $250 with discounts. Bowser has since lowered the price around 25%, so the total with a Con-Cor Big Boy, tender electrical kit and detail kit should be less than $250 at this point without discounts, making it the least expensive Challenger available right now. The only problem is that the boiler is a little too wide, which makes it look a little overweight.
The tender before it was painted. I replaced all the molded on roof railings with wire ones and Bowser stancions, which really improved how it looked.[:D]
Darth, very nicely done write-up on this loco,[tup][tup] and a nice job of building it, too. Some time back, I built one for my son (who’s since lost interest in trains), making it a composite of several that he liked that he had seen in photos. It turned out sorta like CPR G3 meets NYC H-10 [swg], but it’s a smooth runner and pulls well. I put a can motor in it, along with a NWSL gearbox. The tender is from Tyco, as it was his choice to match the appearance with a Mikado that I built at the same time.
Hello cudaken, Unless you’ve dealt with that Ebay seller before,I would recommend dealing with Bowser direct, despite what the seller says you won’t know if your kit is complete until it’s too late. Bowser’s prices are usually pretty good at the best of times and if you have any questions they’re great for giving a straight answer.
Great review of an old classic. Thanks for taking the time to let us know how the kit is in it’s present state.
I think the tender Bowser is including now is a remake of the old Varney “Old Lady/Casey Jones” tender. Varneys were cast frames with plastic body shells. The Bowsers are all cast metal.
Have they changed the cast frame to the fabricated brass type they now use in the ex-Varney and Penn Line engines?
Has anyone used a Helix Humper in a K-11 or any other Bowser kit? How does it compare to the DC-71 for pulling, noise and smoothness?
Has anyone used their Bowsers with DCC? Any problems?
Nope. This one still uses the original diecast frame, with a slight modification for the DC-71 motor. You can still see the mounts for the old “Super Motor” in the front of the firebox.
Well, seems that the pacific that i got, got a great review, i’m still in the assembly stage and painting, so running it is still a while off. I didn’t get the super detail kit so i don’t know what to get for that so if anybody could make any suggestions it would be great. My engines are going to run as NdeM, who bought from Erie and NY central so th superdetail would be corresponding to these railroads.
Hello Darth you did a great job . I built a k-4 Pacific a while back and it will pull a least 50+ cars. I can not put any more then that or it will push & pull them at same time. I did have a problem with the rivets coming lose but got that fixed have northen to build next. Wont start that till it gets cold again.keep up the good work Frank
Nice job, Darth. In addition to a great assembly job, it looks like you got a really nice finish on her. I like seeing the classics that I used to dream about in the ads in Model Railroader as kid still being built, or still in service. You can’t beat them for mass and pulling power (so don’t drop it on your foot).
It looks good as is, and with the detail kit you’ll have something to reckon with. Go Bowser!
