Recently while surfing the net i ran into a page called bowser bowser, i found an engine-kit
Bowser - HO - Steam Loco Kits
PRR H-9 Consolidation 2-8-0
very reasonable price tag caught my eye (122US)
is thisa worthwhile loco or would i be better off with a bachmann heres the link
http://www.modelrailroader.net/holoco_h9.php
Bowser kits are very good, but like the description says, they are KITS that must be assembled. They have cast metal boilers, frames, and other parts that are unpainted, so you are basically starting from scratch.
Bowser kits started as Penn Line almost sixty years ago now. They are fairly easy to assemble as long as you take your time and super detail kits with lost wax castings are also available from Bowser. Don’t park one over an unspported section of your railroad or it will create a sag they are so heavy. That Belpaire bolier is Pennsy all the way buit many conversions have been done over the years by grinding it away and making a wagon top boiler. You will never be sorry you bought one in my opinion. they also make a 4-4-2, 4-6-2, 4-8-2, 2-10-0 and the T-1 4-4-4-4 for Pennsy
It looks like a mirror of the ‘official’ bowser website.
If you want one of these and don’t want to build the kit check ebay. There’s usually built locos available on a regular basis.
If you’re going to try the kit go for the built -up valve gear, it’s worth it.
Eric
thanks for all the input, r these locos DCC ready or adptable, it sounds like a neat project[8D]
dr. bones,
My guess is that they are NOT “DCC ready” (i.e. contain a harness or socket to plug the decoder right into) but they should be adaptable. The DCC Information link (http://bowser-trains.com/ho_dcc.php) gives folks the opportunity to trade in their older DC-71 motors for the newer “DCC-compatible” motors, for a reduced price.
The best thing to do is to contact Bowser directly and ask them what needs to be done to their steam kits to make them DCC-ready. Here’s the direct contact link: http://bowser-trains.com/contactbowser.php
Tom