i bought 2 weeks ago ( for a GREAT price might i add[:D]) a bowser k-4 pacific . While browsing thru the content earlier, came to find out it has no instruction sheet. at first i thought i could manage but after looking at the bag of tiny parts, im going to need an instruction sheet. Anyone know how i can get one?
on a related topic, how involved would it be to turn this PRR into a ATSF engine. Id like an engine that bears ressemblance to an ATSF prototype but not necessarely a down to the rivet engine. probably pilot would need be changed, headlight maybe? stacks? i’d like to keep the coal tender ( unless theres a cheap oil tender out there or some conversion kit available)… im assuming those would be the major cosmetic changes correct…
help would be appreciated… reading all those MR from the 40’s and 50’s make me wanna try my hand at an old school project… man, even my dad was a lil boy when they were first published hehehehe…
Ranchero - I am waiting on my Bowser Lite Mike. Its on back order. Anyway you can download the manuals on the Bowser website. www.bowser-trains.com
Terry
The PRR K-4 is roughly the same overall size as a Santa Fe 3400 class 4-6-2, but that’s where the resemblance ends. The K-4 has a Belpaire firebox, while the Santa Fe engine doesn’t. That’s quite a bit of filing/grinding. The cab is completely different. Model Die Casting (now part of Athearn) made a couple of ATSF based locos and if you can get hold of the cab off the 4-4-2 or 2-6-2, you’d have your cab. The pilot is completely different and would have to be replaced. Also, the K-4 running boards are mounted lower than those on a 3400 and would have to be redone completely. The 3400 class had an Elesco bundle type feedwater heater mounted on the pilot deck with the cold water pump on the fireman’s side of the loco ahead of the air compressor.
As for a tender, the easiest one to obtain that would be correct would be the