I posted another thread asking who made Fetters Challenger and was told to look into the Bowser kit. I was pleased to find the type of challenger I was looking for in the prototype pictures (second one down). Now the hard part. Does the kit and detailing parts set come with the ability to build both Challenger types or will I need to buy other parts; if so who should I get them from? Also, who makes the tender type I need, I see two listed with the Bowser one, are either these proper type?
Here is the page for the Bowser challenger. http://www.bowser-trains.com/holocos/challenger/challenger.htm
The detail set comes equipped to build a 3900 class challenger. I am sure it will have many useful componets for a 3800 challenger but you are going to have to aquire parts and pieces outside of the detail set to make a 3800 class chalenger. Your biggest challenges are going to be making the altered smoke box door on the front. And installing the single smoke stack. Also the Tender is going to be a trick. The Bowser Semi Vanderbuilt tender offers a Close Eneugh approach. But if you want a more accurate one. Some kit bashing is going to be in order.
Maybe have a look at the Bachmann Spectrum Vanderbilt style of tender they have 3 different length/type of Vanderbilt/Hicken tenders.
I saw some pictures of the Bowser kit and the tender shouldn’t be too much of a problem. What company should I look at for parts, particularly the pilot and the end of the smoke box?
For steam castings/fittings, Same company… They market Cal Scale brass castings and may have what you need… There is also (or use to be, not sure) Precision Scale. I don’t know all the differences between the classes of Challangers so I can’t point you to exact parts.
Good luck,
Jeff
Duke,
Precision Scale Co., Inc. is still very much in business, but it will be some time before they have all 17,000 parts illustrated on their Web site:
http://www.precisionscaleco.com
So, I recommend that you either access their catalogues at your LHS or order copies. You might even find some tender parts to complement what Bowser/CalScale offers.
Bob
NMRA Life 0543
I have been looking at some old photos of the challenger, and it doesn’t appear that any photographers had a love of tenders. Does anybody know of any books that might have drawings of these, Model Railroaders Cyclopedia of steam engines? http://store.yahoo.net/kalmbachcatalog/01001.html
Also, this seems like the kind of thing Model Railroad Craftsmen might do an article on, did they? I checked their website, but you can’t search on their index like you can for Model Railroader.
The MR Steam Locomotive Cyclopedia has drawings of the Fetters Challenger and tender on page 244/245 (at least in the 40 year old edition I have).
Just a thought here: Given the amount of work it would take to convert the later 4-6-6-4 to the earlier one, you might want to consider using one of the later Rivarossi locos rather than a Bowser. You’re going to have to remove the cab and scratchbuild a new one, remove the domes and replace them with smaller ones. The front end of the old challenger is completely different from the newer Challengers which means a new smokebox front and a completely revised pilot deck (not to mention the pilot itself).
Then you have to scratchbuild or kitbash a new tender. The Bowser semi-vanderbilt bears no real resemblance to the early challenger tender. You’d be better off shortening a Rivarossi centipede tender and building a new chassis for it. Unless, of course, you can find a spare tender from a brass model of the FEF-1 4-8-4.
Given the amount of work entailed, if it were my decision, I think I’d start saving my pennies for a brass rendition of the Fetters Challenger.
Oh. Here’s a picture (including tender)
And another:
And another: