Darth, PCM makes there brass big boy with the rear drivers rigid to the frame. It does 26" radii apparently.
Yes, but it’s still a limited edition brass model. What I said earlier (2 years ago now![:O]) is the Bowser models are the only non-brass ones with true articulation. I’ve heard (and seen) the PCM brass Big Boy is also the most detailed HO model in existence. If only I had an extra $3,000 to burn…
Just a thought, but why not just paint the worm gear flat black? If it was mine, I really wouldn’t let it bother me. Great job.
A better idea might be to blacken it (I think Micro-Mark makes blackening fluid). If the worm were painted, the paint could chip off all over and cause all sorts of problems.
While I was typing this, I decided to look for the blackening stuff. It’s called Neolube. It blackens, lubricates, and improves electrical conductivity, all in one! I might have to get me some-a that.[:D]
http://www.ares-server.com/Ares/Ares.asp?MerchantID=RET01229&Action=Catalog&Type=Product&ID=83181
I am going to guess that this is by Aster; I don’t know fur shur just how much the Challenger is but I saw either a Challenger or one of their Big Boys in a display case at The Train Shop in Santa Clara, Calif a few years back and it had a $13,500.00 price tag on it if I remember right!
Reserve two of them in my name: I’ll pay for them at 2:35 on the afternoon of July the 23rd in the year of our Lord 2057. Oh yes, that time is Pacific Daylight Time.
Darth Santa Fe, I am jealous with envy . . . . . . . . . . sheer . . . . . . . . . . unadulterated . . . . . . . . . . envy; not only that but I just ruined a shirt with drool!
I ordered one of these models while stationed in Germany in the early '70s but they were out of stock. I was going to use a centipede a friend of mine in Taxachusetts had salvaged from a brass-something or other that had taken a plunge to the floor and been destroyed but when I couldn’t get the Challenger I didn’t buy it. Some years later when the model did become available I found out that my friend in Taxachusetts had passed on so I never did wind up putting one together.
I did, however, put together a Bowser K11 and a USRA Mountain; a bit of work but they ran like a finely crafted watch.
I am impressed!!! That is one you can be proud of for sure!!!
Darth, can it be made DCC with sound? What radius can it handel? I have gotten much better at tearing down steam engines and fixing them so buliding one may not be out of reach. Far past where I was when you helped me with the Mess I sent you
Is there any speical tools need to quater the drive. From what little I know this is the part that seems the hardest. Working the metal should not be tuff for me.
New section will have to have some 18" but more than likely 20" + turns. Will map that out my next 2 days off. Plus want to push 10 to 15 coal cars up a 3% grade to the mine. I am all so getting a little bored buying engines.
I am sure your Challenger would out pull my PCM Y6-b but it is a power house in it’s own right.
Time to sleep with images of Challenger dancing in my head.
Ken
You know, I don’t have the patience or time to build a challenger. I’ll stick with my Genesis challenger.
Ken, I’m pretty sure that the drivers are already quartered on the axles. The tricky part is getting all the bits of the valve gear and side rods in the right place.
The motor is isolated from the frame, so yes, it can be made to have DCC and Sound. Before you do, you’ll want to do a couple things before installing it, since the stock driveline is too noisy to hear sound over. First, you’ll want to replace the stock Athearn style couplings with good quality ones. This is where most of the noise comes from. You’ll also want to try putting some sort of sound dampener in the hollow boiler, since the tube shape seems to amplify motor noise.
The Challengers can handle curves down to an 18" radius, but at that tightness, the boiler has a 1" over-hang![:O] Better make sure there are no trees growing that close to the track!
The drivers should be perfectly quartered from the factory. I’ve built four Bowsers so far, and none of them have had out-of-quarter drivers. If you do somehow get one like that, NWSL makes a quartering tool (“The Quarterer”).
The Bowser Challenger should be able to handle those curves fine. It should also be able to push that many cars up a 45 degree angle![:D] It already w
I got this message from caboose in Denver when I asked about this kit:
“Magnus, The Bowser Challenger is an old style kit that was popular in the 1960’s. Compared with the newer technology these old models look and run very very poorly. I would suggest you not attempt one. I’m not sure if all the parts are still available from Bowser. The extra detailing kits are essential and I doubt that are still available. The total cost would be over $200.00 and you are left with a third rate model, even if you assemble it with great care.”
How do you guys feel towards that statement?
Magnus
If you check Bowser’s website http://bowser-trains.com/holocos/challenger/challenger.htm, the kit AND the superdetail parts are listed and should be available.
Churchy
I feel they’re heavily underrating them. The only problems with Bowser’s Challengers are the over-sized boiler (about 5 scale inches on each side) and exposed driveline. Other than that, they’re great models.[:D] $200 isn’t bad either, considering the next one up (Athearn’s) is over $400.
Maybe whoever it was that sent you that response should see this topic [:D]:
http://www.trains.com/TRC/CS/forums/1132087/ShowPost.aspx
(The Challenger is FINALLY finished!)
Well, the great thing about that response was that they can hardly be accused of pushing it on to me!
Magnus
Woooow… Impressive!
My question is; what do you do with these monsters? (DD40, Big Boy, est) [:D]