As some of you may know, I’ve been working on building a Bowser 4-6-6-4 Challenger for nearly two years now. Today, I finally finished it![:D]
The accomplishment today that finished it was adding all the decals, which took about two hours. I think they turned out very nice.[:D][:D]
The other things I’ve done since the last time I took pictures are:
I made some simple shock absorber details which are visible above the drive wheels,
I add
Nice work, Darth! How does she run? I’m sure it could tow a trailer home, with all of that diecast weight.
So the tender is from one of those Monogram kits? Looks good. [tup]
It runs very well.[:D] Mostly smooth except for a slight wobble (big wobble around an 18" radius), and fairly quiet…for a big metal steam engine, anyway.[:D] I bet it could easily pull over 100 cars, since it weighs in at over 2 lbs.[:D] The boiler’s hollow, so another pound of lead could be easily added.
Yup, it’s a Monogram tender. Once you replace the molded on railings like I did, they look very nice.[:D]
That’s about 1/2 pounds of tractive effort [8D]. Now to find the drawbar push/pull stick a scale in front of it and crank up the throttle! I suggest removing the couplers first. Then push around a properly weighted car and do some math to find out how many cars it can pull.
And it looks GREAT!
Thanks for sharing your challenger with the forum. It looks great. Congratulations! Take a bow! [bow]
My Bowsers are a 4-8-4 (lettered NP), a 4-8-2 (lettered ATSF), and a 4-4-4-4 (PRR T1). The T1 with its two motors and 5 lbs of weight will pull anything I put behind it.
Have you changed out the pittman motors for HelixHumpers or equivilants? I made a PRR T1 years ago and found that the stall current with the pittmans was almost 2amps…
David
Very Nice work.
I have a Boser Challange sitting in my basement in it box.
I started it many, Many years ago. I could not get the Quartering of the drivers correct. That is as far as I got.
Happy to hear of your success.
[bow][bow][bow]
an amazing accomplishment . if i wore a hat it would be off to you !
Very nice looking work indeed. Congratulations.
Spike, why did you have trouble with quartering ? All the Bowsers I have seen had the drivers and axles already assembled and properly quartered. (stupid button) I would contact Bowser and I am almost sure they could help you out.
That is an exellent job!
With all of the Challengers available ready-to-run, I think you did the hobby proud by building a challenging kit. The results stand shoulder-to-shoulder with any high-end RTR or brass Challenger.
Good work![tup]
I’m not a steam man, but I appreciate fantastic work. That is one fine looking machine.
Darth, you have done very well judging by the photos. I offer my congtratulations, though, not only for your achievement, but for seeing a two year project through. Two years is not a long time in this hobby, but taking pains to build such a model over that period is a testament to your courage and determination.
Good show! [tup]
Thanks everyone for the nice comments.[:)]
cheese4432, I never thought of finding the drawbar pull that way. I may have to try that.
Heartland Division CB&Q, I also have a PRR T1 and I bet it could pull about 50 passenger cars around a huge layout, but I don’t have either right now.[:(] Mine’s from the newest run of T1s, which have Bowser’s new skewed DCC ready DC-71s and a headlight, and have been modified to run on 18" curves, but they still run better on larger curves.
davidmbedard, the Bowser Challengers and Big Boys are the only engines that don’t have any remotor kits for them, but the new DC-71 motor runs very well, so it doesn’t really need a new motor.
spikejones52002, if the drivers are out of quarter, I’m sure Bowser can help you. If you have the old disk drivers on yours, you may even want to get some of Bowser’s newer boxpok drivers for it. They’re quartered very well, and come with more durable black plastic gears.
While I’m thinking about T1s, does anyone know what kind of passenger cars they pulled?
Looks nice. Are the 4th & 5th tender axels blind?
Photos I have seen suggest they were often pre and post-war heavyweights.
Probably P-70s, for the most part.
Nice job on the Challenger - I’m kinda busy right now, but I’m planning on building one of those K-11s and customizing it like I did the 2-10-2.
Heavyweights. And what a job!
Darth,
WOW!!! Did you put DCC in it…? Man, looks GORGEOUS!!! Give us tips on how you painted her!
Brian
T1s were often used with lightweight Pullmans on the PRR Blue Ribbon Fleet of overnight trains. The T1 was often seen with cars in the 1939-era lightweight 2-tone tuscan PRR “Fleet of Modernism” scheme.
By the time the T1 came around, many of the P70s were in use on locals and commuter runs. I do, however, find photos of T1s with P70s and even non-air-conditioned heavyweight Pullmans!
So, you P-70s will work. I’d also look for a few Pullmans and mix 'em up. A few of Pennsy’s trains had dedicated matched sets (Broadway Limited, Traliblazer), but many had a hodgepodge of coaches, sleepers, diners, and such.
Hello Thanks Darth. You had to raise the bar. It only took 2 years I would hate to see it if you took your time.[:D] No really you did a great job keep up the good work. frank