Here is a question that may or may not have been asked before. I have an HO scale UP 4-8-4 that I would like to upgrade to FEF-2 or 3 standards by replacing the original tender with a fourteen wheel centipede tender. So the question is, does anyone other than Athearn make an after market UP centipede tender, or would I be better off checking swap-meets and local hobby shops? The reason I ask this is I found some on Athearns website, but it said they were all discontinued and out of stock.
I’ve seen Rivarossi centipede tenders on eBay now and then. One other option is to put working wheels onto a Con-Cor/Monogram Big Boy tender. That’s what I did for my Bowser Challenger when the electrification kit was still available, and with a couple minor upgrades to detail, it looks about as good as a ready to run model.
I’ve done it both ways. Early on I bought a Monogram Kit along with the Bowser Electrification Kit. Later on I found a Rivarossi tender on eBay for $15. Both worked very well.
The Bowser Electrification Kit worked better than the Rivarossi axel wiper pickup.
Thank you Kevin. I’m really interested in it. I’m not sure how to private message you, (maybe my brain isn’t working today. LOL) could you please tell me how?
I have a friend who has a surplus brass centipede tender, and it might be available at a very good price. I believe that it’s an older model, but is in good condition, and my friend is not a greedy person. I’ll speak to him and see what he says, and report back to you.
I spoke with my friend, and he’s promised to look for that tender, and mentioned, too, that he may also have one of the Bowser diecast centipede tenders.
