Weekend Update 10/12/25

[peteski]

I've been try to get a decent running Q1B since they came out. I ran into Rick Spano during N Scale Weekend and he showed me what he did with his. I lost the original pilot for this one, so I cobbled up a step pilot from styrene and brass. Couldn't go all brass because I need to be insulted from the frame halves.

When I first laid my eyes on that photo I thought it was H0 or or even larger scale model. Such very fine side rods and valve gear are not often seen in N scale. Very impressive, but then brass N scale steam locos often included such fine details.  Only when my eyes moved to the Kadee/MTL couplper height gauge I realized that it was an N scale model.

Too bad many plastic N scale steam models have much cruder looking valve gear.

[haasmarc]

I've been try to get a decent running Q1B since they came out. I ran into Rick Spano during N Scale Weekend and he showed me what he did with his. I lost the original pilot for this one, so I cobbled up a step pilot from styrene and brass. Couldn't go all brass because I need to be insulted from the frame halves.

But it runs great now, of course. Now I have to find a small sound decoder for it. Lots of room in the tender for it.

-Buddy

Ok, so spill the beans.  What did you have to do?  What mech?  I need to do the same.

[Jesse6669]

I've been try to get a decent running Q1B since they came out.

What in the name of.. ???!!  It looks like an Bachman Dockside rammed a 2-6-0 and they just welded them together.

I was somewhat relieved to find this was not based on a real loco (ok maybe loosely on Reading Camelbacks).  Really nice looking running gear on your improved version! 

[up1950s]

I've been try to get a decent running Q1B since they came out. I ran into Rick Spano during N Scale Weekend and he showed me what he did with his. I lost the original pilot for this one, so I cobbled up a step pilot from styrene and brass. Couldn't go all brass because I need to be insulted from the frame halves.

But it runs great now, of course. Now I have to find a small sound decoder for it. Lots of room in the tender for it.

-Buddy

The running gear on that really looks nice . I am surprized I have not seen any adaptations to other boilers or steam chests to make a 2-6-0 .

[up1950s]

I have so many brick buildings I need to paint in York and I hadn't found a spray bomb color that I had liked for a while. The oxide primers I used to use have changed and the new formulas have looked too dark or brown to match the area's common color.

Well, I was in Ace the other day and checked their selection. Turns out their house brand primer is exactly what I wanted.

That's allowed me to break a huge log jam in my quest to make York actually look like something.

So, on top of trying out my paint marker trick on the windows of this building I also painted up a white sided building and spray bombed a dozen or so other structures.

(Attachment Link)

That grey colored sky looks like an overcast day . Less change in color from horizon to straight up naturally . I have not seen that modeled before . Is that your plan ? What color is that ?

[haasmarc]

What in the name of.. ???!!  It looks like an Bachman Dockside rammed a 2-6-0 and they just welded them together.

I was somewhat relieved to find this was not based on a real loco (ok maybe loosely on Reading Camelbacks).  Really nice looking running gear on your improved version!

Jessie, it is a Philadelphia and Reading Q-1.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/395665686321#:~:text=This%20RDG%20reading%20railroad%20Q%2D1%20P&R%20381,is%20a%20must%2Dhave%20for%20any%20railroad%20enthusiast.

[Jesse6669]

   I'll be!  Weird looking beast.

[BuddyBorders]

Ok, so spill the beans.  What did you have to do?  What mech?  I need to do the same.

Thanks All! I used the Kato C11 chassis and scraped a little out of the smokebox end of the boiler and it just about drops on and lines up nicely. The back half is styrene as it's a split frame mech, so I was concerned about shorting it out with solid brass. The front of the pilot is Z brass super glued on after shaping for the coupler and drop steps.

I used a piece of 0.010" styrene as an alignment piece under the rear styrene plate as a guide on the split frame. Then some 0.060" square on the sides of the frame area to help align and support things better. On a whim, I super glued the assembly to the frame and it seems to work OK. And a 00-90 screw for the coupler of course. If you  look close in the unpainted pic attached, you can get an idea of what I did.

It's light years ahead of trying to stuff a Sagami 10x13 motor in the original mech like I was trying years ago.

-Buddy

[OldEastRR]

So basically a Lima shell put on a Kato Japanese loco chassis.

[haasmarc]

Since they were obviously doing a Q-1, you'd think they would get the sand dome and the bell in the right location. 

[randgust]

Mark (Spookshow) doesn't just hand out "C" grades, you have to earn them, so making his into something that resembles a performing locomotive gets a special award from somewhere.  And in all actuality, it should be less than a "C".  Open fire:
"I don't know if it's because they didn't age well or if they were simply cursed from the get-go by their bad design. But whatever the case, the mechanism is prone to binding, the aforementioned pancake motor is a joke and the pickup is horrendous. As such, it's nearly impossible to find one of these in working condition. They show up often enough on eBay, but 90% of them are DOA. Sadly, the ones that do kinda/sorta "run" often sell for in excess of $50. This despite the fact that these locomotives are, for the most part, another example of Lima dreck. And be careful when purchasing these used - in addition to not running at all, 90% of them seem to be missing their bells as well."

So as a guy that completely rebuilt a 1968 Jamco Pacific, and just (finally) finished a DCC and sound equipped Trix Decapod..... I SALUTE YOU!

[BuddyBorders]

So basically a Lima shell put on a Kato Japanese loco chassis.

Exactly!

[BuddyBorders]

Mark (Spookshow) doesn't just hand out "C" grades, you have to earn them, so making his into something that resembles a performing locomotive gets a special award from somewhere.  And in all actuality, it should be less than a "C".  Open fire:
"I don't know if it's because they didn't age well or if they were simply cursed from the get-go by their bad design. But whatever the case, the mechanism is prone to binding, the aforementioned pancake motor is a joke and the pickup is horrendous. As such, it's nearly impossible to find one of these in working condition. They show up often enough on eBay, but 90% of them are DOA. Sadly, the ones that do kinda/sorta "run" often sell for in excess of $50. This despite the fact that these locomotives are, for the most part, another example of Lima dreck. And be careful when purchasing these used - in addition to not running at all, 90% of them seem to be missing their bells as well."

So as a guy that completely rebuilt a 1968 Jamco Pacific, and just (finally) finished a DCC and sound equipped Trix Decapod..... I SALUTE YOU!

Thank you for the High Praise! Coming from you it means a lot. It was a fun project and one I've been wanting to do for decades. I really enjoyed watching your fine running locos at Altoona in 2024. Very impressive!

-Buddy

[jpwisc]

Progress on some projects. I got my AS16 its first coat of paint and wrapped up an old mow project. The utility box was something I picked up on Shapeways years ago, it was nice to get it painted and done.
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