Is this sacrilege to do this to a new kato fef?

[draskouasshat]

Is it bad when the saw starts cutting up a new kato FEF mechanism?   

Adam Draskovich
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[peteski]

Not if it results in some custom one-of-a-kind model from Adam!   

[altohorn25]

Depends on what you're going to do to it 

[mu26aeh]

 

[mmagliaro]

The mightiest models on earth begin with a single saw cut.

[Chris333]

Re-powering the brass loco?

[atsf_arizona]

Not all!  Cut!  Saw!  Pilfer!  Rah!

(what are you making?)

[draskouasshat]

Chris nailed it. The key Santa Fe northern was bought cheap($150) due to mechanism problems that even i couldn't get fixed and running right. Last month,  i managed to buy a non working(needs a new motor) kato fef for $75. Now it's time to combine the two!

I love the key northerners looks over the hallmarks i own. The hallmarks boilers are too long as they used the same boiler for the 2-10-4 and 4-8-4 to save money. The hallmarks ruin beautifully but the keys look better with the right proportions.

Now it's time to have a beautiful and great running northern to go with my kato gs-4 Santa fe conversions and my hallmarks.

Adam Draskovich

[mmagliaro]

Now I'm interested in what you did to that Key/Yulim Northern before giving up on it.  Dimly in the background, it looks like you put in a new motor and flywheel, and the worm is in its own set of bearings instead of hanging way out on the motor shaft itself.
Those are good improvements.   And it still doesn't run right?   

[draskouasshat]

Unfortunately the crank pin on the main drive is the culprit. I've remotored it and added apecos river brass mohawk gear retrofit kit. The drivers keep giving me fits though.

[Cajonpassfan]

I love the key northerners looks over the hallmarks i own. The hallmarks boilers are too long as they used the same boiler for the 2-10-4 and 4-8-4 to save money....

Adam Draskovich

Adam, this is an often repeated statement (saw it on the internet, must be true) but it's not correct. There are differences in the Hallmark Texas boiler, and the prototype 2-10-4 wheelbase was only 2" longer than the 4-8-4 and the boiler length is within 18". When you measure the boiler diameters, neither the Hallmark or the Key are quite right, and I happen to think the Key is proportionally closer to the 3751 class than the 3776/2900. But a lot of this is art more than science and I look forward to see how your model turns out. It's a lot of work and I wish you success!
Otto

[draskouasshat]

Adam, this is an often repeated statement (saw it on the internet, must be true) but it's not correct. There are differences in the Hallmark Texas boiler, and the prototype 2-10-4 wheelbase was only 2" longer than the 4-8-4 and the boiler length is within 18". When you measure the boiler diameters, neither the Hallmark or the Key are quite right, and I happen to think the Key is proportionally closer to the 3751 class than the 3776/2900. But a lot of this is art more than science and I look forward to see how your model turns out. It's a lot of work and I wish you success!
Otto

Youre right otto. The hallmarks sure do seem awfully long. I guess i better get a ruler on them next time I'm home.

Adam Draskovich

[robert3985]

Hey Adam,

I've got a new Kato FEF on the workbench all apart for superdetailing purposes, so no, it's not sacrilege.

However, I'd be very happy to take the FEF parts you don't use off your hands!  I'm not kidding...    I've got a plan developing in my brain about an FEF-2, and an FEF "early version" with no Worthington feedwater heater...your spare parts would help those projects.

Cheerio!
Bob Gilmore

[Cajonpassfan]

Youre right otto. The hallmarks sure do seem awfully long. I guess i better get a ruler on them next time I'm home.

Adam Draskovich

Lol, the protos were awfully long as well
Otto

[draskouasshat]

Very true otto! I'll just make sure to keep these models out of double heading with each other.

Bob,  let me do some thinking on it. Its hard for me to get rid of steam engine parts!  Lol