3rd Rail K2a has arrived

[NW Modeling List]

Somebody needs to measure the driving wheel diameter and check the axle spacing . . .

EdK (the old curmudgeon)

From: NW Modeling List 
Sent: Wednesday, April 13, 2011 10:06 PM
To: NW Modeling List 
Subject: Re: 3rd Rail K2a has arrived

Thanks Harold.

The one thing that bothered me was the pop valves.  The model seems to have 4.  I thought only the J had 4. But my memory may be wrong.

I was on No. 4 at Lynchburg while loading mail and I heard three of the 4 pop valves go off.  Most god awful sound I have ever heard.  

Who made the model and what is the price tag?  I would like to have one.

Jim Blackstock 


At 08:42 PM 4/13/2011, you wrote:

  All: I have also received my streamlined K2a and am very pleased with the model overall. However, there are some detail issues present on the model. First, while getting the contour of the skyline casing in front of the stack correct, there is a problem with the plated piping across the casing. The plated piping is supposed to be graduated with the shortest on top and working down with each piping detail about a couple of inches longer. On the model they are all about the same lenght. Second, the enclosure under the nose does not have the two ventilations grilles. This is not a problem since they were added in 1955. But it does place the model in the period 1949 to 1955. Third, the bell is located under the crowling on fireman's side but not on the pilot beam on a bracket as it should be. The bell appears to be attached to the underside of the steps. The bells on the K2a's were moved to the pilot beam in mid-1953. So the model now is limited to 1953 to 1955. I plan to move the bell on my model back to the top of the boiler behind the sand box in the opening provided. Fourth, and the major detail mistake in my opinion, is the mix up between the stoker motor and the coal conveyers in the cab. The K2a's were built with Duplex stokers but when the engines were rebuilt in 1945-46 with new fireboxes they got Standard stokers. The model has the correct Standard stoker motor under the cab but has the two Duplex coal conveyers in the cab on each side of the firedoor. The conveyers are placed in such a way that the engineer and fireman are trapped in their seats. I plan to remove the Duplex conveyers and add the correct detail for a Standard stoker to the cab. Sixth, the tender is a 22E. The K2a's were equipped with both 22E and 22F tenders. The model I have is #126 - was equipped with a 22E which is correct. However, the push pole is located up under the tender frame and doesn't show. It needs to be placed on brackets at the side of the tender below the frame where it can be seen. The rear of the tender is not equipped with either an air hose or a steam connection. It could also used cab signel induction coils extending down from the rear beam so that it can operate on the Hagerstown Division.  Now for painting.  The stripe on the engine and tender is too dull. The red looks more PRR than N&W and the gold is washed out. The headlight casing looks fine straight on but need some of the black paint removed to display a plated lens casing frame when viewed from the side. The pilot wheels are too shiney. A spray of flat black will correct this problem. The solid wheels were added in 1949 when the engine trucks received roller bearings. So with solid pilot wheels and no grille (N&W spelling) the model would date to between 1949 and 1953, if the bell is moved back to the top of the boiler. Cab window sashes should be painted orange not black. The tender decal lettering is very weak and there is no tender number. The tender number assigned to tender with #126 was #220129.  
  While most of the issues I have presented are not major and can be corrected with a little work. I had hoped for better, but in any case we now have an excellent model of a streamlined K2a and we can add detail and repaint as fits our mind's image of what a K2a should look like. Harold Davenport      

  --- On Tue, 4/12/11, NW Modeling List <nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org> wrote:



    From: NW Modeling List <nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org>

    Subject: Re: 3rd Rail K2a has arrived

    To: "NW Modeling List" <nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org>

    Date: Tuesday, April 12, 2011, 9:45 AM


    Tom,

        I've been too busy to get it on the track yet.


      
    Jimmy


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