Southern Pacific Steam 2020

[rogruth]

Bob,
Thanks for the color answer. The way my eyes are now I need to take some clothing outside to see the real colors.
I like the colors of the locos.

[bob turner]

Not me, man. I do not want to know when I get real colops.

Here's a scratch-built S-9 in 17/64 scale. Tender drive, but in lieu of boiler flues I have a big slug of brass in the boiler above the center driver. I have several like this - all pull like crazy. Next one will have firebox and flue sheets. No reason not to . . .

[rogruth]

OK, I fixed it.

Bob,
Would it be possible to show the various sizes of O scale next to each other so the differences in size can be seen?
1/4". 17/64", P 48, 5' gauge. I probably missed something.

[bob turner]

I am sure it is possible. Not sure I can help much - I can show you 17/64 next to 1/4" scale, but the rest will be somebody else. 17/64" to the foot scale makes the track gauge almost perfect 4'8 1/2".

[bob turner]

This is a 17/64 prewar Lobaugh (nee Pratt) SP switcher. It is essentially stock, no rivets on cab, no boiler bands, but pretty darn good for 1938. The engine number is the same as found on the S-10 at Deming, New Mexico, which I visit periodically. It is behind a fence now, but used to be in the middle of a dirt parking lot, and remained unmolested for the better part of a half-century.



TCA Western appropriated a lot of my photos without attribution for a "Lobaugh" posting - this one shows up in that posting. Let me see if I can find a link.

[bob turner]

I cannot bear to let this die - last night I dug out one of the remaining Pratt/Lobaugh 0-6-0s for finishing and a new tender. I discovered that, apparently, the Pratt slope back tender and the postwar Lobaugh tender are the same size, in spite of the locomotive itself being either 17/64, or perhaps a bit larger than that. I shall get photos as I proceed.

Looking at the oil tank on 1221 may spur me to fix its tilt. Maybe.

Did I do my 2-10-2s and SP 4-10-2s in this thread?

[bob turner]

Nope? Well, I shall fix that. This was my first attempt at an SP "Deck"

[J. S. Bach]

Nice.

[rogruth]

Nice.

Of course. Have never seen anything from Bob that wasn't.
I think he sells anything not up to his standards using a false name.
Probably would still be better than anything I could do.

[bob turner]

I occasionally sell stuff. My eBay presence is "feralinda". Next will be some Overland USRa Mikados, then maybe the Overland PRR PAs.

I know this is not steam, but it is steam related, since it approximates a coach pulled from San Diego to Calexico by Harriman Ten wheelers and Consolidations. I mostly use Walthers 9122 and 9123 coaches for both Harriman and PRR cars - they do not really match the prototype, but I am far happier with them than I am with the PSC cars I have around here.

[bob turner]

One of my favorite types is the SP Class 4-10-2. These are three cylinder giants with Gresley valve gear. Our friend Jay C has provided me with some stunningly good Gresley levers, and Dennis did lots of castings for these giant 17/64 models. Unlike some of my recent locomotives, these are fully functional on 74" radius curves, and have been broken in with 12 car freight trains. Both of my SP 3-cylinder steam (and the big Baldwin) have center main rods that "work." I do not do cranked axles, preferring the eccentric style for mechanical simplicity.

Of interest - at one point I had these double-shotted with 1/4"scale "Decks". The difference in size is not as obvious as one might think.

Here is my second effort - before paint:

[bob turner]

Guess I shall finish what I started - resurrecting lost photos. Here is the same locomotive with a little paint here and there:

[bob turner]

This was my first attempt at a 3-cylinder. Vince Robinson dropped in with five axles of perfect coined brass drivers, and I just could not help myself. This one has a major flaw, which I could easily fix - the cab sits too high. This is an easy mistake to make; only the SP Decks and 4-10-2s had cabs nestled down on the firebox. Since this photo was taken I made a new lower lid for the turret cover, and that helps some.

Also note the tender - I bet I have more varied SP tender models than any other kid on the block. This one was delivered with the first 4-10-2s, and was rapidly replaced with a 16,000 gallon tank.

[rogruth]

Bob,
I am sure that the unpainted locos show the builders craftsmanship to better advantage but I like painted locos better if they are supposed to be.
Great looking locos.

[bob turner]

Thanks, Roger. I agree - but paints have changed, and I have not mastered the new products yet. Water-based paint requires a different skill set - easily mastered, but I have not taken the time. The Paasche Model H is languishing practically on the floor of my hangar. That, and when you buy paint these days, you better be prepared to use it - shelf lives are now six months! I have paint from the 1960s that is still good, and two prized bottles of Stewart-Lundahl colors that may get opened for the first time in 3/4 century to paint a box car or two!

This one is a creature of the whimsy that strikes around here - I do not regard prototype accuracy as a talisman around here, and this puppy has no prototype. I have no idea what drove that tender underframe - I may have over-done it. This one has a heart pump motor, but may someday get converted to tender drive.