I often wonder later what I was thinking acquiring some of my “projects.”
Exhibit ‘A’ this pair of Weaver PRC RF-16s. I’d lusted for a set of Baldwin Sharks since I was a teenager, later passing on brass sets due to the cost, recognizing my lack of skill with soldering as even back then I typically and compulsively re-finished everything. The only prototype I was really interested in anyway was Monongahela’s former NYC versions (though EJ&E’s original DR-4-4-1500 set are now on that list too.)
So when this Weaver AB set showed up in an estate sale last year for cheap, I jumped on it, even though it was a 3 to 2R conversion, decked out in PRR Brunswick w/antennas.. Basically the original owner took the PRC manufactured AB set and replaced the China-drive chassis with an older US Weaver FA chassis while leaving the dummy B-unit on the factory plate chassis. Since the un-powered, heavy B unit cast chassis was destroying the A unit’s US drive I decided to install another US chassis/drive into the B unit. While the PRC Weaver PVC shell has a different mounting screw post pattern than the original US FA chassis, that version’s styrene chassis was easily modified to match the PRC shell by re-locating/drilling new mounting screw holes and cementing the end stirrups for the nose or 'A' end of the chassis to the shell.
Voila; the remaining visual issue's the original owner’s conversion with the alignment of the plastic spacer insert filling the gap between the formerly truck mounted pilot and the car body.
Should be smooth from frame rail to the pilot but unfortunately is skewed with a misaligned set screw and lazily shaped fit. *sigh*
Clearly I'm over that, the rest of this shook out as follows; had to replace some cracked U-joints in the original A unit’s drive. Installed some P&D parts including an additional stirrup behind the pilot, nose hand grabs, horns, scratched fire-cracker antenna and new glazing. I’m pretty sure I would’ve passed on the whole project without K4Supply’s decal set for this but had to struggle to get some of that to fit these Weaver shells. I suspect some fudging on Weaver’s dimensions though the decals might have some issues too. Too late now.
Since this Weaver pair came with a B unit instead of another A unit I was relieved to discover that the K4 set included an accurate road number for the sole B unit the road briefly operated. Ideally, I need another A unit but settled for lighting up the B unit’s headlight. These ex-NYC cab sets operated as coal tractors and transfer service engines on the MRR supplementing that road’s large 27 unit (and by 1968 worn out) roster of Baldwin S12’s.
