This one is a conglomeration - USH tender (off the track in honor of Dave); Ed Alexander main frame, which was initially soldered incorrectly, then one side sanded down by some scoundrel in the past. Lobaugh drivers with incorrect counterweights. Scale Craft boiler which was, in the past, used by some irate wife to beat either her train-loving spouse to near death, or to hammer fenceposts into hard ground (I had to make a steel mandrel and hammer a lot more to get it back to conical shape). And, I think, good piping and minor detailing.
Maybe I shall paint it before I depart?
Here is the last one - another relatively stock example:
Correct counterweights, but not the original drivers. Those went to a guy in Florida whose name escapes me - I think his son has his relatively large and well cared-for collection. I do have correct cast iron drivers, but am too lazy to re-tire and fit them at the moment.
Paint is exactly as I received it - very old, with cracks reminiscent of those old mud dry lakes one can see in the desert a few days after a good thunderstorm. I am preserving it as-is.
All of these have giant axle gears; all run quite well. The best ones are the ones with gear on the main driver, but most of mine for some reason are the older ones with the giant housing on the rear axle.
I envy you guys - all out barbequeing, sailing, or otherwise taking a summer break from this weird hobby. More next week, unless somebody starts an interesting thread for me to tag onto.
