Union Pacific vol 2

[up148]

Hi Bob,

Feel free! Those are photos from the Sofue book showing all his models and I got them from Greg. I never found a copy of the book to buy nor a Sofue BB. There were only 25 BB made and I expect they are in some of the highest quality collections around the world. Last I heard, selling price is expected to be in the $15-25K range..........way beyond my budget. But, I actually never heard of one for sale or being sold..........very rare indeed.

[E7]

There was an interesting piece on Sofue on Brass Trains "Monday Morning Express". Fred Hill had a Japanese friend in tow, that talked about the master: "Sofue San had saki on one side and cigarettes on the other. He would solder, take a sip of saki, smoke, and the doze off, only to wake up and work and repeat." They mentioned that he used a pipe which he blew through to perform his soldering process. Guessing (emphasis on guessing) that he used the pipe to blow the melted solder into the joints of his models. Glad I don't have the hots for a Sofue Big Boy!

Below is the link to the episode of "Monday Morning Express" where Fred Hill and Kenichi Matsumoto talk about Sofue San

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyZ0iJKFY4w

A few Sofue models are shown

[bob turner]

I would happily move them here, but if Butch didn't take them they are copyright somebody else. Still, really worth visiting the OGR "Union Pacific" thread. i will get a link in a minute.

[bob turner]

One of our readers who would love to join and post sent me this:

I had a table at a March many years ago across from what turned out to be Sofue. There was no one at the table all morning on Saturday shortly after lunch a Japanese gentleman sat down at the table with two oak cases. Another gentleman arrived shortly afterward he opened the two oak cases an envelope changed hands he left with the two oak cases and the Japanese gentleman left. Afterward someone told that the Japanese gentleman was Sofue and the two oak cases contained Sofue custom locomotives. I never did find out who the buyer was. That was my introduction to Sofue models.

[up148]

I don't know Bob. Maybe they are and maybe they aren't. I didn't and don't worry about it. If someone contacts me claiming ownership and wants them removed, I would...........but I feel that is a very remote possibility in O scale.

[up148]

Thanks for posting this Rich. I've never seen that episode and will look at it in its entirety later. The 1st loco they show is the Sofue built UP FEF-2. I owned one (SN 327) for 3-4 years, but sold it through BT 2 years ago. Although an incredible model, it had errors, like most others models, regardless of builder or importer and since I still have my KTM/USA FEF-3 I figured I didn't need two great FEF.........never regretted the decision.

I've never heard of Sofue coming to the USA, but a fellow named Tad Daito was kind of his good will ambassador and went to OSW for several years. He was selling the Sofue model books, but I learned about him too late and never found a copy to buy. But I did find his contact info and we communicated for a few years. He had many Sofue re-powered locos on his layout and built/sold a very low rolling resistance freight car truck. He sent me a video of 160 cars being pulled by one Sofue repowered H7 loco.

Sofue has always fascinated me. Below is a list of the locos Sofue personally built. 10 BigBoys makes that model a really rare piece.

Model Qty Serial Number
UP Big Boy 10 Not Inscribed
UP Big Boy 20 101 thru 120
C&NWH-1 15 121 thru 135
CB&Q 0-5a 22 140 thru 161
C&NWH-1 7 170 thru 176
SP 4·10-2 35 180 thru 214
SF 4-6-4 36 240 thru 275
PRR DD-'i 16 280 thru 311
UP FEF-2,3 17 320 thru 336

[bob turner]

I will, of course, never compete with USH, let alone Sofue, but I think I forgot to put a "baby" Challenger in this thread. So here is one of my three Lobaugh UP Fetters (1940?) Challengers. I don't think I did much of the work, but I can be excused, because I have done maybe four Lobaugh Challengers from fragments (often cut upon by over-zealous Dremel users) and a Big Boy.

One of the motivations is that last night I finished Carey's tender - have only to bead blast and paint - and it turned out better than the two I have on hand, neither of which I assembled. These, like their Jabelmann counterparts, are devilishly difficult to get together without warping the sides.

Pretty sure I have not posted this one before - but not positive:

[bob turner]

Yes - I posted on the old 2020 UP Steam thread - presumably before I had a Shutterfly account, since many of my Challenger projects are posted there, yet not in my Shutterfly albums. So excuse the repetition. Someday I shall do dummy driver springs on all these older models.

I note being panicked about having grease and oil freeze up on my scratchbuilt Pacific - I am always careful to over-lubricate! I have not run a train in two years (roof leaked) so I bet nothing runs at all around here.

I better head for the airport - it is 81, with 75% humidity - unheard of in San Diego - so getting a big fan in front of me is a good idea!

[86TA355SR]

Interesting information on Sofue. Fortunate to have a few of his drives.

Here’s a quick project I finished.

[up148]

Nice Aaron!

[E7]

Here’s a quick project I finished.

Looking good!

[bob turner]

I agree. Put some scenery around it and you wouldn't know it was a model!

[E7]

I agree. Put some scenery around it and you wouldn't know it was a model!

Except the trip pin on that Kadee coupler stands out like a sore thumb.

[Erik C Lindgren]

Great looking stuff fellas

[bob turner]

I just got some forwarded photos of Butch's new UP turbine. While it is plastic and HO (I don't do either) it is a true work of art.