At least three years ago, a friend of mine from up in New Jersey who is a collector had me paint a couple of his PFM 1520 class 4-8-2s. Then he saw a model of the SLSF 1527 that I had done for a Doctor in Michigan many years ago and asked if I would do the same for him. What he wanted was a display model. He wanted me to take the motor and gearbox out and close up the firebox and bottom of the boiler just like the prototype. I am ashamed it took me as long as it did to finish it. I would work on it a bit and then do something else. Finally this January I decided he had suffered enough so I finished it. He is very happy with it, which makes me very happy. The views I am posting here are the "semi-finals" before I straightened up everything that was crooked including the cab, striping on the right side of the tender. But you get the idea.
Don, It looks gorgeous. My 4-8-2 1520 class is in the hands of a local artist who has built a back head for it and adding the back head details per the pictures that were in Mainline Modeler some years ago. He will then paint and decal it as well. I hope mine turns out as beautifully.
Beautiful model. Shame the owner only wanted it for display, it ought to be running someplace! Tom G.
Don, The canvas cab curtain is an especially nice touch.. Was it part of the kit or a Don Wirth addition? It looks like it is thin brass sheet folded? Best Regards,
It is .002 sheet brass folded. I added them as a crowning touch. I have not done that on any of my engines. I will be happy if I can just finish the ones I have in process before I croak.
I was very fortunate to see some progress photographs of Don's efforts on this locomotive What a museum grade effort. It is truly a work of art. To see it completed to this state is exciting for me as well. He was working on this while helping me thru my first brass steam locomotive project. I was grateful Don took the time to explain several things to me about how these models work best. He was and is an invaluable resource for insight and knowledge of all things steam for sure. Without Don's help my project would still be in a big box of little baggies, with screws, parts and springs. What a fantastic project Don, thanks for showing us.
Just a super modeling job! But it is still a shame that this "centerfold" beauty will not be running on a layout someplace. Tom G.
Admiring Don's terrific 4-8-2 SLSF 1520 model reminded me of the mention in Collias' Frisco Power, page 167, that at some point in its history that engine had a large rebuilt tender. I recently bought a copy of Locomotive Quarterly, Fall 1977,. In there on page 47 was a picture of 4-8-2 SLSF 1528 and it also had a similar large tender. According to Collias, SLSF 1520's tender had been rebuilt as a result of an accident. Does anyone know the history of SLSF 1528's big tender? Thanks, Tom G.
Frisco 4-8-2 SLSF 1528 was in a pretty bad wreck and the tender got trashed. SLSF 1520 was in a head on collision with the 2-8-2 SLSF 4208 down in Mississippi and both engines got badly damaged. When they emerged from the shop, they had these welded jobs behind them. SLSF 4208 was rebuilt and the Baker valve gear was replaced with Walshaerts valve gear. It was the only one of the 20 4200s that did not have Baker valve gear.
