In Stagner's book "Steam Locomotives of the Frisco Line" he lists the tonnage ratings of the 1060 4-6-4s at 55, the 1500s without booster at 56, and the 1500s with booster at 66.
"Outstanding" would be an understatement. This Hudson and all the steam models you post are awesome. When I enlarge the images and stare at them I imagine the sounds and smells and heat from the prototypes. I got to see 1522 go from Tulsa to Sapulpa in 01 or 02 and it was amazing and fun. Can only imagine what you see and feel while operating her ! HKeep up the good work, I always enjoy seeing your steam models.
The Tulsa-Sapulpa turns were my running day. They were fun and 1522 had trod that ground many times in her career.
That's neat that you were running that day, I remember it well. I live along the Tulsa-Sapulpa line and I did not know that 1522 would be coming through. It was in the morning, I was greasing an oilwell and I heard the train whistle and it was a total surprise ! I remember thinking "that sounded like a steam whistle" then I jumped down from the oilwell and into the truck and drove back towards the track and saw her go by, the hair on the back of my neck stood up. I knew of 1522 but that was the first time I actually got to see her. I saw a man who had been taking pics and I got closer and realized it was Doug Azary, a longtime modeler and railfan who painted an ho Frisco caboose for me when I was 8 or 9. I was very excited when Doug told me the train would be coming back through for a total of 3 round trips that day, and I watched every time. It was an awesome day !
I could have used my own AED upon reading this. Glad that the damage is "only a flesh wound." Superb work; it looks like 1068 reincarnate. I'm not sure which I like best in terms of the prototype: the Pacifics-become-Hudsons, or the 4300-class homebuilt Mountains. This model makes me think the former takes the lead in my preferences, for now. The bell rope reminds me that I salvaged a spool of extremely thin copper wire from some computer part or another that I thought would make good bell rope material. Upon second glance, what I have might actually be too fine. Best Regards,
You talk about a small world. I was the safety committee co-chairman at that time, and because of my duties that day, I couldn't ride on the train. My wife did and enjoyed the trip she was on. I can't remember the number of trips you made that day, but I certainly did want to go. Little did I know that I wouldn't get to see the 1522 again before she couldn't run anymore. I am sure I saw you in the cab, but that was before my Frisco.org days, so, to me, you were just some lucky guy to be in the cab of that beauty. I also want to add my congratulations on an absolutely beautiful model of the Hudson. I will be surprised if the PSC model is as nice--it certainly won't be any better. Terry
OK, I finally finished repairing the results of the 5' drop, tweaked a couple mechanical issues, fixed the trailing truck mounting and fixed a short in the tender DCC socket. Runs great, sounds great and then the ¤¤¤¤ed headlight blew out. I swear that thing is jinxed. Since I model 1943, I'll leave it dark and not run at night until I'm ready to fool with it again.
Actually a friend of mine built three of the pilots over 20 years ago and gave me one of them. Two actually since I have one on my 1045 also. He swore he'd never build another one. Compound curves, angles and the like. I'm so thankful her dive to the floor didn't mangle it.
1068 made her break in run tonight with a 22 car freight train and did great. Need to replace the headlight bulb, but that can wait a while. Spent an hour and a half trying to get the east switch at Newburg's machine adjusted right. What a pain.
I always had dreamed of SOMEWAY to kit-bash, or "detail-bash" one of the Frisco 1060 engines (Or maybe a 1034, 1036, 1503 etc.), but those streamline pilots scared me off. I've whiled away many an hour trying to figure out how to re-detail a PRR pilot into the "Frisco look," but I never saw any really good way to do it. Tom G.
Tom, did you ever advance beyond feasibility studies? If so, I'd enjoy seeing the end product. I'd often looked through the detail parts in an old Walthers' catalog thinking the same thing. Don, any indication from your friend/producer on how long a pilot, by itself, took to construct? Best Regards,
That was Don Wirth's friend that made the pilots, I only "eye-balled" photos trying to scheme a way to fabricate one. Some of those Frisco Hudsons had a stubbier version of the pilot, but they were both beyond my skills, besides I'm in N scale which puts it further out of reach. Tom G.
Wow Don, Just like has been said many times before, just jaw dropping modeling!! You have crazy modeling skills. How do you solder that stuff together without it all coming loose. I mean there is just so many solder joints, so close together. Painting, decaling, weathering are just second to none. Man, I gotta look at those pictures again.
Tom one of the secrets of working with brass locomotives, etc, is having a resistance soldering unit. The heat is very quick and very localized. I just got one and can't wait to try it.
Yep, got a 100w and a 250w american beauty, but still need guidance on it, that 250w system really puts the heat out. He (Don Wirth) did some mods to a probe.