Pennsy K4s?

[superturbine]

Well here is a mock-up of the boiler on a unmodified Kato C55 frame.  As you can see the motor mounting location has to be moved back slightly to actually fit in the cab. 

Of Note: The primer used on this engine was out of the "CAN" thick primer the boiler is much smoother than shown.  Also the front headlight was removed to test fit LED's

[Dave V]

Looking very good!

I see a few minor things that I'm interested to see how you resolve.  Are you making the steam pipes over the cylinders out of styrene?  Also, are you planning to replace the pilot wheels or fill in the spoke-holes with something?

[victor miranda]

use kato Mike cylinders, move them back.  use the kato mike conecting rod
replace the pilot truck and use 33 or 28 inch wheels
the mechanism can move forward.... maybe a 16th inch.  it makes a lot of overall difference.

Kato makes one motor that is shorter. it can be made to fit.
the one from the 4 wheel trolley.

what ya going to use as the trailing truck?

[mike_lawyer]

I need to get my pictures straight, and then I will post them.

[mike_lawyer]

Jason -

One thing that I had to do with the Minitrix shell is to file off some of the piping detail where the reverse linkage is located.  Otherwise, the shell would not sit down enough on the frame.  I don't know if your casting will have that same problem, but it is something to thing about.

For the trailing truck on my kitbash, I had a leftover casting from the GHQ conversion kit that I attached to the stock trailing truck.

[muktown128]

Jason,

Anything new on this proejct?  Did you make a casting for the trailing truck?  I purchase a Kato C55 2012 to convert to a PRR K4.  I have several Minitrix shells, but I am interested in your casting.  It will be a bit more work to complete, but I think the results will be worth the effort.

Regards,
Scott

[superturbine]

Sorry about the delay.  I have four young children and the Holidays get busy.  I will try to finish the castings soon and I will get you one.  I do not have a trailing truck yet but should have that done soon also.

[draskouasshat]

My question is how many of you are buying one. After all, the K4 will outsell any other steam engine on the market. Sure seems quiet in here now that a K4 is somewhat readily available...........................

[Scottl]

I was kind of thinking the same thing... 

BTW, that casting is super!  Great detail.

[victor miranda]

My question is how many of you are buying one. After all, the K4 will outsell any other steam engine on the market. Sure seems quiet in here now that a K4 is somewhat readily available...........................

oh but how much work and final cost?

my c55 conversion was about 250 dollars

edit to fix  I meant 205 dollars 
you price may vary...

victor

[nscaleSPF2]

I'm still in for one kit.

Jim

[draskouasshat]

oh but how much work and final cost?

my c55 conversion was about 250 dollars

edit to fix  I meant 205 dollars 
you price may vary...

victor

but a readily available model like the BLI was listed for how much? Honestly, this is cheaper with a C55 chassis. Victor, i respect you but wheres the long lines of buyers? All of you jumped on the bandwagon when other steamers that werent K4s came to fruition so i would figure you all would be chomping at the bit for numerous models of this. Hell i figured everyone would need 3 or 4 of these.


All i hear is crickets. lol!!!

[pennsyfan1361]

I will be making my own K-4s. But most people are more incline to get one or several if the K-4 was RTR.     Rich

[victor miranda]

but a readily available model like the BLI was listed for how much? Honestly, this is cheaper with a C55 chassis. Victor, i respect you but wheres the long lines of buyers? All of you jumped on the bandwagon when other steamers that werent K4s came to fruition so i would figure you all would be chomping at the bit for numerous models of this. Hell i figured everyone would need 3 or 4 of these.


All i hear is crickets. lol!!!

 hi draskouasshat,

well, I am not sure what you are not hearing....

right now you can buy a minitrix k4 and spend about 50 ish bucks.
and you can find a precision scale k4 of various types for 250 plus bucks.
with one on the bay right now for 799.99?
in theory those are ready to run.

superturbine has a k4 shell for what ever price he feels is good
and one must find a kato c55.
that leaves two or three problems
you will have to find a kw trailing truck and make a pilot truck
and get  a tender behind it.

you are wondering why there is no crowd avidly awaiting an incomplete kit?
or are you wondering why there is no crowd looking to pay about 200 dollars for that incomplete kit?
or are you wondering why there is no crowd willing to put a kato c55 under a minitrix k4 shell?
this last option has the best chance of being complete and you will have a loco
that looks a lot like a minitrix k4 for your efforts.

now I have to admit that I like kits that are complete, or that are easy to complete by buying
an available part or assembly....  I do not see that going on here.

Last and not least is that there are in N-scale relatively few kit builders.
Right now I have a PRR T1 shell, I consider it to be a treasure hunt.
It will be expensive by the time I am done.

the same is true for any of the offerings here.
getting a complete kit for a updated/improved/modernized K4
is going to cost more than Kato's GS-4 or the more recent b-mann offerings.

so high side pricing, extra work to fit it together, and no promise of success....
I am thinking I have no need for crowd controls.

victor

[pennsyfan1361]

+ 1 Victor