Best Of SP&S 4-6-2 #626 Project

[dnhouston]

Great work!  I'm really loving this step-by-step thread.  Thanks!

[mmagliaro]

Great work!  I'm really loving this step-by-step thread.  Thanks!

Thank YOU.  And let me pause right here and say thank you to everyone who bothers to even look at this,
and help me with constructive criticism.   It makes my work turn out better, and it is always welcome. 

In the interest of full disclosure, the first time I put on the .005" wrapper and sanded, I did a quick black spray
to look for flaws and it looked so bad that I was considering cutting off the whole boiler and starting over.
But then I shaved off the boiler bands, devised a better way to clamp the whole thing firmly in a vise without crushing it,
and took more time with clean, wide bands of sandpaper, followed by cutting all-new boiler bands and refitting those.

I think it was Victor Miranda who once said that you can't do work like this unless you are willing to make the same
part over again, possibly many times.  I'm afraid that's true.

[peteski]

Thank YOU.  And let me pause right here and say thank you to everyone who bothers to even look at this,
and help me with constructive criticism.   It makes my work turn out better, and it is always welcome. 

I'm certain that there are lots of people watching this thread who don't even comment. They simply enjoy seeing your unique N scale model being born.   

[Kisatchie]

I'm certain that there are lots of people watching this thread who don't even comment. They simply enjoy seeing your unique N scale model being born.   

Every blue moon I'll comment about these serious modeling threads. I really enjoy them. Usually I feel incompetent when I think of all the talent involved.


Hmm... Kiz likes turtles
too...

[VonRyan]

I'm certain that there are lots of people watching this thread who don't even comment. They simply enjoy seeing your unique N scale model being born.   

Yep.

Max's work is above my pay-grade for sure. (Also way above my current comfort level as to attempting things)

Max, I love how this project is shaping up, and I know it'll look fantastic once it is completed.


-Cody F.

[packers#1]

I'm certain that there are lots of people watching this thread who don't even comment. They simply enjoy seeing your unique N scale model being born.   

I'm one of those; Max, I love watching your steamers come together man

[mmagliaro]

Thank you to everyone, for being helpful, supportive, and just plain kind.   You make this so much more fun.

I refined the firebox shape.   I started by making a scraping tool from a square of thin brass.  I just used a Dremel with a round grinder bit to cut out a rounded shape in one corner.  Then I refined the curve with a round jewelers file and
fine sandpaper.  I used that to scrape the firebox shoulders.  How do I know I have the right contour?  I don't.
But the fact that the curvature of the firebox corners is more pronounced, and is the same on both sides (because I scraped both sides with the same tool!), is good enough for me.

I think it's a big improvement.

The photos tell the rest of the story.

[superturbine]

Lookin really good Max!

Smart move getting the firebox PERFECT!  All the appliances on top of the firebox will really draw your eye to it and make a really cool/unusual model!

Great work,
Jason

[peteski]

I agree that the firebox now looks like it was professionally injection-molded! 

[mmagliaro]

Thanks, guys!  You are too much.
The Belpaire firebox is a really big spotting feature of these engines, as it was on all my PRR engines.
When you look at an engine that has one, I think that is one of the places your eye is naturally drawn
to because it looks so unusual.   Plus, this taught me a new technique.  I fretted over just how to round
over those shoulders.  In the past, I had used a strip of sandpaper, run back and forth over the corner.  It worked,
but on this one, I just could not get it to come out very nicely. 

The scraper is really an ancient woodworking tool.  All things old are new again.
And now, I can keep that little brass tool and use it on other projects!

[superturbine]

Hey Max,

It appears that the combination lever is coming off you main rod (near the cross head on the fireman side).  As we both know,  it just snaps back on and these parts are getting hard to replace.
Oh....And the cross head is pushed in, I mentioned this because I did the same and locked up the engine when testing.

  You likely already noticed......but its a Good excuse to bump your build!

[mmagliaro]

Thanks, Jason.
That combination lever just looks like that in the photo.  I check it, and the two little nubs are in
the two little holes.  The crosshead seemed okay when I checked it in person.  I do have a support
post (a 00-90 shank, screwed into the frame) supporting it, and I had not glued the crosshead
to it, so it was able to wiggle in and out a little.  Maybe that's what you saw.   But in any event, it runs
okay and nothing is jamming.   Thanks for looking closely.   Extra eyes are helpful.

[mmagliaro]

Forward, on to the smokebox front.  This was a project just in itself!  I have never tried scratchbuilding one of these.  I usually just slice one off some other shell that is close.  But not finding anything quite right, I decided to give it a go.  I guess I just like making things the old-fashioned way, by hand.   I also got the SMD headlight started and a stack and turret cover on.

[Philip H]

Max,
That headlight alone is worth the price of admission to this thread.   

[Chris333]

Max, I have a bad feeling you are suffering from being insane. I'd like you to see a doctor, but please wait till you finish the locomotive