Northern Pacific (NP) W-5 Mikado Project

[mmagliaro]

It occurs to me that it might be a good idea to show the engine I am actually building, since I have chosen one.

It's this fellow here.  NP #1847.   Only #1844-1847 had Elesco feedwater heaters (evidenced by the big tank on top of the boiler right at the front of the smokebox, on top, like a big "brow").  I think this gave those 4 engines the most impressive, almost "brutish" look of all the W-5's, so I have chosen this variation.


And now, on to the model.  Today, we have the valve gear modifications, and some work on the cab roof.



















Now, some work on the cab roof:

[Chris333]

I really like the prototype you have choosen. Do you know anything about the piston rod extending out in front of the cylinder? Did this help keep it lined up and from wearing out?

[mmagliaro]

I really like the prototype you have choosen. Do you know anything about the piston rod extending out in front of the cylinder? Did this help keep it lined up and from wearing out?

Chris, they were on a lot of the W-3 and W-5 engines, but were removed later in life
so I am not going to put them on mine.  (The W-3 kit includes castings for those.)   That photo I showed was probably taken in the 30s.

As to why they were ever put on there in the first place, I believe that yes, they were to help support the piston to reduce wear on the lower
surfaces of the bearing.   My guess is that engine makers decided over time that they weren't necessary, or that
the amount of wear they were saving wasn't significant compared to having to maintain an extra seal and bearing surface.

Since I want this to be a 1950s engine, I will not be using them.  They would also complicate things by getting in the way of the pilot
truck swing!

[mmagliaro]

This installment is for the pilot.  I learned a lot about how to do this from my 4-6-2 SP&S engine, so although this was still very tricky work, it went along quite straightforwardly, and I won't have any trouble with pilot wheel interference this time.

[Lemosteam]

Awesome Max!  love the look of those pumps on the smokebox front- what a nightmare it must have been to get into the smokebox for repairs!

[dnhouston]

Wonderful work Max.  I learn so much from each of your build threads - thanks.

[Caddy58]

Hello Max,

I love your pictures: I wish you had done this build before I completed my 4 W3s...

For front couplers I have used MT Z-Scale couplers with cut back boxes, but installing them is a PITA.
I have never heard about the "Bowse Buckler": Google search showed them attached to Z-Scale trucks.

Did you buy the trucks and removed the coupler? Or are they available separately somewhere?

I still want to do a few more Mikados (one more W3 and W2 each), and an easier way to working front couplers would be most welcome...

Cheers
Dirk

[mmagliaro]

Dirk, and all,

Part of the reason I am documenting this so carefully is because, well, that's just what I do when I show
an engine build.
But also, Gregg wanted me to show people how the W-5 parts went together so you could use this as a guide in case he makes the parts sets available as a kit.

The GHQ instructions are hard to follow in places.  So a good step-by-step with color photos is important.  I am hoping this will encourage more people to pull those GHQ kits off the shelf and try to build them.

The Bowser Buckler couplers I have were sent to me by a kind forumer.  The only way you can get them that I know of is to buy trucks and cut the coupler boxes off.  I have heard that there are ways to order very large quantities of them
from the fellow at Bowser who created these as a side project, but I have never done that.

For these, I cut off the coupler box, snapped open the box and removed just the coupler part with the whiskers on it.
I stuffed that into the pilot coupler box and "Ta Da!"  It works.

You can get the trucks from a number of web sources like this one:
http://www.zscalemonster.com/full_throttle/100/

[PGE_Modeller]

Dirk, and all,

- snip -

The Bowser Buckler couplers I have were sent to me by a kind forumer.  The only way you can get them that I know of is to buy trucks and cut the coupler boxes off.  I have heard that there are ways to order very large quantities of them
from the fellow at Bowser who created these as a side project, but I have never done that.

- snip -

Check this message by Gary Hinshaw from "Best of the Wire" thread "Notes on body mounted couplers":
https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=21980.msg366149#msg366149

Cheers,

[mmagliaro]

Hi again all.

This installment sees a wide gamut of assembly topics, but the one coherent idea here was to complete any major components that would affect
the weight or tracking of the engine, culminating in a test "shake-down" run (video included).  He video link is all the way at
the bottom of this post.

















































































Here's a YouTube demonstration video showing it pulling

SIXTY FIVE CARS!  YAY!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_isynQ_h8D4

[peteski]

Max, you and Ron Bearden shoudl get medals for your fastidious documentation! Nice! 

[carlso]

Max,

that is one awesome locomotive you created. You sir a truly an artist.

Carl

[mmagliaro]

Thanks, guys!

And Peteski, to be honest, I do this for three reasons:

1. Sometimes, after going through a big project like this, I have looked back and thought, "DARN!  I could have made a magazine
article out of that!"... but I didn't document and take photos, so I didn't have bupkis to write from.  So now, I photograph
everything so I have photos in case I want to use them

2. More than once, when doing a repair or kitbash project, I have come across some part or repair that I know I've
done before, only I couldn't remember how I did it!    And since I got on the stick and made sure I photographed every
darn repair, again, more than once, I've been able to go back and look at my own photos to refresh my memory.

3. Somehow, even though there is no obligation to "support" a forum, I feel that this is a way I can contribute to Railwire.
I get a lot out of this forum in terms of modeling expertise and information, so this is my way of putting my ante into the pot.
If even one person looks at what I have done, either here or in a magazine article, and is able to build and engine or fix something,
that's a mighty good feeling.

[Cajonpassfan]

Max, I love these "installments", can't help but find myself grinning 
Beautiful work!
Keep 'em comin'!
Best Otto K.

[glakedylan]

Max, this is really superb work.
It is so helpful to see and read what and how you do these things.
Thanks for sharing!

Kindest regards
Gary