Looking for an NKP-style high-hood bell.

[nickelplate759]

I'm looking for this style of high-hood bell as used by the NKP (and later inherited by the N&W) - in N-scale.  I know Miniatures by Eric makes some bells, but cant tell if any of them are this style.  Does anyone know where to find this detail part?

[mmagliaro]

Here:
https://www.miniaturesbyeric.com/collections/n-scale-parts-a-to-h

I think his NB1 "High Hood Bell" may be what you are after.

[Mark5]

I'm looking for this style of high-hood bell as used by the NKP (and later inherited by the N&W) - in N-scale. 

George,

The pix on Eric's site suck, so I ordered an assortment just so I could see what they actually are. I will get them out sometime this week and post some pics for you.

Mark

[thomasjmdavis]

Will this help?  GTW GP-9 with Miniatures by Eric - NB1 high hood bell, CN horns, and winterization hatch.  The bell has a mounting stem that comes off the base at about a 45 deg angle- you drill into the top corner of the nose. 



https://www.miniaturesbyeric.com/collections/n-scale-parts-a-to-h/products/nb1-high-hood-bell

[nickelplate759]

Will this help?  GTW GP-9 with Miniatures by Eric - NB1 high hood bell, CN horns, and winterization hatch.  The bell has a mounting stem that comes off the base at about a 45 deg angle- you drill into the top corner of the nose. 

It's close but not quite right.   Certainly better than nothing!

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I think I got one from Shapeways. Let me see what I can find.

[Missaberoad]

I think the MBE NB13 is the bell you want, it's described as a Maine Central high hood, but has no photo.

Edit: looks like the back is angled where yours is square...

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Found the part. It's not what you want.

https://www.shapeways.com/product/PT5KLCGS2/hood-mount-bell-n-1-160-8x?optionId=57737946&li=ostatus

I need to figure out where I got the one on 5601: http://conrail1285.com/early-january-2015-progress-on-a-few-projects/

I think it might be Sunrise (waa waa).

[nickelplate759]

The part on Conrail 5601 is certainly very, very close.  I hope it wasn't Sunrise - they had good stuff that I still miss!

[mmagliaro]

Maybe I'm kooky but... couldn't you just take any locomotive bell, cobble together the basic 90-degree bracket from a strip of brass or something, epoxy the bell under it, and be done?   If I had a bell on an old shell in my junk drawer, I think it would be a lot easier to just do that instead of hunting around for a special casting.

[nickelplate759]

Maybe I'm kooky but... couldn't you just take any locomotive bell, cobble together the basic 90-degree bracket from a strip of brass or something, epoxy the bell under it, and be done?   If I had a bell on an old shell in my junk drawer, I think it would be a lot easier to just do that instead of hunting around for a special casting.

That's plan B.   I'm not as good at that sort of thing as I'd like to be, and I'd want enough bells that I don't think it would be fun after I do the first couple.

[Mark5]

Maybe I'm kooky but... couldn't you just take any locomotive bell, cobble together the basic 90-degree bracket from a strip of brass or something, epoxy the bell under it, and be done?   

That's what I did back in the 80s with this kitbashed GP40 - when there was no suitable bell mounts. Honestly, it was a bit of a PITA. Today, I much prefer to use an available part (if there is one!).

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Maybe I'm kooky but... couldn't you just take any locomotive bell, cobble together the basic 90-degree bracket from a strip of brass or something, epoxy the bell under it, and be done?   If I had a bell on an old shell in my junk drawer, I think it would be a lot easier to just do that instead of hunting around for a special casting.

Yeah, this is a deceptively simple part. The bracing has a small cross section and it's tough to find something the proper size. Well, for us mere mortals, anyway 

[randgust]

Uh, um... just an observation

Whatever difficulty you have in fabricating a bracket may be worth it in terms of survivability.  That's a very exposed part; Shapeways FUD is notoriously brittle.    Styrene is better....  but... depending on your intended use of the model, if it's actually a workday unit and not a display case effort, a bent/folded brass sheet bracket may be worth it in the long run.   The bell is more protected, but that bracket isn't.   

I wrestled with that decision on my CF7 radio plane design and as miserable as it was to do, it was worth it as everything on the roof tends to take a beating over time.

[mmagliaro]

Looks to me like a piece of brass U channel, just cut off on a 45-degree angle, would do the trick.  If you are a stickler for detail and want to make those tiny triangular cut-outs in the sides, that would take some time - probably have to drill a little hole and poke on it with a file. 
It would be very strong, but would be subject to getting whacked and coming off the body completely.  But if you cut and bent a flat part of the brass channel so it pointed backwards at the bottom, it could go through a hole in the body and be epoxied on the inside so it would be very strong indeed.

I agree that a part like this is just begging to get broken off and lost in everyday use.

Do you have any dimensions for that bracket?  Width, height, depth?