Back head details for a brass Pacific.

ACL1504 · February 05, 2016, 07:10:15 PM

This will be a relatively short thread but one I'd like to share.

Several years ago I was repainting two Akane/United brass locos. Early brass locos didn't have any back head details as they do today. The early locos also came with the Pitman open frame motor. The loco ran okay with the open frame motor but when PFM came out with the DC analog sound system, the open frame motors were no longer desired. At the time NWSL came out with the Sagami can motors.

Long story short, the open frame motors were soon replaced by modelers like me who wanted smoother operations. Anyway that's a story for another time.

Back to the back head details. The following photo shows you the lack of back head details and the open frame motor.

I decided I'd give it a try and make my own back head details. I took some brass sheet stock and cut out some brass forms. These forms were a test fit, cut, test fit, cut,-- well, you get the idea. After several hours of cutting and fitting I finally got the back head to fit inside the Akane brass loco cab.

I purchased several Cal-Scale details and soldered then to the brass back head.

In the above photo you can see the white firebox door. I only had one brass firebox door so I made a RTV mold and cast one in resin.

Continued in a few.

ACL1504 · February 05, 2016, 07:12:18 PM

Once all the details were on the back head, I soldered the back heads to the inside of the cabs. I made two.

Continued after a Diet Pepsi break.

ACL1504 · February 05, 2016, 07:19:58 PM

These were made long before any forum so I didn't take a lot of pictures of the process. If I did this today, I'd probably have more than 50 photos of making the back heads.

Fast forward as I only have two pictures left.

Well, I made a mistake when I said I soldered them to the cab interiors. I did the soldering after I painted the two back heads. Notice they are slightly different.

And here one is in the cab of ACL Pacific #1516. This is the Judge's loco. His father purchased this loco from the local hobby shop in 1960's for around $65.00. This loco has been repainted twice after the first paint and has seen longer service than the prototype. We don't plan of scraping this one any time in the distant future.

jbvb · February 05, 2016, 07:59:13 PM

That looks nice. I might have put the backhead in with Goo, so it could be removed if necessary, but if the loco's been re-powered that might not be important.

S&S RR · February 05, 2016, 08:01:25 PM

Wow - Frank it sure makes a big difference. It is truly all about the details. I'm enjoying your threads on the locomotives - this is an area of the hobby that I have never taken the time to get into. Maybe some day - like I need another area of the hobby to get into.

tct855 · February 05, 2016, 08:45:14 PM

Very nice indeed Tom, I can almost see the steam pressure rising on the gauges as we speak! Thanx Thom...

ACL1504 · February 06, 2016, 06:15:48 PM

Quote from: jbvb on February 05, 2016, 07:59:13 PM
That looks nice. I might have put the backhead in with Goo, so it could be removed if necessary, but if the loco's been re-powered that might not be important.

James,

Thank you, much appreciated. I never use Goo. The loco has a been re-geared and re-motored. I made sure it all fit prior tot he soldering.

Tom

ACL1504 · February 06, 2016, 06:19:23 PM

Quote from: S&S RR on February 05, 2016, 08:01:25 PM
Wow - Frank it sure makes a big difference. It is truly all about the details. I'm enjoying your threads on the locomotives - this is an area of the hobby that I have never taken the time to get into. Maybe some day - like I need another area of the hobby to get into.

John,

Thank you, much appreciated. It really did make a difference and since then I've installed a cab light and that changed everything look wise as well. I enjoy working with brass and would post more of locos I've painted but there seems to be a lack of interest except for a few.

Not complaining mind you, but as you know it takes a lot of time to post 50 pictures for a few people on a subject like working with and painting brass.

Tom

ACL1504 · February 06, 2016, 06:20:30 PM

Quote from: tct855 on February 05, 2016, 08:45:14 PM
Very nice indeed Tom, I can almost see the steam pressure rising on the gauges as we speak! Thanx Thom...

Thom,

Thanks very much. I hope the boiler doesn't explode.

Tom

GPdemayo · February 07, 2016, 09:18:15 AM

Neat Tom.....I don't remember seeing this one.....oh well, the memory is the 2nd thing to go.