[PRR-talk] Bowser

[Bill Daniels]

Many of the Bowser kits, especially the newer ones,
are quite nice. Some of the older ones (such as the
K4s, L1s and I1s/a) are equally nice. Some years ago
Bowser redid all of their kits with new diework using
zinc alloy instead of the original lead. However, in
the case of the E6s and H9s, Bowser choose to retain
their older boiler design, which was, in a word,
pretty bad. Over the years several articles were
written showing how to use MDC boilers and tender
castings to redo the E6s (the H9s uses the same boiler
and reworking it would be similar). The tender that
comes with the E6s and H9s is totally bogus, but the
MDC tender is an excellent replacement. Over the
years, the correct Dolphin trucks for the E6s have
been available on and off (I have a set from NJ Custom
Brass that I picked up many years ago. Bowser also
offers a plastic version) The H9s was usually found
running on modified AAR trucks (known to many modelers
as "Bettendorf), usually with leaf springs instead of
the coils. Check photos for variations.) However, now
that MDC is owned by Athearn, I don't know if these
parts are still available. Maybe someday a good
conversion boiler will become available...

That being said, the kits are pretty straight forward
to assemble. Your selection of tools would probably
suffice to build one. The kits include Bowser's
Rivetool to set the valve gear rivets (the assembled
valve gear is available from Bowser if you don't wish
to assemble it yourself). And the Bowser drive is
legendary... even with the (former) Pittman motors
they ran extremely well. The Bowser website still
lists the DC-71 motor with the kit, which they claim
is DCC compatable. Repowering with a can motor isn't
difficult, and you might be able to find one of the
many incarnations of the "Helix Humper" repowering
kit... in fact they may well be still available.

My choice for a first model would be a L1s...
especially if you can dig up the original tender (they
now ship with a 130P75-ish tank... which would work
for a I1s/a (some had tanks that looked close to
these...especially on the Elmira Branch). The original
tank (which I believe is no longer available) was
correct for most L1s locomotives. But it shouldn't be
too hard to dig one up... try EBay. Some time ago Kris
Kohler (I don't think I spelled his name correctly...
sorry Kris!) redid one of these and posted it on the
web. I don't have a link, but someone out there should
be able to find it.

I would check out Bowser's web site (they have all of
the instructions available as .pdf files you can
download) and are the manufacturers of Cal-Scale, Cary
and Bowser's own detail parts. One suggestion I could
offer, would be to check out the PSC offerings as
well. They make the ONLY correct PRR bell casting, as
well as a old Kemtron PRR (original) headlight
casting. And many of the castings that come with the
kit are pretty good on their own...they even give
brass castings a run for their money!

If you choose to move ahead with the H9s, you
shouldn't have any problems. These have been available
for almost 60 years now and it is a decent choice for
a first-time model and you can take it as far as you
want. Oh, yes...do finish the superdetailing before
you paint the model. And post some photos for the rest
of us...

Bill Daniels
LaLaLand

--- kenneth broomfield <newtmachineworks at yahoo.com>
wrote:

> Has anyone built a Bowser steam Kit? Is there any
> kind of advice for someone who has not done one yet?
> What tools should I have on hand to accomplish,
> drill bits, tap and die set. I have the standard
> model RR tools but not much more. I am wanting to do
> an H-9. I would also like to super detail it as much
> as I can. Should I super first than paint or the
> paint everything individually? Is there anything
> that I should change that is "wrong" for it to be
> better Pennsy? I have heard people talk about
> putting a can motor in one? Is that hard to do? Any
> mods I would have to make to the frame or kit? Also
> what can motor should I get or do they, Bowser, have
> a kit for that as well?
>    
>   Kenny Broomfield
> 
>


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