[PRR-talk] Bowser

[Bruce Smith]

On Tue, January 1, 2008 4:37 pm, kenneth broomfield 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

Kenny,

To add to what the others have said, several of us built Bowser I1s, or I
should say, several of us used Bowser I1s for starting points, as part of
the PRR Project group, PRRPro.  You can join and look at the archives of
the PRRPro group at Yahoo (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PRRPro/)

I'm not a big fan of Bowser for a number of reasons.  These include the
grossly oversized rivets, generally poor and often incorrect details,
antique motors and generally incorrect tenders included with most kits. 
Bowser kits are excellent examples of what the "state of the art" was
40-50 years ago.  That said, some of Bowser's "kits" can be excellent
starting points.  The best boilers are the reworked I1, T1, and B6.  I
know I had a lot of fun reworking my Bowser I1 into a Juniata built
version (with no feedwater heater) and I have an E6 project using the
Bowser boiler and an MDC tender awaiting me...

Regards
Bruce

Bruce Smith
Auburn, AL