[PRR-talk] Kitbashing the N2sa was Interesting N2sa Variations

[Bruce Smith]

> I said:
>> As for modifying the Walthers 2-10-2, so far I have the following  
>> list:
>> 1) Add Belpaire firebox - either scratchbuilt or a resin copy from
>> another loco
>> 2) New firebox front - Cal Scale
>> 3) PRR headlight, generator, bell, blowdown muffler. clawfoot  
>> markers...
>> 4) redo handrails, some piping
>> 5) tender coal boards?
>>
>> The Walthers model has Southern valve gear and PRR's N2sa fleet was a
>> mix of that and Walschaerts, so you have to pick numbers carefully.

Tom Hayden replied:
> Bruce 2 comments/questions;
> 1) From your investigation, does it seem like the Belpaire can be  
> simply
> added on top (after removing any accessories there). Or does it  
> seem that
> some of the original boiler plastic needs to be carved away? And do  
> you
> think it would need (very subjective here) to have the lower part  
> of the
> firebox modified?
>
> 2) Another item for your list, I think, is the PRR style Power Reverse
> cylinder. I have not seen the engineman side of the Walthers  
> model,  but I
> suspect it does not have the PRR style.

Tom, Folks

I've cc:ed this to PRR-Modeling since there are certainly folks on  
that list who might be interested too.

I'll start by saying that my investigations into this is still in its  
early phase <G>.  My Walthers N2s arrived just last week and I have  
yet to do a detailed comparison of it to the photos.  That said, I do  
think that it is possible to simply add the Belpaire without removing  
the top section of the old boiler.  The chief difficulty there will  
be to fair the new into the old.  As noted by another reader, the  
second sand dome needs to come off as well.  Gary Mittner,  
accomplished scratchbuilder that he is, suggested that I scratchbuild  
the Belpaire section out of styrene.  We'll see ;^)

As for the lower parts of the firebox, my examination of the photos  
seems to show that it was unchanged by the PRR.  It may require some  
detail changes, but on the whole, I do not plan to do anything major  
down there.  The same with the rest of the boiler courses.  In fact,  
the PRR's N2sa was "cleaner" than the USRA loco, so I will be taking  
off a number of pipes like the pipes from the injectors to the check  
valves.  I haven't determined if I need to change out the injectors  
to PRR style ones yet.

Funny you should mention the power reverse <G>.  I was looking at  
that earlier today.  Since I model 1944, I want the older style power  
reverse, without the small air-tank (i think) on the back.  Looking  
at the photos, it seems like the PRR might have left the USRA power  
reverse on until after WWII, but I need to look into this more.  See  
http://www.northeast.railfan.net/images/prr7181.jpg

There's another twist on this - the locos with Southern valve gear  
have a longer air tank under the running board up front on the  
engineer's side than the locos with the Walschaerts valve gear.  It  
looks like the Walschaerts gear needs more space.  The Walthers model  
is correct for the Southern valve geared locos, so don't get fooled  
by a photo of a Walschaerts loco and change the tank <G>.  Compare  
http://www.northeast.railfan.net/images/prr7283.jpg to the previous  
right side view.

Some other details needing attention will be the front number plate,  
builder's plates, and the equipment box that was present on at least  
some N2sa on the pilot deck.  It is also likely that the pilot will  
need to be converted to a footboard pilot.  The Walthers model also  
includes a doghouse in the box, so I will add that as well, after  
making sure that it is the correct doghouse, of course <G>.

Here's a neat 1941 shot of 8912 with Futura lettering that shows a  
lot of the boiler top details. http://www.northeast.railfan.net/ 
images/prr8912s.jpg Now I am wondering if I need to add a third hatch  
on the cab centerline? (there are 2 on the model)

Regards
Bruce

Bruce F. Smith
Auburn, AL
http://www.vetmed.auburn.edu/index.pl/bruce_f._smith2

"Some days you are the bug, some days you are the windshield."
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