Steam Loco Kit- Video #1- Introduction

Follow along as I attempt to assemble an old Bowser steam locomotive kit (a PRR A5 0-4-0) complete with DCC and sound installation. Like any steam loco kit, this will a fairly long and complicated task, so it will take a while. Being small doesn't make it any easier than a big one! There will be separate videos about the boiler detailing, the chassis, the rods & valve gear, the tender, the DCC installation, and final finishing (and hopefully running!). This kind of kit seems to be a relic of a by-gone era. It's going to keep me occupied for a while.....

[@OtterCreek]

Thanks so much for sharing your craftsmanship!

[@elsdp-4560]

Thank you for sharing. Enjoyed.

[@sierravalleyandharborjunction]

great start! I also enjoy building these older kits....thanks for the video

[@stevejones3838]

Thank you for the excellent introductory video. I have a few Bowser kits to assemble and i look forward to seeing more of your videos.

[@robertnielsen2461]

The Angels,the reason these are no longer available, people stopped buying them.Browser produced kits into the late 90s and sold off the stock until it was depleted.Modelers wanted the so they could buy the loco or car put it on the track and run it.For me putting a loco kit together is part of the fun of model railroading.

[@CarlBrainerd]

Yeah, part of the fun and a challenge, too. I figured the rise of the higher-quality ready-to-run locos like we see today made the kits less attractive to many folks. Well, to each his own. I also have a T-1 4-4-4-4 kit and an MDC Shay kit on my shelf waiting for the right moment..... even though one can buy very nice ready-to-run T-1s today. But you can't say "I built it myself"!

[@niro017]

Yeah, I know this is late to the party, but, my enjoyment is the collecting and building the kits, I don;t even have a layout, just a test track

[@davestrains6816]

Gonna be a nice build, looking forward to the next video. Thanks for sharing. Dave

[@christopherlaflam6383]

Got all of Bowsers and Arbour kits and details kits waiting to be built. Some other rare makes as well. A blast to make. I was psyched to see your page!

[@CarlBrainerd]

Oh, wow! Do you have the Arbour 2-6-6-6 kit? That would be a project. I have an Arbour 0-4-0 kit that I started maybe 15 years ago but put it aside for other projects. I was replacing the motor and installed a NWSL gearbox, but couldn't decide where to put the motor (cab or tender) since the loco is so small. Maybe I'll be able to get back to it after I eventually get around to building the MDC Shay kit that's on my shelf.......

[@peterainsworth8466]

Great project. I look forward to seeing it take shape.

[@BenGrellier]

Looking forward to the next installment! Assuming that's the finished loco in the last shot, looks like it'll be worth a watch! Keep up the good work!

[@CarlBrainerd]

Ben, good eye! I was hoping nobody would notice a finished-looking loco sitting in the spray booth, since I shot that last shot out of sequence when I realized the video was getting to be too long. Yes, that's the loco all assembled with fresh paint. At this time the tender is still in work and the DCC installation not yet started. Stay tuned.

[@theangelsmodellingandrailways]

Interesting Carl, look forward to updates on the build. It's a real shame that these type of kits are no longer produced. All the best. Brian @ The Angels.

[@anthonymiller8979]

I think the 2-8-0 you said you did not know is the Old Lady, one of the more basic kits similar to the Casey Jones, a redesigned Varney model.

[@justanaveragekid7803]

Wow!! This is Splendid! I would love to build one of the locomotives someday.
Edit: i meant like the model not a real one.

[@robertnielsen2461]

I hate spell check, I corrected Bowser more than once and it still corrected me,AAAAARGHH!!!!

[@bbgfamily-zg1ph]

Hi Carl - Really enjoyed this series- Where did you get the upgraded Motor from for the Kit?

[@CarlBrainerd]

It seems I've discarded the packaging. My memory is soft here, but I think it might have been branded "Helix Humper". I'm pretty sure it is long out of production, but maybe somebody on eBay has one. I'm reluctant to recommend it since I had trouble with the gearing (gear lash adjustment??) and decided I needed to go with a NWSL gearbox and some matching motor when I can get around to it.

[@bbgfamily-zg1ph]

@@CarlBrainerd Thanks Carl- Yep Helix Humper is long gone- but NWSL has good options these days. Look forward to your next build. Brian.

[@crazytrainz6566]

Would love to know were I could get a kit like that

[@CarlBrainerd]

I think these old Bowser kits sometimes come up on eBay, but it might take some waiting and checking.

[@crazytrainz6566]

Alr I'll keep looking for one