Page 14 - January February 2012

The Defective Brass Detective
The Editor
I still find HO brass steam locos the most interesting models to work on, especially when a near- basket case can be made into a decent runner that will do sterling work on a layout.
But, unlike most modern mass produced models, the older brass can often pose intriguing questions – like “what is it?” This particularly happens when something from the 1950’s shows up and is not in its original box, or any box. Even odder is when they show up with no tender. (It puzzles me as to what can happen to a tender. I can understand
it having the wrong tender because numerous modellers go freelance, but how does an expensive loco come to have NO tender?) Even early brass was mostly made to represent a real loco, though there are a few generic, or even completely freelance examples around. However, as we know, the adherence to precise prototype dimensions and detail was often given some leeway! So, a while ago a brass Mikado showed up, sans tender, and in a small cardboard box designed for a door
handle. The model resembled a USRA Heavy 2-8-2 but had a trailing truck more like the cast Delta type instead of the typical USRA built-up truck, and had other detail differences. The model was very early. It lacked not only driving wheel brakes but also there were no springs or driver bearings (sounds a bit like my first Ford Prefect) – the axles ran directly in the brass frames. However, after rectifying a few minor faults, it actually ran quite nicely. One anomaly, for such an early model, was that in place of the often decrepit rubber tubing drive, it had a quite modern-looking and well-engineered brass drive shaft with black nylon universal joints between motor and gearbox. And I don’t think this was a recent addition - I’m pretty sure it is original equipment. So, if it were a modified USRA loco, which road did it belong to? Well, it had one distinctively unusual feature, which I personally did not recognise. This was the bell mounting. Set high up on the smoke box front, it was offset to the fireman’s side and the bracket sloped downwards (no, not due to an unscheduled meeting with the floor – it was obviously built this way.) Also the boiler handrails, instead of just turning downwards at the front of the smoke box, extended forward a little, then turned downwards and went straight down to the pilot deck.
I looked through various web sites such as ‘Fallen Flags’, books, and model photos, without really knowing what roads to look at. Then by chance I came across an advert on the internet, where an artist (Bruce Friesch) was selling prints of his paintings. Several were Milwaukee Road steam, and one was an L3a heavy Mikado. I checked back to prototype web sites and I’m pretty sure that is what the model is. Several of their locos have the odd off-centre bell, and the Mikado in the painting certainly had the Delta type truck and the long front handrails. To nitpick, the only specific detail that seems “wrong” is that the model running boards stay high over the cylinders, whereas they should step down just behind the cylinders and run forward just above the valve chests.
Turning to “The Brown Book”, and its pages on Milwaukee Road steam, I discovered that in the “1950s” (precise year not specified) M. B. Austin produced the L3a Mikado (footnote stating “hand built models”.) Studying information on the “Steamlocomotive” website, I found that several L3a Mikados had been given boosters on the trailing truck. This probably explains the presence of the heavier cast truck on the model, as photos on ‘Fallen Flag’ website, of L3 non-boostered Mikados, all showed only normal USRA trucks.
That would seem to tie in pretty well with the style of the model, but if anyone knows differently, for sure, from the pictures, I’d be interested to hear.
20 PRIORY MANOR, HOLYWOOD, CO. DOWN BT18 0LD
VISIT SHOP at 49 High Street HOLYWOOD
Tel/Fax: (028) 9042 5110. From Southern Ireland (048) 9042 5110 e-mail: browne151@btinternet.com
WINDING DOWN ANNOUNCEMENT I HAVE NOW SOLD MY S-SCALE STOCKS TO
TEAM TRACK TRADING
11/12 Market Way, Redruth, Cornwall, TR15 2AU E-mail: accounts@teamtracktrading.co.uk
Website: www.teamtracktrading.co.uk
PLEASE FORWARD ALL ENQUIRIES TO THEM. THEIR CONDITIONS AND PRICES WILL NOW APPLY May I take this opportunity to thank all my Customers and friends for their kind support over the years. I will of course continue with my fascination with all trains but especially those that once did and still do tread the rails of
North America and in model form as represented by the NMRA.
S = 1/64th scale – BIG BUT PRACTICAL
AMERICAN MODELS Catalogue send 4 x 1st class stamps to post to UK
“American Flyer” Compatible AC or DC and “Scale” DC
4-8-4, 4-6-4 & 4-6-2 Locos
All with Smoke and Exhaust sound and in LOTS of RR names. Amtrak F40, Baldwin S12, GG1, Alco PA, FA, FB & RS3, EMD FP7, F7, E8, GP9/18, GP35, SD60, F-M H-24-66, GE 25B Amtrak Superliners, Budd Streamlined Cars, Heavyweight Cars – all with lights – Lots of Names AAR 40’ Box Cars (42 names!) AAR 40’ Reefers (21) 50’ ACF Box Cars (19) Tank Cars (21) 2, 3 & 4 Bay Hoppers (36) 3 Bay Covered Hoppers (12) Flat cars (28) 52’ Gons (36) Cabooses Bay (20) & Wood Cupola (30)
Belfast CABOOSE
14 ROUNDHOUSE