PRR fellas!…let’s build an S2!! Tales From Harmon Shops

@rplst8 posted:

Yes, the reading I’ve done on it indicated that much of the trouble was just a lack of straight and trouble free track work to run at the speeds it needed to be efficient.

Don’t forget the Qs too!

The S2 was being used right up to its grade crossing accident in early 1949.  With the diesels coming on line, it was not cost effective to fix it.

I have 3rd Rail's Q1, an absolutely awesome looking engine.  Unfortunately, it has issues even with my O-90 curves.  Maybe the same issue as mentioned with the driver springs, but I have not had problems with my 3rd Rail S2.

2nd pair of elephant ears it is!….last night I looked at the stock ones, and they simply pop right off, so producing a second set from sheet brass won’t be an issue ….they’ll be the shorter set, with the appropriate detail, ….I’ve made elephant ears from scratch before for a L&HR R1 project, so I’m no stranger to danger…..consider it done….😁

Pat

Not that I really plan on doing a total repaint ( I’d rather not )  but did 3rd Rail get the Brunswick green fairly decent on this model? And what about the Tuscan red?…I need to see if I can con, ….oops I mean coax my buddy Dave to make a list of the upgrades we are going to do …..kinda like we’ve done on other useful threads, so there’s one place to go to for a “master list “ of what we’re doing, then once we’re satisfied, we’ll commit …

Pat

Removable elephant ears-stock and short
Smoke box color-dark graphite
Reverse lamp-when in reverse
Smoke-billows at low, hardly there at speed, no chuffs, constant flow
Engine and tender colors-are okay

Class Lights-yes, and they are in the right spot unlike the Lionel Model which they are on the front instead of sides

Firebox color-looks right as there does seem to be a little outline around the black according to the photos(Lionel's silver)

Driver springs? Norm's reply on Drivers

Cab Curtains-yes

Deck Plate-yes if works

Crew Skeletons-Replace those with real working crew that eats for a living

Second edit 5:40PM 2/5/2023

Thank you Dave!….ask & ye shall receive!?

Pat

Since it’s a turbine, a funny easter egg would be to have a jet engine sound kick in over 80 SMPH.

Ok, maybe thats a stretch.

P.S. best forum topic in a while for sure.

@harmonyards posted:

Thank you Dave!….ask & ye shall receive!?

Pat

No problem Pat. Bob had commented on the smoke box colors which was very helpful, I don't remember now if there was anything regarding the overall color. I believe someone did say the red was right, but since I was in a bit of a rush this morning, I didn't finish looking. After breakfast I'll pop a better look at things. I think the black looks good, could be better, but what do I know.

Anybody apposed to cab curtains and a tender drop plate?

Also, the paint looks pretty close to the real thing. http://www.rrpicturearchives.n...ture.aspx?id=4969557

@Trainmaster04 posted:

Anybody apposed to cab curtains and a tender drop plate?

Also, the paint looks pretty close to the real thing. http://www.rrpicturearchives.n...ture.aspx?id=4969557

Yeah, though that picture the black looks glossy, though I think that is lighting or something like that which I thought Bob said.

@harmonyards, what about the red, could you get a topside picture of the tender? I don't think there is any other red other than that, right Pat?

@Trainmaster04 posted:

Anybody apposed to cab curtains and a tender drop plate?

Also, the paint looks pretty close to the real thing. http://www.rrpicturearchives.n...ture.aspx?id=4969557

That’s a given, curtains, detailed cab, and deck plate are standard fare on most all my upgrades ( given certain track conditions that don’t allow for a deck plate ) also we’ll populate the cab with a seasoned crew,…..not the stick figure stiffs, or the anorexics victims 3rd Rail used in some of their engines ……😁

Pat  

@Dave NYC Hudson PRR K4 posted:

Yeah, though that picture the black looks glossy, though I think that is lighting or something like that which I thought Bob said.

@harmonyards, what about the red, could you get a topside picture of the tender? I don't think there is any other red other than that, right Pat?

I’ll take clear pics of the top this evening for further discussion, …….I’d be willing to redo the Tuscan if warranted …..I’d rather not mess with all that green and having to re-letter ….that would put the price point in the stratosphere,……I’d like to keep it affordable for someone to acquire this thing,……besides, the boys in Harmon might start to complain about the stench of a PRR engine lingering around here too long,….😂😂😂

Pat

@Dave NYC Hudson PRR K4 posted:

No problem Pat. Bob had commented on the smoke box colors which was very helpful, I don't remember now if there was anything regarding the overall color. I believe someone did say the red was right, but since I was in a bit of a rush this morning, I didn't finish looking. After breakfast I'll pop a better look at things. I think the black looks good, could be better, but what do I know.

If the consensus says the graphite is too light, I can certainly darken it out to perfection,…..but I’d wanna hear more than one say to make it so,….major upgrades, I want consensus, not one rule ……place your votes folks….

Pat

Darker firebox, the silver look doesn't do it.

@harmonyards posted:

I’ll take clear pics of the top this evening for further discussion, …….I’d be willing to redo the Tuscan if warranted …..I’d rather not mess with all that green and having to re-letter ….that would put the price point in the stratosphere,……I’d like to keep it affordable for someone to acquire this thing,……besides, the boys in Harmon might start to complain about the stench of a PRR engine lingering around here too long,….😂😂😂

Pat

I agree that it looks like it is black color, the one photo looks like it is glossy, but I don't think that is right. Bob said definitely darker graphite. The red is probably okay, but it definitely needs to be seen better, so we will wait for the picture.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

Darker firebox, the silver look doesn't do it.

Even the Lionel model from 2014 was dark, so I agree that silver must have been one of the things Bob mentioned. Keep it dark, looks far better.

Updated the details on the list.

@rplst8 posted:

Since it’s a turbine, a funny easter egg would be to have a jet engine sound kick in over 80 SMPH.

Ok, maybe thats a stretch.

P.S. best forum topic in a while for sure.

Well, for these electronically clever guys in this thread, I would like to throw in the fact that a few years back Lionel offered a (totally cool) near-model of the NYC RDC/jet test bed, which, I guess, had a jet sound board in it. So....

I did not get the jet RDC; wish that I had. 

Probably best to take a shot out in the daylight while the sun is out ( for now ) ….I’ll do that here in a minute…..it’s friggin cold as all get out here in NC ……but the things I do for this hobby!!…..🥶

Pat

Ok, that was cold ,…..and technically, I’m a Yankee,…..here’s some outdoor shots of our star, ….the Tuscan on tender will definitely have to be what y’all say, …..but clearly even I can see the smoke box silver has to go,…..no worries, that’s achievable,…..take a look, lemme know what else y’all see?…….my eyes are drawn to the horrible chrome wheels everywhere,…..we ain’t at a car show, they’ve got to go!!….

Pat

There is no tuscan red on a PRR steam locomotive, zero, zilch, nada.  The tender deck and insides of the streamlined shell should be what PRR called Freight Car Color.  This is an orange/red and the photos above look good for that.  The background of the keystone number plate on the nose should be toluene red, which is a bright red.  Passenger cars were tuscan red, as were Diesel passenger locomotives after 1952.  Prior to that, passenger locomotives were dark green like the freight locomotives.

@Bob posted:

There is no tuscan red on a PRR steam locomotive, zero, zilch, nada.  The tender deck and insides of the streamlined shell should be what PRR called Freight Car Color.  This is an orange/red and the photos above look good for that.  The background of the keystone number plate on the nose should be toluene red, which is a bright red.  Passenger cars were tuscan red, as were Diesel passenger locomotives after 1952.  Prior to that, passenger locomotives were dark green like the freight locomotives.

My bad Bob ……thanks for clearing that up,…..so the tender deck looks good …..noted sir,….

Pat