Vision Niagara Mods

Amazing work. Nick

That darkened smokebox makes a world of difference. Nice work.

Looks great Pete.

What a great improvement to the appearance of that engine! I'm curious, did you brush or airbrush the graphite onto the smokebox, and did you remove the elephant ears or do any other disassembly prior to repainting?

JM

You did what Ive been wanting to do,

I'm interested in seeing the side screw mod next.

Excellent work. The silver I never understood. Now, about those whitewalls.....

Just curious, but what was your objection to the Canon motor?

@D500 posted:

Just curious, but what was your objection to the Canon motor?

Not to start the debate again:

There are a few people here on the forms that do not like the cannon motors due to them failing and blowing up the command board.

I have been working on a lot of models that have these motors but I have not personally seen any issues. They aren't perfect, but that's the cheapest option available for the manufactures.

Thanks guys. JM I airbrush the smokebox. The top shell was off for the motor swap. I was able to remove some detail. From the bottom shell and pry it up far enough to get paint on it. On the TMCC Niagaras its easier to remove the bottom shell but this engine has many more boards that have to be removed to do that..

Bruk, this what I did on my TMCC Niagara. Flathead allens to sort of give the impression of nuts on the bearing retainers.

D, the Canons have a reputation for failing and shorting out the RCMCs. I have a few Pittmans so its wasn't a huge deal to swap it in.

Also, I don’t care for the overall paint scheme. Not a fan of factory darkened rods. I would rather weather an engine myself. This has the odd combination of as built whitewalls and running board stripe with in service siderods plus the silver smokebox which I have never seen on any Niagara, new or in service. I am leaning towards replacing the running gear with silver and keeping the whitewalls as a fresh from the factory version.

Pete

That looks amazing, how much for a set??? haha

Send me an email!

Yours is now exactly the way I would have ordered mine if I had the option. I passed on this engine for that reason. The whitewalls were the absolute deal breaker and you told me at the time they were easy to get rid of.

Nice upgrades.

Pat @harmonyards has run that 12V 9433 with success in Legacy Hudsons, so it should work great in your Niagara. I'll be 9433 swapping my own Legacy ATSF 3751 class Northern shortly. I just wish there was room for a 9434 size motor in these Legacy models. Lionel used 9433s in the most of the TMCC versions of Legacy locomotives. Probably something to do with electronics packaging with the Odyssey system.

Lou, the TMCC Niagara has a 9433. No problem pulling 13 18" heavyweights. I debated about using a 9434, its close, but knew the 9433 would work for sure.

Bruk, I have had a number of requests for the rod screws but I don't have a CNC mill. They are pretty tedious to make and yield is nowhere near 100%. Maybe someday I will take the plunge.

Pete

@Norton posted:

Lou, the TMCC Niagara has a 9433. No problem pulling 13 18" heavyweights. I debated about using a 9434, its close, but knew the 9433 would work for sure.

Most of the TMCC 4-8-4s used 9433s from what I have seen. I just like the 9434s for the little bit better low speed grunt for starting a train. Seems like once the train is moving there is very little difference between the two.

Awesome!

The painted smoke box looks way better.  Lionel’s choice for bright silver always puzzled me until I found a single photo of a Niagara (I don’t recall which number, I don’t have the book with me) in Know Thy Niagaras with what appears to be a bright silver smoke box.  So there is a prototype for Lionel’s choice, but surely that was an outlier and likely didn’t last long.   Lots of Niagara pictures with stripes and whitewalls.  

Your Niagara looks fantastic with the upgrade.  Thanks for sharing

I’d bet that incorrect headlight body is next?   That smokebox silver and the incorrect headlight body were reasons I didn’t trade up over my 3rdrail Niagara. Awesome job as always Pete.  

Someday I’ll catch up with my buddy Pete,....he’s a true craftsman!....outstanding work as usual,.....you don’t have to rely on artisan level work from Pete, ....you can count on it!..

Pat

Beautiful work Pete !

Alex

The rod screws are really nice. I've tried to make some as 3D prints that can be applied over the screw. The problem seems to be that they are too small to strong enough to be used.

Hello,

Huge improvement with the rod screws!  Where does one obtain the flathead allen screws that you used?  What size are they?

Thanks in advance

@Steam Guy posted:

Hello,

Huge improvement with the rod screws!  Where does one obtain the flathead allen screws that you used?  What size are they?

Thanks in advance

Lionel uses M2.6 x .45 TPI screws. 10, 14, and 16mm long. I ended up using M2.5 x .45 screws as they are more common in machine threads in a greater variety of lengths. They seem to grip the threads as well as the 2.6 screws.

I got them from McMaster Carr but have found 10mm and 14 mm on Amazon in assortments.

I am currently searching for brass screws at least 16mm long. No luck so far. Rather than just drill dimples I want to drill holes that I can insert nut-bolt-washer castings in.
We’ll see.

Pete

Many thanks Norton for this information

I'll try and 3D print this again.

If you are interested in resin versions of the wheel cover, email me how many.

These will come out Gray so you will need to paint them silver or steel color and

attach over the existing screw.

HERE is what 120 printed looks like

Thanks for the offer Alan. Those may stick out to far. I was able to blacken some of the screws I had made before and will go with them for a while.

Pete

BTW Alan you should offer these in the for sale forum. I know a lot of folks would be interested in them. They could be placed over the stock screws.

Pete

I dont sell items I make I give them away.

Since they need some thickness they may stick out so I'll make a few and see how that goes.

One thing Alan. The prototype has 6 bolts. I have a photo of them but can’t post here.

Pete

here you go six (6) bolts!

Wow. This is all so incredibly expert and informed - that I can't resist adding the following.

Pete, sorry, but I just don't share your aversion to shiny silver smoke boxes; in fact, I think they are one thing Lionel does better than anybody else:

I have posted this before - not to provoke anybody, of course, as these are both "fantasy" scheme engines, by which Lionel seem to set a lot of store. (Thankfully, that has given us back the die cast Veranda.)

AlanRail, I am interested in your 3D caps. What is your thoughts on keeping the caps on the Niagara?

Looks so much better than that ugly silver smoke box. I couldn't believe Lionel did that. Haven't even taken mine out of the box yet I was so disappointed. And where do you see blackened side rods with bright white wall wheels?

Same here Skip. This is only the second time mine has been out of the box. I had it out when I first got it to make sure everything worked then packed it up until warranty was up.

Pete

Tom  see this thread

  https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/...5#153603997059669585

Pete,

Where does one purchase Pittman 9433's?

- Crank

@Eccentric Crank posted:

Pete,

Where does one purchase Pittman 9433's?

- Crank

One source is Lionel. Search parts on Pittman. The ones listed as 56mm are 9433s.

They come up on eBay from time to time but only occasionally do you find 12v or 15v. Either can be used.

Pete

Thanks!  Lionel has them.

- Crank

Hello,

Here is the detail showing the roller bearing crankpin detail.  The photo is of an O Scale 2 rail C&O 4-8-4.  There are 2 parts of the crankpin screw detail; 1 showing the slotted screw that goes through the round detailed part and screws into the end of the crankpin and 2. the round circular disc having the detailed nut and bolt detail.  I have seen someone who replaced the slotted screw with a hex head screw. 

The detail on it looks great.

Steam Guy,

Are you SURE that is a C&O 4-8-4?  I notice the turbine type feedwater pump at the far right of the photo. Please provide some additional photos of the model, and maybe the model manufacturer.