The More Ms The Merrier!

| Jul. 11, 12

I just got back another Harry Heike “rescue” from Frank Miller. This one was an M built off a Max Gray SP Tw-8. There were two main issues: the cab was too small in both height and width, and the smokebox front was built with the dogs soldered in the open position. If you look at the photo at the top of this blog you can see the open dogs on the model.

I had enough of staring at that mess so I stripped the model and pulled off the bad cab, then sent the model over to Frank for a rebuild and repair. At the same time, I sent back the model of #429 Frank had built for me because I gave him bad info and it needed the running board on the engineers side to be modified.

So, both Ms are back home and I want to share them with you. (Click on the images to see a larger photo.)

First, here is a shot of the front ends of both #429 (no outside steam pipes) and #376.

Now here is the engineer’s side of #429.

Now we have the engineer’s side of #375 with a 10,000 gallon tender.

And for a little contrast, here are the Ms facing a V class 4-6-0.

 

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Category: !Joe's Projects

About Joe G.: I'm the publisher of O Scale Trains Magazine and I model the Abingdon Branch of the N&W circa 1948. I like the smaller N&W steam, like the class M 4-8-0. I'm building an O standard gauge railroad in a 14' x 28' space. I also have an interest in electronics and DCC. I do a little of everything: painting, scenery, scratchbuilding, carpentry, you name it. View author profile.

Comments (5)

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  1. Trevor says:
    Jul. 11, 12 at 5:19 PM

    Nice looking locomotives, Joe. I look forward to seeing them when painted.
    Cheers!
    - Trevor (“What the heck am I doing in S scale???”) in Toronto

    —

    Port Rowan in 1:64

    An S scale model of a Canadian National
    branch line terminal in Southern Ontario:

    http://themodelrailwayshow.com/cn1950s

  2. Joe G. says:
    Jul. 11, 12 at 6:36 PM

    Thanks Trevor. I’m experimenting with battery operated RC/DCC so painting is on the back burner at the moment. I do hope to have them painted by early next year.

    What are you doing in S Scale!?!

    Regards
    Joe

  3. Robert says:
    Jul. 19, 12 at 7:51 AM

    Joe…this is the second Harry H issue you’ve spoke of now, and I guess I’m wondering what has happened to cause HH’s decline as a locomotive builder/detailer? I know he was once well regarded and these two examples if his less than stellar efforts on your behalf have me somewhat confused frankly.

    Bob

  4. Robert says:
    Jul. 19, 12 at 7:53 AM

    BTW, is that some of Dennis Brennans yard ballast I see in the photo above? Looks exactly like mine which I bought from same source.

    Bob

  5. Joe G. says:
    Jul. 19, 12 at 4:44 PM

    Bob: Yes, that is Dennis Brennan’s ballast. It’s great stuff. Love the color.

    Regarding Harry, all I can tell you is that he did four locomotives for me and all of them needed to be rebuilt. Two of them needed to be totally rebuilt, the K1, and the K2 I originally built which he was just supposed to paint. He ruined the tender. The M needed a new cab, smokebox front and a repair of a short caused by the firebox sides he added. I forgot. This is the 2nd time the Harry-M has been to Frank Miller. The first time was because I discovered the motor was burned out. So I had Frank replace the motor and put in an NWSL gearbox. Then he discovered one of the links in the valve gear Harry made was 3/8″ too long. This caused the mech to jam and that burned out the motor. This is how it was delivered to me, but I was in the midst of moving so I didn’t catch it until almost 2 years later. Then there was the intermittent short caused by the firebox sides which a bit of filing solved.