Wilesco factory tour...

Krick Model 2 two cylinder marine steam engine...Part V, the fire-up...

Krick Model 2 two cylinder marine steam engine...Part IV, ready to fire up this weekend...

...next to an Athearn HO scale Hustler for perspective.

Soldering a Wilesco vertical boiler..the adventure begins...

Wet towels to keep from overheating other joints...check...


New pencil flame propane torch from Amazon.com that can be used in my work to justify the cost...check... Note to enterprising sprite who felt it worthy of a one star rating because of its small flame--DUDE, IT'S A PENCIL FLAME TORCH???!


LIFT OFF!!!! Check out where the leak was at the left end...either the previous owner ran it dry--yikes--or, he ran it like this for a while, the leak zone is easily almost 3/4" wide...



Clean the joints...and I mean spotless. I found my small flat and curved files, as well as my 3/4" fitting brush worked best--the Dremel was a great disappointment here.







Big, fat, blood thirsty mosquitoes drove me indoors before I could finish, so you'll have to wait 'til next time...

Krick Model 2 two cylinder marine steam engine...Part II, the buffing...

...and polishing.....and buffing....and rubbing...

They are a labor of love....

Krick Model 2 two cylinder marine steam engine...

...picked up at a local model train swap meet (isn't that where everybody goes for model steam engines?).

Krick engines were made years ago, using parts manufactured by Wilesco, and designed to go with their boat kits. This particular model engine was known in the past to come with their kit "The Patricia". The kit is still manufactured but their engines come from Regner now.

This particular engine came out of the original owner's model of "The African Queen", then spent the last few years as a flat car load in a garden railway. It was purring like a kitten when I came upon it, the owner running it off of a small air compressor. My plans are to clean it up and mount it, then pass it on to another modeler. Until then, I'll enjoy the privilege of being able to tinker with it...








Germany - Manufacture date: pre 1984
Bore = 1/4", Stroke 3/4", Flywheel diameter = 2"
Style: Double Acting, Dual Vertical Cylinder, Marine

Alco Models HO scale Union Pacific ALCO C-855...

...well...the drive train anyway, part of a recent box load of ancient HO history...


Included were these two Lindsay "Teaspoon of Power" drives, the L-140 HO gauge 4 wheel power unit with flywheel and the L-142 single end motor. The little boogers are rated for 1.5 amps, enough to fry three of anything offered today. The L-140 has an ingenious design that allows it to extend its wheelbase .170" to fit a variety of models. The gear box simply slides along the long end where the flywheel is, then locks in place with a set screw. The flywheel can also be flipped to make for more room as needed.

Pittmann, K.T.M. Sagami...

...a box full of model railroading history came my way, filled with open framed wonders of yesteryear, gear boxes and can motors including Sagamis, which haven't been available since the Kobe, Japan factory was destroyed in the Great Hanshin earthquake in 1995.

They come from the estate of a modeler who obviously knew what he wanted in running qualities and pursued that end thru the 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s. I will eventually feature several of the older motors to show the evidence of balancing the armatures that used to be done before precision motors became available and affordable.

This is just a small sampling of what came my way...

Pittmann Electrical Developments Company...

...the source of most motors in American model railroading through the 1970s for both manufacturers and hobbyists. A large box lot of old motors coming my way made me realize that there is very little information out there on these little machines.

1:64 scale Dale Earnhardt Sr. and Jr. remote control NASCAR racers...

...produced by Motorworks about 5 years ago. Picked up at a yard sale in like new condition---Sr's car was not even opened---they have excellent detail and very good paint, my son and I will be road testing them tonight.

They steer much like a real car, with both front wheels turning on their own steering points, the front end being fully adjustable...it simply amazes me how far rechargeable battery and micro-motor technology (the top picture being fairly close to actual size) have come in just the last 7 years....




UPDATE: The battery in Jr's car is toasted, leaving me free to experiment with it for future rail models, unless I find a source for replacement batteries.

The mechanism for steering is quite ingenious, using a rare earth magnet on the tie rod that is drawn to either side by small electromagnets.

Bachmann HO scale 80 ton three truck shay...

The Greater Baton Rouge Model Railroad Club Open House, Oct. 23, 2010...

...in pictures...