SP B-1 Berkshire build.

Here’s a closeup of using JB quickweld as a filler. I had to fill two generators on a GS4 to make it a GS3. Should be nearly seamless once I airbrush it.

 

You Sir, are a true artist and inspiration. The SP lives in my world !

 

Thank you. Just trying to inspire others to create what the market has denied us N scalers.

 

after paint, a minor imperfections in the front one, but it will meet the 3 ft rule.

 

GS 3 is done, had to at least get something finished. Now back to the berk.

 

You did a fabulous job! I don’t see the imperfections even when I enlarge the photo.

 

Not much movement these last few days with house projects and this pesky thing called a job. Hopefully will make progress this weekend to finish it up, or at least get close.

 

OK, where did the GS-3 come from and how did you do it? (Concor?)

 

The GS3 started life as a Kato GS4. The smoke box hatch/light is Concor. I chopped the all-weather cab and modified the tender.

 

The GS3 conversion article is in the N scale railroading Jan-Feb 2012 issue.

 

Machined this little nubbin’ which goes in front of the stack. Filled a few excess holes in the boiler for cleanup later.

 

Some pipes done today.

 

Throttle linkage. The bar is a little thicker than I would have liked , but will work. Also installed the sand pipes off the dome.

 

Piping assembly ready for fitting. Will assemble it tomorrow with all the goodies.

 

What are you using for the hangers / mounts for the brass wire ? - looks like brass sheet to me. How did you get to the decision on how wide and long to make them. The reason I'm asking is I have quite a few steam locos to detail

 

I used 1/64 brass flat bar for the hangers after I lay the phosphor bronze wire down on masking tape (sticky side up). I just cut small lengths for soldering and I’ll bend them over and trim when I mount them.

As far as bending the wire, I just eyeball it from pics on the web.

 

Cool thanks, I like the way the whole piece looks

 

It's gorgeous! How do you bend your wire so precisely? I'd kill to have bends as clean and regular as those pipes.

 

I use jewelry pliers of various types for the bends. I think the key is Tichy phospor bronze wire instead of brass. It holds its shape better and has a bit of spring to it. Plus, if you mess up a bend, it is easy to straighten and re bend with little evidence of the prior bend.

I laid out all three pipes and placed three hangers. I then bent the wires into shape and soldered the remaining hangers in place.

 

Here is a set of wires that went from horizontal to vertical. I soldered the wires in the hangers in the horizontal position and then weaved them into the vertical position. SP made it difficult thanks to the prototype.