3rd rail Norfolk And Western Y6b to Y6a conversion almost complete

I think it looks great.  I've done several projects like this, and I can attest that each time I get a little better at it.

49Lionel posted:

I think it looks great.  I've done several projects like this, and I can attest that each time I get a little better at it.

Thanks! There are a couple changes I would make. I would take more time in the beginning to make it as perfect as possible before adding details 

Very cool, nice work!

What number choices do you have for it? 20-25 road numbers?

Dave NYC Hudson PRR K4 posted:

What number choices do you have for it? 20-25 road numbers?

The y6a’s were numbered 2155-2170. I have a couple plates made for the front but I don’t have decals printed yet for the cab. 

n&wsteamfan posted:

Dave NYC Hudson PRR K4 posted:

What number choices do you have for it? 20-25 road numbers?

The y6a’s were numbered 2155-2170. I have a couple plates made for the front but I don’t have decals printed yet for the cab. 

Well, whatever number you choose, I'm sure it will have come to you pretty easily.

Over all, like they say the creator is the biggest critique. Also, you did a great job. I can't even turn a simple copper pipe into anything. You did a great job and I am with everybody else, get that engine behind a long coal drag and let her roll. For example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zP69fQBiNXQ

I don’t have my layout up right now for a long coal drag but I ran it on the roller board I made years ago. I did something wrong because everything worked correctly 🤪

Here’s the y6a and y6b side by side 

Here’s a short running video 

n&wsteamfan posted:

Here’s a short running video 

 

Love that whistle!

Looks and sounds great.  I am curious why the front pilot is bobbing up and down.

gunrunnerjohn posted:

Looks and sounds great.  I am curious why the front pilot is bobbing up and down.

The rollers weren’t setup for this engine so the drivers aren’t really centered which causes a little lurching at times. It works for short video. 

Very bold! Great work what kind of soldering equipment do you use.?

n&wsteamfan posted:

Here’s the y6a and y6b side by side 

Now that is great! Just great! Two engines laying down on the job! How could this happen? Their supposed to be heading up north with coal.

Seriously though, a fantastic job through and through. Only thing that remains is you giving it it's number.

And the winning number for the y6a is.....2160  Home etched brass number plate 

I made a 2169 too

The next steps are to measure and design the lighted number board decals and print them off on my alps printer. 

Dave NYC Hudson PRR K4 posted:

n&wsteamfan posted:

Here’s the y6a and y6b side by side 

Now that is great! Just great! Two engines laying down on the job! How could this happen? Their supposed to be heading up north with coal.

Seriously though, a fantastic job through and through. Only thing that remains is you giving it it's number.

Thanks! 

Trainman2001 posted:

Very bold! Great work what kind of soldering equipment do you use.?

Thanks!

I use a propane torch, mini butane torch, soldering iron, and resistance soldering depending on what I’m doing. 

I had time to draw up the headlight number boards. I had to think about how I wanted to do this but decided to just do a water slide decal on my alps printer. 

I can finally say this one is done. 3rd rail brass O scale y6b converted to a y6a. Extensive boiler work and complete scratch built smokebox and home etched parts. I might put it up for sale if there’s interest. 

Stunning Job! What would it's price be?

n&wsteamfan posted:

Trainman2001 posted:

Stunning Job! What would it's price be?

Thanks!

I paid full retail price ($1800) but won’t get it back. I would sell it for $1200. 

Like they say in an action "SOLD!" to man in the back of the room.

Trainmaster04 posted:

n&wsteamfan posted:

Trainman2001 posted:

Stunning Job! What would it's price be?

Thanks!

I paid full retail price ($1800) but won’t get it back. I would sell it for $1200. 

Like they say in an action "SOLD!" to man in the back of the room.

Again that is a great job on a wonderful locomotive. P.S. I was making a joke above. 

here’s a YouTube of it running

https://youtu.be/SCiftavkR8A?si=JT2zaWwHNCZ7VL9q

I'm in awe of what you have done. True craftsmanship at its core. Not that this thread wasn't a lesson in itself, would you mind giving a compressed description of the some of the notable differences between a Y6a and Y6b?

Dave

The most noticeable difference is the side mounted feed water heater and associated piping to the front of the boiler. The overall boiler length is roughly 1/2” shorter. Also, The dual air pumps on the engineers side. There are other differences but those are the biggest

Because the boiler has been shortened by removing the SA feedwater heater, the handrails directly in front of the smokebox should be vertical instead of slanted.

@Big Jim posted:

Because the boiler has been shortened by removing the SA feedwater heater, the handrails directly in front of the smokebox should be vertical instead of slanted.

That’s a good catch that I missed. I’ll have to correct it!