Anyone Ever Detailed a Williams Niagara?

I have considered it having restored a beat up 3rd Rail Niagara. That would be the one to try and emulate. Precision Scale has just about every detail part you could need. Download their catalog if you haven't already.

Actually if you are going to get really serious about detailing it, it would be best to strip all the paint first. You will soldering parts to it all over. Then paint it any sheen you deem appropiate.

Pete

No, but I had mine converted from conventional to DCS and added a fan-driven smoke unit (thanks gunrunnerjohn) and it really enhanced the performance. 

As for the "awful shine," I didn't touch that as I like that look on brass locos. 

John

Norton posted:

I have considered it having restored a beat up 3rd Rail Niagara. That would be the one to try and emulate. Precision Scale has just about every detail part you could need. Download their catalog if you haven't already.

Actually if you are going to get really serious about detailing it, it would be best to strip all the paint first. You will soldering parts to it all over. Then paint it any sheen you deem appropiate.

Pete

It's just a matter of finding something that's cheap. I want to spend as little as possible on the base model so I can have a bigger budget for detail parts. I agree the 3rd Rail is definitely the better candidate. Ideally I'd like to spend less than $350 on the engine. Anyone have any beaters for projects?

I wasn't suggesting you buy the 3rd Rail but just study the pictures of it and the prototype to detail the Williams. Actually there was a 3rd Rail Niagara on one of the auction sites recently that just hung there for weeks with $450 price. Seemed like a pretty good deal given it has TMCC too.

Pete

Not yet.....but, as the real Niagara was low on "details", a basic visual upgrade would not be enormously difficult. I would only aim at the bigger omissions - small piping under the running boards; steam and water piping along the firebox sides.

I did this Williams Niagara 20+ years ago. It was renumbered. I later added ERR Cruise Commander. Runs like butter, as they say. Weathering only; no extra details yet (one day....).

First order of business: paint those wheels and rods flat black. I used enamel and a brush. Then Dullcote the whole thing. Then I used some spray flat black held aloft. I forget what I used for the lighter running-gear/truck color. I would use dry pigments these days for the weathering, after the black rods treatment.

I have this and an MTH (w/ERR) and a Lionel Niagara. The Williams is the most sure-footed - helped by the sprung drivers (like the real ones) and a more "flexible" PT tender wheel design than the other two. I also added the later twin sealed-beam headlight "lens" (a purchased diesel detail item).

Probably not a lot to add. You'll need prototype photos. There areas to improve wiring piping and other small things. Maybe engine truck brakes. Here are a couple shots of my Williams Hudson detailed.

ES44AC, I don't think it's a shine as much as a lighting issue. I would say the engine has a dull satin finish as if new. Don

Here are some pics of a 3rd Rail engine I restored to use as a reference. I don't have a Wiiliams Niagara but do have Lionel and MTH Niagaras. While both a very nice the 3rd Rail version has more and finer detail in particular the valve gear and smokebox.

Pete

scale rail posted:

ES44AC, I don't think it's a shine as much as a lighting issue. I would say the engine has a dull satin finish as if new. Don

I have a Williams Niagara, they’re down right too shiny out the box.....it’s on my “to do roster” ........Pat

3rd Rail would probably be the best comparison. I don't want to go too crazy on details but the stock Williams model seems a bit bare bones to say the least. I really want to have an in service look and want it all black, whether this requires touching up the current paint or repainting the whole thing. With that in mind it will need a new headlight and new numberplate as well.

Side note, will the engine make O-60?

I did a TMCC upgrade on a Williams Niagara for a local club that runs it on 042. They are impressively smooth runners even in conventional but you could easily swap out the Mabuchi 550 for a Pittman and it would run even better with less effort.

Pete

Good to know. My tightest curve on my Holiday layout is 036. Wonder if it would make that. I've got 060 for it too though

The box for my Williams Niagara indicates that O-72 curves are required. 

John

rattler21 posted:

ES44AC posted:

 Is there any way to get rid of that awful shine as well? 

 

Thanks in advance. 

DulCote is your friend.  John 

Or Krylon clear flat paint... More economical.

ES44AC posted:

3rd Rail would probably be the best comparison. I don't want to go too crazy on details but the stock Williams model seems a bit bare bones to say the least. I really want to have an in service look and want it all black, whether this requires touching up the current paint or repainting the whole thing. With that in mind it will need a new headlight and new numberplate as well.

Side note, will the engine make O-60?

If you do tackle the Williams project, certainly no need to strip all the paint, unless you plan on adding by soldering, more detail parts......As the others have mentioned, clear coats will work fine to dull down that shine....Pat

Here is a pic of the Williams chassis taken during the upgrade. One omission is the truck mounted pipe for the feedwater. PSC has that part along with the feedwater pump located just forward of the truck. I found some extension springs on Ebay for the flexible pipe between truck and the pump. Lionel and MTH has the pipe and pump sans pipe. If you decide to add these details PM me as I have the springs as well as the smokebox front number plates for 6001-6010.

This was originally #6024.

Pete

Nice job. That's pretty exactly how I envision mine save for the black smokebox and firebox. Definitely the two biggest things are a new headlight and the front plates.