Lionel Mikado, Missing Builders Plates

I wonder if Lionel is ever going to supply the missing decals for the Legacy PARR U-Boat?

MichRR714, the area on your boiler where the Builder Plates go. Is it Rectangular? Or round? I ask because my boiler has a rectangular relef were I believe theBuilderplates go

The builder plate that Lionel sent is a round Baldwin plate.

Baldwin builder plates are round.

ALCO builder plates are rectangular.

Lima builder plates are diamond shaped.

HW stated it correctly above.  My Mikado is a Baldwin.

USRA Mikados were built by all three of the major manufacturers. Depending on what the engine is lettered for would make a difference.

You can use this site to find out what railroads had them.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USRA_Light_Mikado

Then use this page to find the builder.

http://www.steamlocomotive.com/mikado/

example, New York Central's H6a's were made by Alco and Lima

Precision Scale has them all in stock.

Pete

Wow! The mikado I bought is the Southern 4501, it was built by Baldwin in 1911.

The plate says 1918.

So I have a baldwin loco that has a relef area for a alco builder plate.

Way to go Lionel.

Even the catalog has a alco builder plate pictured on it. Page 23. 2012 signature edition

Catalog

I guest it was lost in translation on the way to china. 

4501 was not a USRA engine as they weren't built until 1918. Lionel must have decided to letter it for an existing engine.

Southern RR USRA 2-8-2s were made by Alco and numbered 4765-4774.

Pete

The Loco I'm referring to is the southern Mikado 4501 that is currently in Chatinooga TN.

And was built by Baldwin in 1911 for Southern Railways. It is the first 2-8-2 wheel arrangement Southern had.

I understand that. The engines that Lionel built are USRA Light Mikados. 4501 is not one of those engines. Lionel just decided to paint a different class of engine like the 4501. If you look at the model compared with the prototype you will no doubt find dozens of other discrepancies. To build a model of 4501 would have required a unique casting of an engine not likely found on as many other railroads as the USRA types were. You could paint your engine black, get  ALCO builders plate and number it 4765 and you would have a much more accurate engine. Or you could live with the compromises of mass production.

Pete

Pete, I see what your saying. Thank you.

Got the plates installed.  Thanks Lionel.

I received mine yesterday.  I haven't put them on yet.

Doug

Thanks For the Great info. regarding the :Builders Plates"!

I have two Mikados, both which received without the plates.

After reading this post regarding that issue I contacted Lionel at 1:00  P.M. today, received confirmation they were in the Mail to me at 2:00 P.M. Today!!!

NOW THAT'S SERVICE with a Capitol "S" !!

FREDSTRAINS

Does anyone have a pic of there legacy Southern Mikado 4501 with the builder plates on?

When K-line built them you got the builder plate..............

Don

The builder plates for my erie Mikado were delivered in less than two days from calling them.  I am happy

Use some CA.  Just make sure you go easy on it.  You don't want it oozing out.

Maybe some of you could model locos who's plates have been stolen? 

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On the 4501, as I beat this dead horse, again: Lionel is the only outfit that has offered

a proper, if basic, by today's standards, model of the Southern Rwy. 4501, and that

class of Southern Mikes. As correctly stated above, these locos predated the USRA locos, are not USRA Mikes (though they influenced the design, I understand), and all the other companies that have offered a green "4501" by painting a USRA Mike green don't offer the real deal. The 4501 (class "Ms" I think...?) actually looks very little like a USRA Mikado.

My Lionel (proper) 4501 I painted in the Southern black freight scheme, which it wore

most of its life. I've only seen and ridden behind it when it was green. 

I just use a small dab of testors model cement.  Put a small dab on with the tip of a tooth pick.  Worked great.