OMI N&W J Class side rods

@Gilly@N&W posted:

The 611-613 all had roller bearing side rods. The 605-610 also received streamlining and the roller bearing side rods immediately after the war.

Are the side-rods that are on the model pictured in my original post incorrect as far as you know?

@Gilly@N&W posted:

They look "correct" for the 613. The distinctive "look" of the roller bearing side rods are the large round ends. As for the rod cross-sectional profile, I have not seen any model with accurate detail. Most have a flat look to them.

If you do an eBay search for "Overland 4106 S BRASS N&W 'A' 2-6-6-4 Locomotive & Tender" you will see a model w/o the roller bearing side rods.

Thanks, I see what you’re referring to.  If you’re so inclined, take a look at O Scale OMI N&W 927.1 (Streamlined) and 926.1 (War Baby) on “Brasstrains.com” under “Brass Guide”.  Compare the side rods on each.  The side rods on the War Baby are vertically wider than those on the Streamlined version.  The Streamlined model pictured in my op appears to have the War Baby side rods which I believe may be incorrect.  Considering both versions were produced in 8/99 by Ajin according to the box labels, I believe the most likely explanation is that the model pictured in my op may have been incorrectly assembled at the factory.      
Would you or anyone else agree or disagree with my assessment?

@Gilly@N&W posted:

I do not agree. They appear to me to be representations (albeit not 100% accurate) of roller bearing side rods. I will admit that the cross-sectional profile is not right. But, having said that I have never seen dimensionally correct O scale side rods. I do see what you mean about the slab appearance. They all look thin and flat to me.

Here is a link to the builders photo of the 606J (1943). And here it is postwar with the roller bearing side rods

The OMI streamlined model in the Brass Guide (613) has side rods that look a LOT more like the 613 prototype pictures I’ve been able to find than does the model pictured in my op.  

Not a "J" expert.  I do have the Jeffries book, wih more than a few photos.  All photos show the skinnier roller bearing rods on the streamlined "J" class.

For me, the Williams J is adequate.  If I were going for the high end, I would first check for the availability of more accurate rods.  Williams had spares, and at one point you could buy crankpin caps with the proper bolt pattern.

Someone swapped the streamlined shell with the war version. They would have also changed the pilot trucks from spoked to solid. You can see on the steam chest that it says "J1" and not "J".

And that is an NW expert.  I was just wondering where he was.

I can make out a J1 (vice J) on the cylinder in the photo posted above.  Sharp eye Chris.   I recently purchased a Precision Scale K4s on eBay and somewhere along the line someone swapped the chassis and boilers between prewar and postwar variants.  I got it at a distressed price and plan to customize the details for a specific number K4s.  When we buy models that may have passed through several hands strange things can happen - buyer beware... 

@christopher N&W posted:

Someone swapped the streamlined shell with the war version. They would have also changed the pilot trucks from spoked to solid. You can see on the steam chest that it says "J1" and not "J".

Christopher,

Thanks for weighing in here, your assessment makes the most sense.  I knew there was something wrong with this model.  The Brass Guide OMI 613 version also shows two holes in the drivers close to the driver crank pin whereas the War Baby does not which further corroborates your theory.  For clarification, was the J1 on the steam chest only used on the War Babies 605-610?  Also, were solid pilot truck wheels used only on the post-war deliveries 611-613?  The model in question is on eBay and set to finish tomorrow night, currently bid at $1925.  Glad I’m NOT involved.  Caveat Emptor.  

@PRR 5841 posted:

For clarification, was the J1 on the steam chest only used on the War Babies 605-610?  

Yes, it would have been changed to "J" when it was streamlined and got new rods.

 

Also, were solid pilot truck wheels used only on the post-war deliveries 611-613?  

The solid pilot wheels came as delivered on the 611-613 but all of the earlier engines got solid wheels eventually.

 

The model in question is on eBay and set to finish tomorrow night, currently bid at $1925.  Glad I’m NOT involved.

I'm glad I'm not either. That would be disappointing to learn what's up after the fact.

 

@christopher N&W posted:

 

Thank you for your responses.  Interesting to note that as of 6:20pm EDT, the model in question on eBay which recently had over 20 bids up to $2250 now has only a single bid at the original starting price of $1850.  Go figure...

Harold Davenport did the drawings for the Overland "J"s.   I saw them at his house before he sent them Overland and they were over 6 feet long apiece.  He had gone thru the N&W archives as he worked for the N&W and pulled every door change on the streamlined shell.  The drawings were unbelievable and Tom Marsh wanted it to be the ultimate J.  I have one streamlined and one War Baby and wow is the War Baby a brute.  I love the big slab rods.

@VGN64 posted:

Harold Davenport did the drawings for the Overland "J"s.   I saw them at his house before he sent them Overland and they were over 6 feet long apiece.  He had gone thru the N&W archives as he worked for the N&W and pulled every door change on the streamlined shell.  The drawings were unbelievable and Tom Marsh wanted it to be the ultimate J.  I have one streamlined and one War Baby and wow is the War Baby a brute.  I love the big slab rods.

Great story!  I too have the OMI War Baby and love it for the same reasons as you.   I also have the MG that has a factory-like paint job but needed a new motor.  The MG is VERY old, someone knowledgeable told me that it was the first locomotive MG imported into the US.  I’d like to buy a streamlined OMI when the opportunity presents itself.  

I haven't seen a MG J on the market in awhile.  I know Sunset did a large run of them as I have several and Williams did painted version which may sit a tad high but for the time it had one heck of a paint job.  There were some Sunset Js that came with two tenders in the box and that I can't figure.  I always wondered why I kept seeing N&W streamlined tenders for sale till I saw a boxed J with two tenders in the Sunset box.

The MG is a very rare bird.  I’ve never seen one on eBay.  I know someone who was going to put one up for bid until I grabbed it.  Were the Sunset J’s painted gold or is that really brass?  They were done by Samhongsa who did a beautiful job but they’re not as robust as the MG.  Also, did they come with both spoked and solid pilot truck wheels?  There’s one on eBay now that appears to have both though the spoked wheels have 12 spokes, I believe 10 is correct or at least that’s what the OMI War Baby has.  Interesting about the dual tenders, wonder what they were thinking?

I am quite happy with the Williams - never thought of it as too high.  Wouldn't mind a critique by an expert.  I have heard the boiler was inaccurate, and I bet the cylinder block is off a USRA Mike - but would love to hear if anyone has actually taken a critical look.

I was going to capture a Williams "A", and widen the firebox, but somehow got busy with other projects. Some W models were very substantially constructed.

@Keystoned Ed posted:

I can make out a J1 (vice J) on the cylinder in the photo posted above.  Sharp eye Chris.   I recently purchased a Precision Scale K4s on eBay and somewhere along the line someone swapped the chassis and boilers between prewar and postwar variants.  I got it at a distressed price and plan to customize the details for a specific number K4s.  When we buy models that may have passed through several hands strange things can happen - buyer beware... 

Thread drift...again!  

Hope you plan on posting a "How I Did It" with photos, please.

Mark in Oregon

What the heck - classic lines, and $300.  What's not to like?