@Trainmaster04 posted:Darkened axle caps?
Well, there’s no caps, but it’s right on the tip of your tongue now,…….for a shot, you’ve certainly skinned the target!……look at this pic from when I took it out of the box,…..
Pat 
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Center drilled axles!
Ah, he beat me to the punch! If that is what was added it defiantly is a nice little bit of detail not everyone models.
@rplst8 posted:Center drilled axles!
DING!! 🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳
and a fine scale modeler is born!!…..good show!..
Pat
@Trainmaster04 posted:Ah, he beat me to the punch! If that is what was added it defiantly is a nice little bit of detail not everyone models.
2nd place ……wha, wha, wha………but yes, if we’re going to build the BEST S2, that’s an important feature that is obviously Front Street, …..so we wanna look our best!….no??..
Pat
I cheated and knew that because Pat did that to my Yellow Belly pilot truck. I was waiting to see if anyone else got it. 
On the good side, I had a visitor looking at my locomotive and commented on the pilot truck looking realistic, so at least one other person appreciated the detailing. 
And here I was looking at the ends not the drivers. I kept looking at either end trying to see if there was something there, that's why I was focused on the brakes. Dang it Pat, nice almost hidden detail added.
@harmonyards posted:DING!! 🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳
and a fine scale modeler is born!!…..good show!..
The thing that reminded me was that you wished you had done it to John’s yellow belly Hudson.
Would those have been from where they turned the axles on a lathe?
@rplst8 posted:The thing that reminded me was that you wished you had done it to John’s yellow belly Hudson.
Would those have been from where they turned the axles on a lathe?
Yep, not only when they actually make the wheel set, but whenever they added new tires, back in the lathe to true them up too, …..it’s hub centric machining ….
Pat
So what is next to work on Pat? Putting all the bits on except the elephant ears as that is still a project to make the mini-ears?
@Dave NYC Hudson PRR K4 posted:So what is next to work on Pat? Putting all the bits on except the elephant ears as that is still a project to make the mini-ears?
Yes, I’ll make the mini ears, but probably more towards the end of the project, we certainly don’t need them at the moment. We’ll get a well dressed, functional model first ……
Pat
Sounds like a plan Pat. This is another one of those masterpieces in action. What's that old saying, "wait till you see it coming down the rails."
You may have to shoot a video of it in action when it is done, unless that would be left up to the owner of this model at a later date on their home turf? Needless to say, this is going to be one Cadillac of the Rails.
This thing continues to blow my mind!!……dress rehearsal, not in full costumes yet, but did the deed for cruise install via Cruise M & a mother board, ….I’ve got this engine so dialed in, it creeps the slowest I’ve ever seen and not stall!….you could knock me over with a feather beings this is a brass engine,,……this thing creeps so slowly, but so methodically, you can hear the individual boom, boom, boom, of the coupler slack coming out!!…..I tried to record it, but this antique iPad ain’t doing it,….nutz!!…..after this, I do have a cruising video, probably 20-25 SMPH??……ish??…
Pat
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Granted, no lights, no smoke, this is just straight motor tug on a 35 car test train, ….this thing sips energy!….and remains sustained at these numbers,…..what does that mean?…..she’s efficient, and smooth,….
Pat 
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Pat, that dang thing is so quiet, you can only hear I guess the wheels slightly click on the rails? Is that what that is? I don't think I ever heard so little from any engine running over the rails.
@Dave NYC Hudson PRR K4 posted:Pat, that dang thing is so quiet, you can only hear I guess the wheels slightly click on the rails? Is that what that is? I don't think I ever heard so little from any engine running over the rails.
The louder clicks are my hand trying to hold this antique iPad,…….you can hear my fingers slipping, ….that locomotive is eerily silent, ……the sounds coming from the train set are sounds I’ve never heard before, …….individual coupler slack, flanges scrubbing the rail sides, crazy sounds I’ve never paid attention to,….until now,…….
Pat
Pat,
I think you are going to have a lot of work on your hands soon upgrading others' S2s! That dark smokebox color really makes the DGLE "pop".
Part of me wonders if that's what the importers have been getting wrong all these years. The Pennsy "dark green" is often all over the map, but that dark graphite just looks so nice. You are a talent beyond measure!
I dare say this outdoes the Super Hudsons you've done. I know that's probably blasphemy in Harmon but, the to this PRR foamer's eyes, it's a must have.
Yeah, that dark graphite is the bomb as they say. When Pat first posted the few pictures, it looked black on the first picture, but on point at closer glance.
@rplst8 posted:Pat,
I think you are going to have a lot of work on your hands soon upgrading others' S2s! That dark smokebox color really makes the DGLE "pop".
Part of me wonders if that's what the importers have been getting wrong all these years. The Pennsy "dark green" is often all over the map, but that dark graphite just looks so nice. You are a talent beyond measure!
I dare say this outdoes the Super Hudsons you've done. I know that's probably blasphemy in Harmon but, the to this PRR foamer's eyes, it's a must have.
What matters is we’re doing it right, and paying the due homage to the prototype,……I am simply the tool in the tool box, ….it’s you guys that dictated the build,….just like the graphite coloring, if you guys said it was good, I would’ve left it be ……hats off to you guys, supplying the research info, providing the tips and features that need to be on this model,……it’s been a fun exercise, and best of all, it proves how well this group can come together, put ideas on paper, and then execute those ideas,……this one is far from over yet, but, we’ll certainly do this again!!……
Pat
Fellas, what do we want to do with the marker lights on the tender? ……I’d assume they’d only be illuminated when running light, ie; no train in tow, but there’s no feature I’m aware of to make that work, so best I can say is to make them illuminate when the headlight is on??……so when in reverse, the front markers would be illuminated, headlight off, and the rear markers off, and vice versa moving forward, …..what say ye?..
Pat
I’m game, if no one opposes.
In regular service, 99% of the time, the front and rear markers would all be off. But, don't let that spoil your fun.
The R&D dept. at Harmon is hard at it!…..we’ve been reviewing the research info sent in by all of you!….and one thing that seems very consistent in the actual videos, is the steam exhaust from the generator, …..seems like it’s really prominent, with that said, and beings this engine pretty much smokes all the time, we’re developing a special smoke manifold that will carry smoke back to the generator via a scavenger system. So we’re using the main stack, and just scavenging a sampling and piping it out back, …..this is only in the mock up stage, I’ll be able to control the amount exiting the generator. I think this will work fine with John’s special smoke feature board, again, the smoke ( steam from the generator) will wain when in motion……also, the boys at West Albany have thrown their technical know how on a real special feature we think you’re really gonna like…..but I’m not tipping my hand on that one just yet!!…..let’s just say West Albany’s R&D team is tough to beat!!……so here’s a short video on how this smoke system works…..
Pat
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That is a shoooooot-ton of smoke if you know what I mean. Is that because of the pipe in the back that it makes some darn much or something else entirely? Great work for sure. Glad the R&D department is doing that great work that is needed.
Pat, You're upping the ante and setting the bar pretty high for future smoke mods now. Is the scavenge syphon tapped off the base of the stack or directly into the wick chamber?
I am imagining future locomotives on my layout stopping at the smoke fluid station quite often. Now I can see a purpose in making the smoke fluid station a working and viable accessory. Of course I need to start stockpiling JT fluid to keep the beasts puffing.
Ok, I full screened the video, nice connection. Did you solder similar to sweating a copper fitting or just braze it?
That's very cool pat, I'm impressed with the quantity of smoke out the dynamo port. 
Thank you fellas, ….in its present form, it actually works too good, I’ll need to choke it for a good effect,…..
Ron, the scavenger pipe makes a 90 degree turn in the main stack, and aims at the exhaust opening, so it gets the pressure. The scavenger pipe also has to be a hair lower than the main stack so the smoke has no choice but to enter it. It’s a simple set up, the parts are soldered together,……
Pat
Ah, gotcha.
Pat,
Did you angle drill the hole so it would slip the copper in easier on a bias? I take it the pipe looked similar to a upside down screen door hook and is held tighter to one side of the stack?
@Ron_S posted:Pat,
Did you angle drill the hole so it would slip the copper in easier on a bias? I take it the pipe looked similar to a upside down screen door hook and is held tighter to one side of the stack?
Ron, the brass stack is thin wall tubing, the copper scavenger pipe is a wee bit thicker, I just drilled the hole in the side of the brass stack tubing, then just force fed the copper down it’s throat . Once I got it where I wanted it in perpendicular to the stack, I soldered it in place, then trimmed everything……it’s easier to work with the long sticks, then cut off just the portion I needed …….before I actually assemble it in the locomotive, I’ll take a picture of the inside of the pipe …..
Pat
Thanks Pat, I have done a lot of sweat solder copper joints, we owned a softener company when I was a kid and was put to work anywhere needed. Seeing how you did the syphon was inspirational. I am all for adding realistic accessories where possible.
WOW! This loco upgrade is one of the best I've seen! Next time i come across one of these S2s I'm grabbing it and sending directly to you!!!
@coach joe posted:Just buy this one when Pat's done!
Yep, ….when this locomotive is done, …..to market it goes,……keep a sharp eye out for it…..my good buddy Tom Market gave me such a good deal on it, even with the mountain of upgrades, the price will be attractive to even us poor souls!……this is going to be a new chapter on this forum. When I can pick up a project that’s desirable for many, we’ll spec build it with the ideas from this group,…..and the best part, no railroad will be immune, ……it’ll all just depend what comes across the pike!!…..anything from 1900 to now is on the table……we’re just beginning!!…if it’s titled “let’s build” on “Tales From Harmon Shops “ it’s a group community project!!…..good times!!
Pat
Wait what Pat?
@Dave NYC Hudson PRR K4 posted:Wait what Pat?
This is going to be a spin off from the “Tales From Harmon Shops “ ……this has been a lot of fun doing this project with everyone’s suggestions & input……to be honest, every chance I get a break, I look to see if someone has added a new idea, or feature that needs to be on this engine, ….and YOU have been the ambassador keeping lists a rollin’ to keep the project on path with all the add ons,…..I just simply look at your list Dave, & check off when it’s done, or a reminder to get certain parts ……also, behind the scenes, I get a lot of help from Pete, Lou, John, and a whole host of characters sending valuable research info,…..so hats off to you Dave!…..this is a whole new concept, ….beyond “built to order” ….it’s built by OUR order,……what an exciting time!!…..
Pat
Thanks Pat. I just do what everyone else does, maybe late to the party sometimes, but the last one to leave sometimes often. 👍🐻
@harmonyards posted:Yep, ….when this locomotive is done, …..to market it goes,……keep a sharp eye out for it…..my good buddy Tom Market gave me such a good deal on it, even with the mountain of upgrades, the price will be attractive to even us poor souls!……this is going to be a new chapter on this forum. When I can pick up a project that’s desirable for many, we’ll spec build it with the ideas from this group,
Pat
What about a nice "custom built by Harmonyards" badge of some sort under the tender?
Ya know, with your signature on it. Like what Ford did during the SVT years.
That would increase the value substantially😉
@RickO posted:What about a nice "custom built by Harmonyards" badge of some sort under the tender?
Ya know, with your signature on it. Like what Ford did during the SVT years.
That would increase the value substantially😉
Badges??…we don’t need no stinking badges!!…….ehh, maybe someday if it evolves into a monster ……but we’ll see,….I build hot rods & customs for a living, in 30 some odd years, I never put a sticker, a badge or anything on any build I did ……..in my neck of the woods, folks just know I built it, …..cause it’s got longevity built into it…..😁
Pat
