Sunset Models: 031 Curves, Steamers?

Morning Arnold.

This is a beautiful switcher they have made in the past.

I checked their website and they still have a few for sale.

My impression is limited selections in the smaller items due to the relative expenses of manufacturing and their customers tend to want the larger engines.

BUT, they do have this one.

Jerry

Southern Pacific S-12
0-6-0 Switcher

#1278- Black (2 -3R LEFT)
#1278 - Green Boiler (Passenger) (SOLD OUT)
#1278 - Black (JUST 3 3R LEFT)

Built by the Sacramento Shops.
This 0-6-0 switcher was in full use during the steam era of Southern Pacific.
Many still remain today. Sunset Models is proud to announce this Southern Pacific S-12 Switcher.

All Brass Construction Fully Detailed Backhead ERR CRUISE in 3 Rail TMCC/ New OEM Railsounds Compatible with Legacy, DCS, TMCC, Conventional Control in 3 Rail Coil Couplers in 3 Rail Available in 2R or 3R 054 3 Rail Track, 48" Radius 2 Rail Track Compatible Only 15 each produced in 2R and 3R, $1449.95 MSRP

Southern Pacific S-12 Switcher 0-6-0 OFFERED IN BLACK OR GREEN BOILER VERSIONS

Oops, just saw their specs - 48 inches for two rail. Not sure if that will work.

j

Thanks, Jerry, I agree it's a beautiful steam switcher, but minimum radius is 054, not 031.

Sunset has been around since the 1980s or earlier.    Scott's father, Mort, started the company.    I don't think they did much in 3 rail back then.    And everything was brass.   

As for radius,  unfortunately if you want somewhat accurate models, rather than toys, you are pretty much stuck with larger radius, especially with steamers.      With 4 axle diesels, you can usually run tighter radius.

A lot of the smaller steamers will work on 072 or even a little tighter.    I have not heard of one that will go around 031.    A friend of mine has an OMI 2-8-0 that will happily go around 072.  

Sunset over the years has imported many, many steamers of all sizes.   I have steamers from back the early days and a most recent PRR L1 mikados.     This L1 came factory painted and is the most detailed loco in my roster.    It is also a very good runner as is the PRR N1 2-10-2 from at least 15 years ago.  

Arnold,

Scott does scale engines with fixed pilots, but he tries to make the minimum curve 0-54 for most things. I know that this does not help you (nor me as I have 0-42).

However, Scott did try the 0-42 market with passenger sets but canceled them since there weren't enough pre-orders. I did create a post recommending that he make Budd Slumbercoaches in 0-42 as the semi-scale sleeper cars are extremely "cookie cutter" from the major O-gauge players.  I thought more people would be likely to buy individual cars over sets but I do not think he saw my suggestion.
Here is the thread if you are interested: Idea Proposal for GGD - 0-42 Slumbercoaches

Maybe in the future, he will consider making engines for the non-scale market?
If you wanted to play surgeon and swap out the fixed pilots, you probably could get his diesels to work on tighter curves. Just a thought.

Bryce

Carving up a new 3rd Rail locomotive to make it run on tighter curves would be a crime, it might even be a felony!

Based on what you've showed us of your layout, it looks to be more of a "toy train" type approach. Nothing wrong with that, but as has been already stated, the more "scale" type of engines offered by Sunset just may not be a good fit for you.

Just my 2 cents...

Mark in Oregon

My 2007 Sunset SP Mountain (4-8-2) brass steamer goes around 0-42 curves on my layout. Initially,  the cab roof corner fought with the tender front. Without carving anything, I separated the engine and tender by about an additional 3/8 inch with an extension fastened to the loco’s draw bar. It’s still my favorite locomotive.

Oddly enough, the engine pushes the tender out of the rails when backing through 0-42 curves. This because of the crazy way the draw bar is attached to the  loco’s trailing truck frame instead of the loco body. I’ve been meaning to correct this as well by relocating the draw bar’s attaching screw to the loco body where it should be.

BTW, my layout features K-Line Super-K tubular Shadow Rail track.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

Carving up a new 3rd Rail locomotive to make it run on tighter curves would be a crime, it might even be a felony!

I never said that I agreed with doing it! haha!

@OddIsHeRU posted:

My 2007 Sunset SP Mountain (4-8-2) brass steamer goes around 0-42 curves on my layout. Initially,  the cab roof corner fought with the tender front. Without carving anything, I separated the engine and tender by about an additional 3/8 inch with an extension fastened to the loco’s draw bar. It’s still my favorite locomotive.

Richard,

Thank you for that information, you have made my day!

Bryce

Arnold - Sunset makes absolutely fabulous models, however being all scale currently O 31 curves are tight for likely all of their recent offerings.  I will say that the locomotives can go around tighter radii than advertised, however they have not been guaranteed to work.  Good examples in 2 Rail are locomotives from a K4 down will negotiate a 48" radius (096). The 3 rail equivalent might work on an O54 but should be tested.  The SP switcher mentioned will likely take a tighter radius than O54.

I might be worth seeing if anyone on this forum who has one has tested it on tighter curves.  While I don't have that particular locomotive, it is an excellent little switcher.

The more I think about this the less likely I think almost any "scale" loco would be able to handle 031: heck, that's only 15 1/2" radius!  HO scale trainset track is normally 18"R, so 031 seems REALLY tight...FWIW, I'm finding 063 is about as tight as you can get, and still have all your rolling stock "look happy". 🙂

Mark in Oregon

Limiting factor on the SP S12 is likely the short tender drawbar. The engine has blind center drivers so 031 should not be a problem. Add 1/2" to the drawbar and it should work.

FWIW K-Line scale Hudsons and Mikados navigate 031 when the supplied longer drawbar is installed.

Pete

@Arnold D. Cribari posted:

Thanks, Jerry, I agree it's a beautiful steam switcher, but minimum radius is 054, not 031.

Obviously the radius is out of the question but ,keep in mind. That switcher also has a $1500 price tag Arnold.