Reading OE-10 #79 at Gordon
One of the switchers I’ve chosen to model is Reading class OE-10 #79. It was a Baldwin VO-1000 switcher assigned to Gordon, PA during my modeling time-period.
I’m going to use a Car Works VO-1000 model as the starting point. Car Works imported the VO series back in the early 90’s. They imported three versions, “VO-1000 1942-1944 #Curved Walks,” “VO-1000 1945-1947 Straight Walks” and a “DS4-4-1000 with FLat Grill.” They have a Weaver chain drive with Pittman motor. Out of the box they run fine. I may explore using a different drive set-up.
Looking at the fireman’s side there are shutters in two of the engine compartment doors, they will need to be added. The exhaust stack needs to be extended. I will need to add a cover for the radiator. Since my model has broken solder joints on one of the foot-boards at each end I think all four need to come off, be cleaned up and re-soldered back on.
Fireman’s side of the Car Works VO-1000
Looking at the engineer’s side of the locomotive. There does not appear to be many changes needed. I’ll have to add a number board to the lower part of the radiator screen. This view shows the radiator cover removed in 1956, so maybe I don’t need to add it. The Reading rain gutters will need to be added to the cab roof.
Reading #79 at Shamokin, PA 1956
Engineer’s Side of the Car Works VO-1000
Just received a carworks Baldwin DS-4-4-1000.
The first thing I noticed was that it has the infamous weaver split axle gear
Problem on one wheel set. So I will have to replace all the wheel sets to
Avoid future problems with split axle gears. Not sure weaver is offering
Free replacements anymore. I may have to call P&D hobby shop.
I plan to letter this engine for Western Maryland. They had two of these
Without turbochargers which resulted in 4 tall cone shaped exhaust stacks.
Problem is that the spare parts bag only contains 3 tall cone shaped
Exhaust stacks so I need to find a source for one more.
There is only electrical pickup wipers on one truck. I noticed this on other
Carworks models. I can get these from Rod Miller so it will have all wheel
Pickup.
Last is I would like to find a correct cab interior as the large windows make
Its absence very noticeable. Any ideas? Perhaps a weaver of MTH vo-1000
Interior may work assuming I can get one.
David,
The Weaver gears were known to split. I’ve had that on a number of models.
It’s really worth the effort to just change them all out to be safe. Why do that work more than once. Replace them and never worry about it again. I don’t think Weaver still offers replacements. The cost is around $40 for a new set, that’s one of the few things in O scale that is not too expensive.
For me as a Proto48 modeler I have to change them anyway, so it not an issue.
Not sure about the interior, I know there are parts in the PSC catalog. I remember Stan Richmond having cab interiors for sale at shows but that was back in the 90’s. I think Bill Davis did at the Cleveland show last Fall. He might have something available at the Chicago Show in March.
George
George;
I like your web site and can relate to this project and several others. I’m working on an identical VO-1000 model, to be detailed for a Wabash Railroad unit. So far, I’ve converted the drive to P:48, built a straight exhaust stack, and added a horn and number board plate at the top of the nose grill. I still need to add step guards on the pilots, as well as cab window shades and wind deflectors. One detail that I’m struggling with is finding an alternative to the crude turning used to represent the headlight on the back of the cab. Have you looked at this detail on your model and if so, can you offer any suggestions on a replacement part?
Kind regards,
Rob Adams
do you know if any of the car works vo-1000,s have cab interior detail?
David,
No they do not have a cab interiors. I know Stan used to have interiors for sale at shows but I think they were from the later ALCO switcher he ran.
George