Got my new BLI Mikado the other day and immediately set out to make it more CN prototypical. First, I stripped all the existing road names and numbers. Next, added a feedwater heater and hoses and moved the bell from the front of the smokebox to the top of the boiler.
The hardest part was adding the pump. I had to move the air pump (thanks Jim) about 1/4 inch to make room for it. This entailed carefully carving away the second air compressor and opening the running board a bit.
There was nothing to attach the pump to so I soldered a pin onto the back and drilled a hole for it. I have some brass wire for pipes, and added one coming into the pump on the left. Need another to the right and then the fireman's side is finished.
First photo is from BLI - that's the stock engine. Photo 2 is the feedwater heater assembly, and photo 3 is the pump.
Engineer's side is next and then painting the sucker!!! Can't wait - that's my fave part.
Edit: also have to add a boiler check valve behind the bell and a CN triangular number board where the bell used to be, and a number plate under the headlamp. These parts are on order.
Val
The hardest part was adding the pump. I had to move the air pump (thanks Jim) about 1/4 inch to make room for it. This entailed carefully carving away the second air compressor and opening the running board a bit.
There was nothing to attach the pump to so I soldered a pin onto the back and drilled a hole for it. I have some brass wire for pipes, and added one coming into the pump on the left. Need another to the right and then the fireman's side is finished.
First photo is from BLI - that's the stock engine. Photo 2 is the feedwater heater assembly, and photo 3 is the pump.
Engineer's side is next and then painting the sucker!!! Can't wait - that's my fave part.
Edit: also have to add a boiler check valve behind the bell and a CN triangular number board where the bell used to be, and a number plate under the headlamp. These parts are on order.
Val