Mopac steam number boards

[Charles Duckworth]

There’s been an interest in making the MP steel doghouse as a 3D part for the company store but we should also look at offering the number boards that were just behind the smoke stack. Around the time of WW2 the railroad started adding these to the larger freight locomotives and many of the passenger locomotives. Anyone have any drawings or detail shots? Even a close up of the PFM 2200 parts may help.

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[anonymous]

Hey Charlie, I’ll take on the project.

I have a couple PFM P-73s sitting around, my 2200 is out getting work done.

I’ll let you know what I come up with.

Thanks,
Jeff

[Charles Duckworth]

Jeff
Thanks, here’s another prototype image where the rivet pattern is clearer.

[attachment=0:365s18lw]F6DCAD5E-0939-456A-8E43-9B5D7D6144CD.jpeg[/attachment:365s18lw]

[David Boeschen]

What does the back side look like? How similar is it to the ones that were on the RS3s?

It may be designed somewhat differently, in that this one looks like it was designed for a one-piece numberboard while the diesel ones look like they had individual numbers.

And that’s a pretty nifty casting that it sits on.

RG7

[Charles Duckworth]

We need images of the PFM castings.

[anonymous]

Here’s some pictures of a PFM P-73’s number boards. Not the best pictures, but you can get the idea.

The bracket holding the number board on the model is similar to the pictures posted above. I have seen to other types of brackets so far in my limited research.

[Charles Duckworth]

Thanks for posting.

[anonymous]

Third version of the prototype so far.

I’m a bit perplexed about the bracket. I’ll do my best to 3D print them, but what do y’all think about photo-etching brackets? I’ve never done photo-etching before.

The reason I think metal brackets might be better, is they would be malleable and able to fit differing boiler sizes.

Please let me know what you think.

Thanks!
Jeff

[anonymous]

Here’s some better pictures with some very quick brushed on black paint. I hope these are good enough to show the river detail.

[Joe Pauley]

these look really good. would these be use across all the classes?

Joe

[anonymous]

Joe,

A quick look through the online photograph library shows a lot of locomotives 2-8-2 and larger had them at some point. It also depends what era your modeling, earlier versions of some locomotives didn’t have them until they were added later.

If you’re modelling a specific locomotive I would check this website and Google for images that could confirm their use.

As far as the number board I made, It’s based off of photographs, previously models and a little reverse engineering from a steam locomotive paint guide from 1926.

The model should fit 7” scale numbers. I’ll test it out tomorrow just to make sure.

[Author]

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