Precision Craft Big Boy

QUOTE When I was small I used to wonder why people ran "gold" trains.

Even now I have difficulty with the concept. If you have a brass loco and don't paint it then it looks very out of place on your layout and is really more for display. However if you do paint it, what was the point in having it made out of brass rather than steel or zinc?
With brass locos they are good to look at in say a museum or in a study or an office but I don't see the point in terms of actually running trains. Having said that I wouldn'y mind having a play with this Big Boy for a bit but I really don't think I would ever be in a position to pay $3k for one.

QUOTE Now an Allegheny there's a real loco and there were 60 of them not counting the 5 built for the Virginian who called there's a "Blue Ridge"

Ozzie, do you know anyone who makes an HO Allegheny? The only one I can seem to find is the Rivarossi one which is a bit of a non starter. I'd really like one but there seems to be a gap in the market there.

QUOTE However if you do paint it, what was the point in having it made out of brass rather than steel or zinc?
Very good point!

I think I would aspire to a single brass loco, for display only, that would never be painted - simply to admire the detail and workmanship. There's a Flying Scotsman somewhere in the forum, at an affordable price, and that would be the one I would choose for personal possession. But it doesn't stop me admiring beautiful monsters such as this.

QUOTE I think I would aspire to a single brass loco, for display only, that would never be painted - simply to admire the detail and workmanship

I am still thinking about this as I agree with the above. As a ready made one would be highly priced like the Big Boy I suppose I would be looking at a kit. My problem is that I am not confident I would make that good a job of it and if it's on display it would need to be perfect. I had a look on the DJH site to get an idea of how hard it would be to make a kit and some of the information was about different types of solder and soldering irons and so on and that kind of put me of a bit as it was all a bit technical. So I am still debating with myself whether to have a go or not.

desicions desicions

Some new pictures in of the ultimate ready to run Big Boy.







Precision Craft have this to say about it's features.

Price: $2,995.00
Product ID: 115

Features:

Beautifully Detailed, Accurately Modeled Locomotive and Tender Body
Authentic Design, Paint and Color Schemes
Authentic Sounds with Articulated Chuff (Sound equipped Units only) and Prototypical Operation
Many Separately Applied Details Including Brass Bell / Rails, Chains and More
Operating Cab-roof Vents & Many Other Operating Features
Constant Intensity Directional Lighting
Lighted Number Boards
Factory Installed Painted Fireman and Engineer Figures
Beautiful Display Case with Roller Bearings and Power Input for Demonstration
Beautiful Heavy-Duty Wooden Exterior Box
Heavy Weight Pulling Power with Metal Wheel Tire (No Traction Tire)
Composition: Brass
Locomotive Length: 12.3 in
Tender Length: 6.6 in
Motor Type: FAULHABER Premium 5-Pole Can with Skewed Armature & Dual Fly Wheels
Compatible Tracks: Code 70, 83, 100 Rail
Recommended Minimum Radius: 36 in due to prototypical articulation design. Rear engine does not pivot.
Every once in a while, a model locomotive comes around that is extraordinary, a model that inspires awe. A model that is so beautiful it redefines excellence. PCM's Museum Brass Collection Big Boy is such a model.

Our UP experts, after studying this model, believe she is the most accurate, most detailed HO Big Boy ever built. Add the full digital sound system and PCM's Big Boy is clearly the best Big Boy model ever produced.

Included with PCM's brass Big Boy is an original wooden table top display case with conductive roller bearing and power inputs that makes displaying this locomotive a dream. Whether on a layout, mantle or desk, witnessing this Big Boy's super smooth operation and unbelievable detailing while hearing the robust chuff and whistle will make this model of a legend a true legend!

This model is due in early 2007.