<p>After reading "whatlep's" excellent review of the Piko BR80, I decided to spring for its American-outline cousin, and see what I could do with it. I removed some details, added quite a few more, added weight, and added a QSI decoder and speaker. I can say that Whatlep's review appears to have been perfectly accurate--the loco runs well and pulls well. "Tarted up," it makes a pretty fair little loco:
</p><p> </p><p><img width="800" height="381" border="0" alt=" " src="http://www.mylargescale.com/1stclass/lownote/dockside6.jpg" />
</p><p><img width="800" height="425" border="0" alt=" " src="http://www.mylargescale.com/1stclass/lownote/dockside4.jpg" /> </p><p> </p><p><img width="800" height="716" border="0" alt=" " src="http://www.mylargescale.com/1stclass/lownote/dockside5.jpg" /> </p><p> </p><p>I added handrails, an air tank, miscellaneous plumbing, a cab light, steps, new windows, bell and whistle pulls, pop valves, sandlines and coal. Replaced the generator with a more US-looking version. I removed the ersatz Walschearts gear and added rods to fake a Stephenson gear. Removed the NYC logo and, since thes ephotos were taken, the little gold posts.</p><p> </p><p>As Whatlep said, "chipping" the loco was pretty easy. Getting the paint off the wheels was a little harder, but it's done and the loco seems to pick up ower quite well. it navigates R1 curves with no trouble at all
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</p><p> </p><p><img width="800" height="381" border="0" alt=" " src="http://www.mylargescale.com/1stclass/lownote/dockside6.jpg" />
</p><p><img width="800" height="425" border="0" alt=" " src="http://www.mylargescale.com/1stclass/lownote/dockside4.jpg" /> </p><p> </p><p><img width="800" height="716" border="0" alt=" " src="http://www.mylargescale.com/1stclass/lownote/dockside5.jpg" /> </p><p> </p><p>I added handrails, an air tank, miscellaneous plumbing, a cab light, steps, new windows, bell and whistle pulls, pop valves, sandlines and coal. Replaced the generator with a more US-looking version. I removed the ersatz Walschearts gear and added rods to fake a Stephenson gear. Removed the NYC logo and, since thes ephotos were taken, the little gold posts.</p><p> </p><p>As Whatlep said, "chipping" the loco was pretty easy. Getting the paint off the wheels was a little harder, but it's done and the loco seems to pick up ower quite well. it navigates R1 curves with no trouble at all
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Alyn