Build a Cooke 2-6-0 in 1:20.3, The MLS Rolling Stock Challenge! - (part 2)
The cab was made using my traditional method of generating the cab wall profiles on computer, trimming the edges to provide
clean stepped corners. The cab has the main inner walls made from 2mm styrene, with an outer detail layer or 1mm styrene
sheet. Internal corners are reinforced with 4.6mm SHS rod. The hollow corner rods also provide for the screw fixing points
for the cab. Cab roof from 2mm styrene sheet. Brass hand rails from Hartland.
This Cooke loco is a big loco. The cab side walls are identical to the C-16 walls, but the cab is wider. The steam and
sand domes are also larger than that found on the C-16. As such the sand dome on this loco is as large as the steam dome
on a C-16. I used an Accucraft brass C-16 steam dome for the sand dome on this model, and set out to make a new larger
steam dome. The steam dome is bashed from a Bachmann 4-6-0 steam dome, with BBT cast metal base, and pipe centre. If
one were to build the original fluted dome version of the Cooke Mogul, the way to do it would be to use 2 Bachmann 4-6-0
fluted steam domes. With the as-built domes, the Cooke had a steam dome and sand dome of virtually the same diameter.
Only minor mods to the dome tops would be required.
The air compressor is a larger Accucraft C-16 job, bolt fixed to the loco side. The loco will shortly have a Kevin
Strong patent boiler jacket applied of blackenned brass wrappers. The boiler front is yet to be made. The one seen in
the pics is a Hartland unit, that just happenned to fit inside the boiler pipe! Only there for photos. I'm sure this
front could be bashed with a new backing sheet for use on this model, however mine will be made from layers of styrene. Continuing on with the Cooke Mogul construction, the next thing to do was to paint all the components.
Most of the loco was sprayed Tamyia flat black, with Tamyia Metallic Grey used on the smokebox and firebox. The boiler
was not painted at all, just left the natural PVC white. Following Kevin Strong's advice and help, I blackened sheet
brass using chemical blackening agents (refer MC2002 Ch3 for instructions and Kevin's technique), and used the brass
sheets for the Russia Iron boiler jacket. The jacket is not painted, rather is blued bare metal. The wrapper was
dipped into the chemical twice, while the blued boiler bands were dipped only once, providing for that subtle difference
in colour between the bands and jacket. The jacket is not glued to the model, but is held in place by the boiler bands
and a row of brass pins along the boiler base.
Next, running boards were added made from 2mm styrene, with a 0.5mm styrene outer edge applie, with rivet detail (quite
a common running board treatment for South Park locos, including the Mason Bogies).
Onto the backhead, interior cab detail and pipework! The backhead was made as a separate panel, from 2mm thick styrene,
with rounded edges. A top layer of 0.5mm styrene laminated on top, with stay detail punched in. The Tri-cocks and water
glass valves are 4mm metal dress snaps...refer to MC2001, Chapter 6 for info.
The Cooke Mogul, like typical 1870s/80s US
locos had no real main 'Turret' in the cab. Instead steam appliances such as the injectors, air compressor, blower and
lubricator were individually plumbed into the boiler top. The layout for the cab fittings on this model was based on the
engineering drawings for the 1880 K&G Cooke Mogul. The same layout is confirmed in both DSP&P 2-6-0 drawing sets from MR.
The only addition being the 3 chamber hydrostatic lubricator, which by 1900 was generally a single unit, rather than 2 or 3
individual units as was probably installed in 1884. Missing from the backhead are the tiny lube and air lines from the
lubricator and brake stands. The brake stands are simply cleated off the boiler side, toward the rear. The throttle is
mounted on top of the boiler, with the linkages running through an exposed pipe to the steam dome.
Air brake piping, injector pipes/feed pipes, blower pipe, and sand lines were added to the loco. Then onto the hand rails.
The hand rails on the Cooke are a bit like the really old 1870s Baldwin types. Rather than the stanchions running straight
from the boiler side, they are applied to horizontal outreaches (brackets). The hand rail brackets were made from flat
brass, bent into a 'V' shape, with a normal Ozark stanchion drilled and inserted into the bracket. The stanchion assembly
was the applied to the boiler side and bolted into place, the bracket acting as a cleat. The set up is real strong. Take
care to ensure the smokebox bracket is longer than the boiler side bracket, due to the change in boiler pipe diameter at the
smokebox interface.
The boiler front was made from layers of 2mm styrene, sanded to shape, and then door clamps and hinges added, also made
from 2mm styrene.
