DETAILING A GENERIC KATO MIKADO INTO A SOUTHERN Ms-4 MIKADO USING A GHQ KIT




This article was published in the September-October 2008 issue of N Scale Magazine.

We are going to transform a generic Kato Mikado into a Southern Ms-4 Mikado using the GHQ Brittania pewter detail kit. Of the three GHQ Mikado detail kits, this kit is the easiest to work on for the N scale modeler who hasn't built a GHQ locomotive kit.

This is a very detailed tutorial and knowledge of steam locomotive detail parts would be very helpful. You can also use some of these detail parts to detail other Kato Mikado's of your choice. Extra detail parts can be obtained from Republic Locomotive Works online.

This is avery interesting kit to build and you'll learn about the different parts of a steam locomotive by the time you finish. This kit is difficult when compared to other N scale kits a modeler might build. It takes time to complete and it's best to work in short segments for the best results.

To finish this kit, you'll be bending a lot of wire to complete much of the detailing. It also might be a good idea to practice some simple wire bending techniques before you start. You'll need some small wire bending pliers to complete this project. It might be a good idea to borrow some Orthodontic wire bending pliers from your local Dentist. the pliers can also be purchased from MicroMark online.

Photo 1 shows the Fireman's side of the Kato Mikado. An ESU Lok-Sound decoder and speaker were installed in the tender. The main wiring for the locomotive travels from the tender into the rear of the locomotive.


                                                    Photo 1


Photos 2 through 5 show different views of the Kato Mikado locomotive and tender prior to starting this project.


                                                    Photo 2



                                                     Photo 3




                                                  Photo 4



                                                     Photo 5

When we start to add the detail parts to the locomotive, we'll first clean up each pewter casting with a hobby knife or Exacto blade. Many of the pewter detail parts have to be trimmed ever so slightly to remove any flash. Care must be taken when removing any flash, as the pewter castings are delicate and can fracture easily.

We will also use some of the original detail parts that came with the Kato Mikado. GHQ supplies four bags of detail parts in this kit. The parts have numbers on them, but those numbers are for company identification only. The numbering system is no help in identifying each part. You must rely completely on the diagrams supplied with the instructions for part identification. You must try and familiarize yourself with the detail parts by reading the instructions and looking at the photos in the instructions several times. Some of the detail parts are so small, that it's difficult to figure out the part identification. However, after the kit is started, you'll be able to figure out any unknown part by the method of subtraction. Eventually you also be able to find the exact position for each detail part., By the way it isn't necessary to use every detail part in this kit to get a beautifully detailed Ms-4 Mikado.

The tender of the original Mikado will be modified with a fair number of detail parts. The main addition to the tender will be a doghouse and some additional coal sideboards. Once the kit is started, you'll be drilling very small holes with some of the smaller bits using a pin vise. Pewter is relatively difficult to drill through, so care must be taken when using the pin vise.

You'll also be bending brass wire of different sizes for all the pipe detailing. This takes time to do properly. If you have never bent brass wire before, you'll quickly learn how to.

If you are unfamiliar with steam locomotive parts, you will be well versed in the nomenclature when you finish this kit.

One note of warning: the directions and photo's in this kit are at times difficult to follow. You'll spend a fair amount of time figuring out where some of these parts go. Unfortunately this is the weak point of all GHQ pewter detail kits.

You'll spend most of your time detailing the fireman's side of this locomotive. (See Photo 6)


                                                      Photo 6


I started by working on the tender, (Photo 7) adding the coal sideboards and doghouse. I used CA cement to glue these parts to the tender body and frame. The coal box rear board was also cemented in place. CA cement was recommended as the cement of choice when adding the detail parts to the Mikado.



                                                   Photo 7

I then added the detailed running gear mechanism over the plastic running gear on both sides of the locomotive. You have to be careful not to glue the valve gear together. Use The CA cement very sparingly in this area. (See Photo 8) I also cemented the window frames on both sides of the cab in place.


                                                 Photo 8

I also added a turret on top of the boiler and drilled holes for some of the steam pipes on the turret using a # 75 bit. I cemented a cak comb on the rear of the cab. (See Photo 9) An overhead view of the Kato Mikado shows the detail parts added.


                                                    Photo 9

I next added handrails and a toolbox to the tender frame. (Photo10) I used a # 80 bit to drill the holes for the handrails on the tender. I used .012 brass wire for the handrails. You will need different diameter brass wire to complete this kit. The wire is included in the parts list, but it would be advisable to buy some extra brass wire in all sizes needed for this kit.


                                                   Photo 10

Photo 11 shows an overhead view of the Mikado showing the sand release valves in place, as well as the steam pipes into the turret and injector.


                                                 Photo 11


In Photo 12 we see the fireman's side of the locomotive showing the whistle added. You can also see the sand release valve under the sand dome with its associated piping. You can also see the steam pipes entering the turret and generator.



                                                       Photo 12

In Photo 13 we see another view of the fireman's side of the locomotive and tender with all the detail parts that are cemented in place at this point in the kits construction.



                                                       Photo 13

A closer view of the tender shows the grab rails in place along with a re-railer on the engineer's side of the locomotive. (See Photo 14)



                                                        Photo 14


Photo 15 shows a closer view of the engineer's side of the Mikado with all the detail parts added. The pewter color of the parts makes it easy to follow the construction of this kit.


                                                Photo 15

We  now continued to work on the engineer's side of the Mikado. An air canister was added to the bottom edge of the running board. (See Photo 16)




                                                Photo 16

Photo 17 shows a close-up view of all the detail parts added on the fireman's side of the locomotive.


                                              Photo 17

An overhead view of the Mikado (Photo 18) shows the original handrail stanchions and handrails added to the boiler. The Elesco Feedwater Heater  and associated piping was also cemented in place at this time. The fireman's side running board was removed and new running boards were added along with a Westinghouse compressor, and an Elesco compressor, with all the necessary piping. This was one of the most highly detailed parts of this installation because of all the piping that was needed to connect these parts. The original bell that came with the Kato Mikado was also cemented in place.


                                                     Photo 18

Photo 19 shows all the detail parts on the fireman's side of the locomotive after all the steam piping is in place. Rear hand grabs were added to the cab/ An air filter was cemented in place next to the Elesco compressor, which is to the right of the Westinghouse compressor under the running boards. A small ladder was also added in front of the cab under the running board.


                                                      Photo 19

Photo 20 shows another view of the engineer's side of the Mikado after the intricate Injector with its associated piping under the cab was cemented in place. The Injector was an extra casting included in the kit. It took some time to bend all the brass wire for the piping that leads into the Injector. This particular series of steam piping (into the Injector) was a challenge to construct and put together. It is one of the focal points of this Ms-4 Mikado.


                                                  Photo 20

Photo 21 is a close-up view showing the elaborate Feedwater Heater and its associated piping cemented on place. These structures add quite a bit of "character" to the Ms-4 Mikado.


                                                   Photo 21

An overhead close-up view of the tender and cab of the Mikado in Photo 22 shows the rear hand grabs in place on the cab and the steam pipes leading into the turret. The coal side boards are also shown prominently.


                                                  Photo 22


In Photo 23, we see an overhead closeup of the detail parts added to this point in the kits construction. All detail parts have been added to the Mikado boiler and tender frame.


                                                    Photo 23

In Photo 24, the Southern Ms-4 Mikado was weathered with three different washes. I first airbrushed a wash of white, ATSF blue and burnt sienna with blue windshield wiper solution.

The formula for this wash is as follows: Two drops of white, two drops of ATSF blue, two drops of burnt sienna/asphaltum and 40 drops of blue windshield wiper solution. I used acrylic paints from various manufacturers to make the washes.

I then over sprayed the locomotive with a wash of  grimy black and blue windshield wiper solution. The formula for this wash is three drops of grimy black and 40 drops of blue windshield wiper solution.

I over sprayed the locomotive with a third wash burnt sienna, grimy black and blue windshield wiper solution. The formula for this wash is three drops of grimy black, three drops of burnt sienna and 40 drops of blue windshield wiper solution.

Note: I used a medicine dropper to measure the paint for each wash. After the washes had dried. I applied a solution of Rust (Rustall) to the valves and piping to age the locomotive. The drivers and side rods were weathered with Neolube # 2.


                                                   Photo 24

The tender was weathered using the same three washes that were used for the locomotive. Rust (Rustall) was added after the three washes had dried on selective spots on the tender frame. The tender was decaled before the washes were applied. I let the decals set for at least twenty four hours before the washes were airbrushed on the tender. (See Photo 25)


                                                 Photo 25

Photo 26 shows the fireman's side of the weathered Mikado.


                                                        Photo 26

Photo 27 shows a close-up view of the weathered cab and steam piping on the fireman's side of the locomotive as well as the tender.


                                                       Photo 27

In Photo 28 we see an overhead view of the completely weathered locomotive.


                                                         Photo 28

In Photo 29, we have a close-up view of the weathered smoke box and Elesco Feedwater Heater with it's piping.


                                                        Photo 29

Photo 30 shows an overhead view of the completely weathered and detailed Ms-4 Mikado and tender.


                                                         Photo 30

Photo's 31 & 32 shows the fireman's side and engineers side of the completely weathered Ms-4 Mikado.

                                                        Photo 31


                                                     Photo 32

This completes the tutorial on the GHQ detail kit for the Southern Ms-4 Mikado. Below are photos of the Southern Ms-4  # 4910 Mikado on the upper level of the JJJ&E.

Photo 33 shows an overhead view of the Southern Ms-4 Mikado showing all the weathered detail and piping on the fireman's side of the Locomotive. The Ms-4 Mikado is on the upper level of the JJJ&E near the town of San Marino.


                                                        Photo 33

Photo 34 shows a nice view of the intricate Injector Valve and its steam piping under the cab of the Southern Ms-4 Mikado on the engineers side of the locomotive.


                                               Photo 34

In Photo 35 we see the smoke box of the Ms-4 Mikado head-on. The Southern Ms-4 Mikado is making its way out of the town of San Marino on the upper level of the JJJ&E.


                                             Photo 35

This was a great kit to build as it transforms a generic Kato Mikado into a finely detailed Southern Ms-4 Mikado.

GHQ no longer makes this kit, but you can find it at Republic Locomotive Works online. I highly recommend it.

All photos were taken with a Nikon D50 DSLR.

Stay cool and run steam.......