Transforming A Generic Kato Mikado Into A PRR L1-s Mikado Using A GHQ Pewter Kit

This is a detailed tutorial which will show how to transform a generic Kato Mikado into a PRR L1-s Mikado using a GHQ pewter kit. I will use several sessions to download the complete set of photo's and accompanying explanations.

 This is the PRR L1-s  GHQ pewter kit needed to transform a generic Kato Mikado into a PRR L1-s Mikado. This kit sells in the $125 range.

The locomotive shell, cab and smoke box have been removed. The details for doing this can be seen in the ESU Lok-Sound Decoder Installation Tutorial in a Kato Mikado on this website. Five wires from the decoder will be soldered to the light board.

This overhead view of the light board shows where three  decoder wires have to be soldered to. Remove the light board from the frame to do the soldering.

I used this pliers to cut the wire for all the piping. I also used this pliers to cut the stock frame of the Mikado in certain area's so the Pewter boiler from the GHQ kit can be seated properly on the frame of the Mikado.

An opening was cut in the rear of the locomotive boiler with a diamond instrument so the five decoder wires from the light board  and locomotive frame can be passed from the locomotive to the tender. The excess "flash" from the cut was removed.

These are the complete bags of details parts for the PRR L1-s locomotive. None of the parts are labeled. Reading the instructions for this installation is a must. By the time you complete this kit, you will know intimately all the parts needed to complete this kit.

This is the pewter boiler and plastic tender we're going to use for the PRR L1-s Mikado Installation. We aren't going to use the Kato Mikado stock tender as the tender in the kit is more detailed.

The pewter boiler has been seated on the frame of the Mikado. Before seating the pewter frame on the boiler, the decoder and all its wring must be covered with Kapton tape to prevent the decoder from coming into contact with the pewter boiler. This will prevent any chance of a short circuit which will destroy the decoder. It's very important to protect the decoder and stabilize the wiring on the frame of the locomotive.

This is the Engineers side of the pewter boiler. It has been completely seated on the frame of the locomotive .

The Fireman's side of the pewter boiler shows that it has been completely seated on the Mikado frame.

The pewter side frames has been glued to the original plastic side frames of the rear locomotive Mikado truck.

This side view of the boiler shows the decoder wires passing through the boiler into the cab area of the locomotive. You can also see the Kapton tape covering some of the decoder wiring behind the pewter boiler.

This is a view of the detailing added to the front pilot truck. I used a Micro-Trains conversion coupler for the front pilot coupler. This coupler simply slides in position.

The Fireman's side of the pewter boiler show that is completely seated on the frame with the decoder wiring passing through the rear of the boiler into the cab area.

Overhead view of boiler and cab showing all the detail parts and piping in place. When this locomotive is finished, you'll learn all the parts of a steam locomotive.

Engineer's side of boiler showing all detail parts and piping in place. It isn't difficult to learn how to bend all the wire in order to make the piping for this locomotive. It just takes time and plenty of patience.

A closer overhead view of the detail parts and piping in the boiler and front pilot of the locomotive.

A view of all the detail parts and piping have been added on the fireman's side of the locomotive. A good pair of wire bending pliers is needed to bend the wire for the piping.You can borrow a pair of pliers from a local Orthodontist to bend the wire.

A closeup view of the detail parts and intricate piping in the cab area on the Engineers side of the Mikado.

A closeup view of the smoke box and front coupler detail parts and piping.The front headlight was taken from a 4-6-2 Minitrix steamer. These locomotives look like PRR steamers. This entire kit will take about 30 hours to complete.

An overhead view of detail parts added to the tender body. I body mounted a Micro Trains Z scale # 905 coupler to the underside frame of the tender.

A side view of the tender shell showing detail parts added. The Plastic tender shell is very well detailed.

 I completed two GHQ kits of the PRR L1-s Mikado. The upper locomotive is completely painted. I airbrushed Brunswick Green Polly Scale paint on the body of the locomotive and tender.

The lower PRR L1-s shows an overhead view of the second locomotive just before it went into the paint shop.

This lateral view of the Fireman's side of the locomotive shows all the detail parts added before and after painting.

An overhead photo showing the detail parts adjacent to the cab and tender body on the Engineers side of the PRR L1-s. This is a good view of the Belpaire firebox which is a distinctive characteristic of PRR steam locomotives.

A lateral overhead photo showing the detail parts adjacent to the cab and tender body on the Fireman's side of the PRR L1-s.

A closeup overhead view of the painted PRR L1-s showing the detailing on top of the locomotive boiler.

A closeup overhead view of PRR L1-s #780 and PRR L1-s # 569. Both locomotives took about 60 hours to build.

An overhead closeup of both tender and cab area's of the PRR L1-s Mikado's. You have a good view of the Belpaire firebox which is distinctive of PRR steam locomotives.

A closeup side view of both tenders and cab area's of the PRR L1-s Mikado's. Decals have been added to the cab of the locomotive and the tender.

A closeup over head view of the Smoke boxes and front pilot assemblies of both PRR L1-s Mikado's.

Fireman's side view of both PRR L1-s Mikado's.

Fireman's side view of both tenders and cab area's of the PRR L1-s Mikado's.

A rear overhead view of both tenders showing the coal bins and doghouses of both PRR L1-s Mikado's. All the decoder wiring in the cab area have been painted grimy black.

A full lateral view of both PRR L1-s Mikado's on the Fireman's side of the locomotive.

A frontal overhead view of both PRR L1-s Mikado's showing the smoke box and distinctive Belpaire firebox of PRR steam locomotives.

Another full lateral view of both PRR L1-s Mikado's on the fireman's side of the locomotive. I'm going to use Arizona Rock & Mineral medium coal in the coal bins of both PRR L1-s Mikado's.

A closeup view of PRR L1-s #780 Mikado on the upper level of the "original" JJJ&E with the town of San Marino in the background.

A closer view of PRR L1-s Mikado # 780 on the upper level of the "original" JJJ&E. This a great side view of the Belpaire firebox which is "signature" PRR steam.

An overhead view of PRR L1-s Mikado on the upper level of the "original" JJJ&E. This steam locomotive with the added weight of the pewter boiler and detail parts has pulled 63 cars on level track. There are traction tires on the fourth driver. If you want to increase performance another few percent, you can also install a traction tire driver on the # 2 driver. The # 2 driver is also removable in this Mikado. You won't lose any conductivity by adding a second set of traction tires on the #2 driver. However, with the scarcity of traction tire drivers in the N scale market, it might be wise to wait and see if added traction tire drivers become available again.

An overhead view of the rear of the tender with its prominent "doghouse" on the mainline track on the upper level of the "original" JJJ&E. I installed a Z scale Micro Trains #905 coupler body mounted on the frame in the rear of the tender.

For you HO scale modelers looking at this tutorial, most couplers in N scale aren't body mounted on most rolling stock. It's just starting to happen.

An overhead view of PRR L1-s #569 Mikado leaving the outskirts of the town of San Marino on the upper level of the "original" JJJ&E. All the Unitrack on the "original" JJJ&E has been weathered and ballasted.

A closer view of PRR L1-s #569 Mikado leaving San Marino on the upper level of the "original" JJJ&E. The front head of the PRR L1-s Mikado was kit bashed from a Minitrix PRR 4-6-2 Pacific. The original headlight in the GHQ kit wasn't adequate. and I didn't want to drill out the pewter casting to obtain a light source.

A closer overhead look of the boiler and its detail parts on the PRR L1-s # 569 Mikado on the upper level of the "original" JJJ&E. I used Polly Scale Prussian Green paint on the boiler and tender. You also have a good view of the kit bashed front headlight from a Minitrix 4-6-2 PRR Pacific.

A full lateral view of PRR L1-s #569 Mikado on the mainline track on the upper level of the "original" JJJ&E. The town of San Marino is in the background.

A closer view of PRR L1-s # 569 Mikado on the upper level of the "Original" JJJ&E with the town of San Marino in the background.

PRR L1-s # 780 & # 569 are double headed up the long 2% grade in the Monterrey Mountains on the way to San Marino on the "original" JJJ&E.