How to Build a Terrible HO Scale Steam Engine Kit: Part 4 - Main Body & Basic Details

There are plenty of good kits out there, but what happens if you come across a really bad one? Instead of throwing it out, follow along with this video series to see how to actually make it into something!
The A3 0-4-0 was one of the last kits developed by Arbour Models. With years of experience and complaints by the time they started making these, they should've gotten their act together, right? As it turns out, nope! This is just as bad as the rest of them, having almost every possible problem that can possibly be fit into what should have been a very simple to develop and build model. As I build this side by side with a Bowser kit, you'll be able to see all the differences between a quality model and a not quality model. :)
Image at beginning from NASA
Opening titles adapted from pre-production "Star Wars" text written by George Lucas

[@andrewpalm2103]

So it's not only absurdly difficult to construct, but you also risk cadmium poisoning. Yikes! Your sacrifice for our edification and entertainment is either admirable or crazy--I'm not sure which. 🙂

[@HamStrains]

The battle continues, but you're winning!

[@traviscurlutu7723]

A super glue you may not know about is from a company called CoolChem. It is expensive and the shelf life is about a year but it will glue anything including Acetel a, Delrin and ABS. Also Lucas gun oil does really well for metal to metal lube. I appreciate your vids and happy to see young guys like you keeping interests in these old model trains that i grew up with. Im nearing 60 yrs old and for that past 28 yrs have been a real life locomotive engineer and have loved model trains since i was a kid. Keep up the good work and vids you do!

[@CATech1138]

I finally remember what this kit reminds me of….the model engine kits that supply base castings and bar stock….that require full machining

[@badkittynomilktonight3334]

I will never again complain about those old Mantua/Tyco locomotive kits. They went together like butter in comparison.

[@marktaylor8659]

The model is really looking nice and it's mechanism seems quite smooth thanks to your patience. When you showed a quick view of the model on the plans to check for the front wood deck on the pilot, it looked like the original model used in the photo didn't even have the motor installed. You can clearly see right past the engineer that it isn't there. Thanks for sharing and I look forward to your next video.

[@williamsantangelo]

Darth you are incredible you've rubbed off on me, giving me insight to tackle intricacies! Can't thank you enough!! See you again!

[@badkittynomilktonight3334]

I think if you saved all the metal filings of this loco project you'd have enough metal to cast another kit.

[@garyjust.johnson1436]

Great video! Very inspirational and informative! Happy Holidaze 2022 and best New Year 2023 to you!

[@WWIIREBEL]

And i thought assembling an MDC/Roundhouse kit was a pain,lol.

[@P61guy61]

Thank you for posting

[@frankmarkovcijr5459]

The pioneers of model railroading in the old days when you got a steam locomotive kit you had to do Machining all over drill and tap all the screw holes and everything. Model Railroader get a test of a 0 scale steam locomotive kit and all of the problems that they had were similar to what you had to overcome and they overcame them and got the locomotive assembled and then did not recommend the purchase of the locomotive by anybody because of its poor quality. They got it assembled and running and it didn't look too bad but all of the extra work that they had to do to correct things and to make things work was mind-boggling. And after did all that work. They were honest about the fact that they could not recommend the kid because of all of its problems. They put together a Mantua kit and they had a few difficulties and the company read the article and change the production of the kit to get rid of the difficulties they encountered and then told the magazine that they were very happy to learn about them and to get them corrected so their customers would be happy with their locomotive that was good they said oh okay just didn't work so we will do things better and they did their kids were top-of-the-line. Forgive the poor grammar I have a shit phone.

[@donaldlamendola8294]

Great video! You did an amazing job!!!!!

[@2nd66tube2]

Never would have thought those white metal parts would take solder

[@blairmielnik8228]

Cadmium!! That is good to know- sanding is less than ideal- probably good to throw away the sandpaper and clean the files off with a bristle card.

[@czwij]

oh bravo, this was quite an intro. Shaolin monk level patience to build this. I could never....The mdc shay is swiss engineering compared to this.

[@hamiltonsullivan6563]

Lol love the outro!

[@fallingup90]

Fantastic progress! Would you be interested in working on a locomotive of mine?

[@garrattfan]

Wonderful intro 😂

[@kge420]

When mounting the sand and steam domes could you use some baking soda on the underside to help fill the small gaps? Is that combo structurally strong? Enjoying this build.