I've read about the Bowser kits. How difficult are they?
Building a Bowser steam engine kit properly does require a substantial amount of effort. First, all of the castings (boiler, frame, cylinders, tender, etc.) require a great deal of filing to remove
flash. In some cases, extra metal must be removed and holes may have to be relocated for parts to fit properly.
Another step that is not necessarily difficult but does require patience is riveting together the valve gear. It is also tricky (and important) to get the valve gear to operate smoothly so that your
engine runs smoothly.
You must also of course paint the unit. Bowser recommends to first completely assemble and run the model to make sure there are no operational problems. Once satisfied with its running
characteristics, the model will have to be at least partially dismantled in order to paint it.
The "super detail" kits that Bowser sells contain a collection of brass (?) castings. In some cases, the brass castings are to be used instead of metal castings supplied in the standard engine kit.
Examples of this include: the generator, bell, and power reverse mechanism. Of course, there are many parts not included in the standard kit such as the injectors, marker lights, and tubing (which
must be bent from straight wire). I suppose that if you add up the prices for all the parts in the "super detail" kit you would find that the kit is a better deal than buying the parts separately.
You have to decide yourself whether or not you want to buy this kit. The engines will certainly look nice without it, but the engine will look much better with the super detail kit.
Once completed, a Bowser steam engine will be one of your most powerful engines. This is mainly due to their weight -- they are quite heavy.
To answer your specific questions...
I usually spend a couple hours a night building a kit like this. In doing so I finish in a couple weeks. Tools I find useful include:
- a good set of small files
- a set of small drills
- a small hammer and anvil (for riveting)
- an airbrush
If you are considering a "super detail" kit, I would recommend that it be purchased with the engine kit.
PS. The Bowser kits do not come with an illuminated headlight. However, with a "grain-of-rice" bulb (I recommend the 12 volt), it is easy to add one.