New Bowser HO Scale NS and D&S Baldwin vs The Real Baldwin

The Bowser July 2023 HO scale Norfolk Southern #1614 and #1615 Baldwin diesel model is nicely detailed. Lets take a look at them close-up. 



Below is the long hood front end view. There is a “Be Careful Safety First” on top of the front pilot (both sides) and on the back top step.
Side view shows “Water Fill” and “Builders Plate” above the truck plus the letter F for front near the steps.
The pilot step has yellow paint along the edge. It also has 4 MU hoses and coupler curve hose has been cut off.

 

There is also a “Be Careful Safety First” on both ends of the battery box step. Side cab visor and more detail lettering. There is a lot of detail on these models.

   

Now lets compare the original Norfolk Southern Baldwin locomotives to the Bowser model.


The original Baldwin has a headlight visor and 2 smaller lights in the large round opening. The model has too many MU hoses.
The “Be Careful Safety First” on the model pilot is not in the middle like the original and the lettering on the steps is on the side instead.
The model pilot step has yellow paint along the edge, not on the inside like on the original. The front headlight visor below the bell on the model is mounted upside down.

 


New Bowser HO Scale NS and D&S Baldwin vs The Real Baldwin

As to the Durham & Southern #362 Baldwin (ex-SOO), let’s compare it to the original photo.



The original has a black bell, a box smoke stack, large double screen grill and 2 MU hoses. Now compare the original to the Bowser HO scale Baldwin D&S model below.



The Durham & Southern HO scale model has too many MU hoses, a factory smoke stack and gold bell. The yellow pilot foot boards are correct.
Remove 5 MU hoses and paint the side grills black along with the bell on the HO scale model.

 

Below is a inside view of the DCC version and the DCC/Sound version on the bottom.





When you first test the DCC sound locomotive you will notice that the motor sound is so loud that you cannot hear the bell. They also have the model running forward in reverse.

The instruction with the model says you can change the Diesel Volume at CV259, the Horn Volume at CV275 and the Bell Volume at CV283.
With the Digitrax DCS51 Zephyr Express and Program Track or with JMRI these CV’s are not available.
When the decoder resets CV8 to 8 all of the CVs reset, including CV8, which means it resets to 151 and the decoder address to 03.

I contacted Bowser and ESU about these problems.
Bowser and ECU says that the older Digitrax DCS51 Zephyr Express and JMRI do not have the ability to read or change the higher CV values over 255.

For JMRI select Loksound 5 DCC. Set Address to "Long"
JMRI Volume Control       Factory    NEW
Master Volume CV63           180         130
Prime Mover CV16.1.259     128           70
Horn Volume CV16.1.275     128         100
Bell Volume CV16.1.283        128         128
NS Horn CV163=12 is the correct sound and change NS Horn Volume to 140+
D&S Horn       CV163=3             Wabco E2
If the locomotive is running Forward in Reverse change CV29 up one number.

My Baldwin YouTube sound videos are here. ORIGINAL and the LOWER SOUND.

Contact me if you want me to set up your locomotive and change your sound volume on your locomotives.
Price: $10 per diesel locomotive, 2 for $15.

Mike@Heonis.net or at 919-532-4299 (text) www.HO-Railroading.com

by Mike Heonis