In 1949 two Diesel switcher models were introduced to the American OO market by Super-Scale, a SW-1 and an NW-2. 

Recently I was excited to obtain one of the NW-2 models. I had been looking for one for many years, these do not come up for sale often at all.

They are made from what the maker called copper but actually they are a combination of a copper material and brass. The frame is a brass stamping, and the ends of the frame and truck sideframes look like lost wax brass castings. The steps and the fuel and air tanks are soft metal. The roof of the cab is brass, as are the brass turnings that are the stacks, horns, and lights.

The really interesting part of the model is the cab and hood. They are separate pieces and were each etched each in one piece, and then were formed to shape. The original instructions indicate this would be done by the modeler, but I suspect as produced this difficult work was done for you by Super-Scale. The hood for example starts out as one large flat piece with the sides and front bent down and soldered into place.

I’m thinking it is actually a HO drive, but passable in OO as the sideframes are somewhat clunky and overscale for HO. While looking at the bottom, note also that the actual frame that the model runs on is cut from Masonite or some similar material.

Finally there is a great comparison to make between this model and the SW-7 models that have been produced recently on Shapeways. Size wise they match really well. On the other hand, each model has some clunky details, but different clunky details which is interesting as well.

I’m hoping to have this running at some point in the not too distant future. Will see how it goes when I get into the drive, but I think this model can be worked over into a nice one.