I PROMISED myself I wasn’t going to start on any more projects until I finished some on my backlog of unfinished ones… I lied. Okay, so I found this thing on evilbay. I talked myself out of it twice. The third time I lost the argument and spent a princely sum of $17 (shipping included) on it. The Trackside Details parts on it alone were worth twice that.
It was listed as a ‘locomotive or traction engine’… it was really neither. It was actually the rather nice beginning of a Lombard log hauler. They were built in Maine back before trucks became common
I already had a really cheap battery operated crawler in my junk box that I picked up at a flea market for 50c (yep, me heap big spender!)… I promptly gutted it for what parts I could use.
The narrowed and shortened crawler drive stuck under the Lombard… I need to shorten and splice the tracks yet!
I replaced the too small steam dome and chimney, and gave it a first coat of color. Yes, I know that the drive is sitting too far back. I just wanted to see what it looked like. I’ll also need to cut a section out of the frame to clear the drive
Cab details of a restored Lombard in New Hampshire
Cab details started. I had to strip most of the details that were in it when it arrived and start over
The steam cylinders will be fun to build. Everything I have here is too big. Might have to go see the Lionel/Williams dealers! I’m planning on trying to make things able to go 'round via a spring belt drive since the crawler drive actually works.
Steering gear LOOKS simple enough. The trick will be making it sturdy enough to work without looking clunky. I already have nylon gears here.
Skis? I do have some tiny wood spools to build hidden rollers. Another option would be wheels, but log haulers usually pulled sledges on ice roads during the winter months.
That’s as far as I’ve gotten… more pix as I progress.
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