When the Thomas series “James” locomotive was released a couple of years ago, I picked up a few of them as I intended a conversion based on a 2-6-0 export plantation locomotive.
After a year or so of abscence from kitbashing I decided this weekend to start the conversion. First off was adding outside cylinders. I believe that they came from an old Aristo Porter (?) 2-4-2 locomotive. The drive rod did not require modifying and the piston stroke was perfect for the Bachmann wheel.
Alas, I struck a major hurdle. It seems the connecting rod mount screws are superglued into the wheel casting. The first one came out with a lot of trepidation, however, the second one sheared the head off. I have never seen these screws glued on the Anniversary locomotive (same screw), but for some ridiculously obscure reason the screws were glued. Fortunately I was able to drill out the broken screw and encourage a new thread to mount the drive rod.
As luck would have it, Lionel largescale drive rod screws (remember the old 0-6-0 locomotive)are the same thread pitch and screwed straight into the Bachmann wheel. Encouraged by this stroke of luck I continued modifying the locomotive.
The stock James ‘brass’ steam dome is far too anaemic. so I modified a Bachmann Annie sand dome to fit. The inside diameter of the sand dome is a neat fit over the stock James dome, however, the stock dome requires about 0.25" removed to allow the sand dome to fit flush to the boiler.
Further encouraged I made a new pilot truck that extends the pilot axle 1 cm forward. This gives a more prototypical appearance in relation to the added cylinders.
One day when I feel further enthused I will make a new smokebox door and add some cab backhead details and give the whole lot a lick of black paint.