Ok, I’ve searched around a bit and didn’t see anything posted, so thought I’d ask…
Anyone know if there has been any Bachmann ten wheeler remodels into a 2-4-0? or a 2-4-2? I’ve got an idea for a small temporary Christmas layout, and thought the ten wheeler would be just too large for the idea…
Anyone?
mdt
Yes, I’ve seen them made larger and smaller…
(http://1stclass.mylargescale.com/cjwalas/IMG_0789.JPG)
this may not have been a 10-wheeler, but whatever it was, it’s now a great deal shorter! 
Tim Brien has done a great deal of work with the Annie chassis, he post here often. Good luck! cale a more simple answer would be a smaller locomotive…
C. Nelson said:
Yes, I've seen them made larger and smaller..a more simple answer would be a smaller locomotive…
Gotcha! thought that may be the case…just go w/o the tender if you need the space!
C. Nelson said:That was one of my thoughts, building a small tender box on the back of the engine instead of having the separate tender. I'm just fishing for ideas, thoughts, what others might have come up with. I'm designing the bench work for the layout now, and want to make it a module type so it can be taken down and put up for the holidays...instead of building a layout on the ground in the front yard. I want it mobile and able to store, so I'm thinking about 18ft by 12ft or so, possibly module boxes 3ft x 6ft to bolt together and attach legs to put it about waist high...
Gotcha! thought that may be the case...just go w/o the tender if you need the space!
I converted a Bug Hauler into a 4-4-0, but it was the same size.
Michael,
unless you already have the Bachmann locomotive in your possession, then I would discourage this course of action. While the drive is relatively ‘simple’ to reduce to a two-axle block, the biggest hurdle is the look of the reduced length boiler. I feel that the overall diameter of the boiler does not compress very well for a loco length less than the ten-wheeler. The reduced length loco would look overly ‘fat’ in its shortened dimensions. Fitting a reduced diameter boiler would enhance the model, but to go to this amount of work when there are numerous ready to run models that are more suited to a temporary Christmas layout is not time/cost effective. I am assuming four foot diameter track would be used.
I prefer to actually lengthen the look of the locomotive to get a better sense of proportion. Shortening the stock diameter boiler makes it look very much a caricature of it self. The one loco that I did compress was to make it an 0-6-0 with a shortened length tender. Proprtions did look reasonable and the drive has been very successful.
Suitable alternative ready to run would be a LGB Forney or a Hartland Locomotive Works Forney 'La Porte'. The latter is a strikingly handsome locomotive. Hartland also manufacture a handsome 4-4-0 as well.Aristo-Craft has a 0-4-0 which is pretty compact and inexpensive.
It also is available in a Christmas set.
Ralph
Actually, simply shortening the pilot and cutting the master mechanic smokebox extension off isn’t particularly difficult at all. - Neither is taking about an inch or a bit more out of the middle of the tender.
Moving the cylinders back to turn it into a 2-6-0 can be done in an evening (you’d also need to shorten the part of the boiler between the stack an the waist transition by an equal amount, or remove the section where the generator sits). As can moving the cab forward or shortening it, and then shortening the rear overhang and firebox… I’d guess you could remove about 4" on that locomotive superstructure without too much trouble… And about the same on the chassis. You’d just have to move things around to make everything line up.
Yes, the end result would be sort of puppyish in it’s proportions, but is that really a bad thing on a Christmas layout? And it’s a cheap alternative, even if you had to buy a used surgery candidate… and/or a Delton c-16 shell and cab if you really make a hash of it. (We’re talking anywhere from $0 to $100 vs + $300 here… not chump change, especially if you enjoy butchering on plastic anyway - perhaps enough to finance almost everything else on his holiday layout)
Yes, he could always BUY, but he said he was looking for alternatives… Would you tell a guy looking to fix up his Ford to buy a Cadillac? Yes, the Aristo 0-4-0 is an option, and actually a quite good suggestion - IF he needs to buy a starting point locomotive anyway. Hartland may be great stuff, it’s just a bit spendy.
Remember guys, a little back up the way he said this
Michael T said:
Thanks Cale. I’m trying to make due with what I have on hand without having to purchase another engine.
Forrest Scott Wood said:Which is why I didn't suggest a Stainz. Even though they're short, durable, weatherproof...and already red and green :lol:
Remember guys, a little back up the way he said thisMichael T said:
Thanks Cale. I'm trying to make due with what I have on hand without having to purchase another engine.
Mik said:Going to have to look up what those are.
Which is why I didn't suggest a Stainz.
Forrest Scott Wood said:
Mik said:
Which is why I didn’t suggest a Stainz.Going to have to look up what those are.
Really?
(http://pictures.trainz.com/2010/November/Pictures%2011-08-10/b9_002.jpg)
About $70 and up used…
C. Nelson said:
Yes, I’ve seen them made larger and smaller…
I’m thinking that lokie was originally a Lionel before the surgery as it looks like the one I’ve got…
An Aristo 0-4-0 sells for $40-$50 on eBay. About the same as a Big Hauler.
Without a big parts stash, I think it would be cheaper to sell the Big Hauler and buy the Aristo 
Ralph
Dwayne,
I’d say you are correct, sir.
I’ve never seen the Lionel look so good
Ralph
Mik said:Yep, just got in to large scale early last year courtesy a spot of settlement money. So there's a whole bunch I don't know. And probably even more which I don't know that I don't know.Forrest Scott Wood said:Really?
Going to have to look up what those are.
Had been interested for two decades but stuck with what I had in HO which was more adaptable to one bedroom apartment living.
Forrest Scott Wood said:Mik said:Yep, just got in to large scale early last year courtesy a spot of settlement money. So there's a whole bunch I don't know. And probably even more which I don't know that I don't know.Forrest Scott Wood said:Really?
Going to have to look up what those are.Had been interested for two decades but stuck with what I had in HO which was more adaptable to one bedroom apartment living.
Me, I just love the drives - simple, durable, reliable. The German styling I can take or leave… usually leave.
Yes it was a Lionel, but Chris had it listed on his site along with the Bmann stuff…cute huh?
