Large Scale Central

Converting a Bachmann 1:22.5 Tank Car to 1:20.3

Yea, Ric, I think I’ve heard you said that one or two times…:wink:

Ric Golding said:
"Woke up this morning, got breakfast, nobody's shooting at me, if I don't have to reload before lunch - Life is Good."
If you have a roof over your head, and your belly is full, life IS good. If more people understood this concept we would need fewer Doctors and pharmaceuticals. Every day I wake up is a good day. Ralph

Amen Ralph. During conversation with my 91 year old Father-in-law last evening, he was lamenting as to how he wakes up wondering why he is still alive and why he was born in this wonderful Country. Served in both WWII and Korea, but never left Missouri for either War. Puts in 8 miles a day on a stationary bicycle and starts each morning with a shot of Brandy.

I guess we have successfully got this “off subject”. I’ll go take some pictures of the 1:20.3 tank car and get it back on track.

1:20.3 car on left, 1:22.5(?) car on right.

(http://www.lscdata.com/users/rgolding/090101%20045.jpg)

Side view of 1:20.3 car with coupler pockets and steps from Ozark Minatures

(http://www.lscdata.com/users/rgolding/090101%20046.jpg)

End comparison shot with handrails, air brake hose and decking

(http://www.lscdata.com/users/rgolding/090101%20048.jpg)

Overhead shot showing width difference

(http://www.lscdata.com/users/rgolding/090101%20050.jpg)

3/4 shot - 1:20.3 car closest

(http://www.lscdata.com/users/rgolding/090101%20051.jpg)

May do a little more graphics, but basically done.

Hi Rick,
Nice work on your tanker. Is it just the way its sitting on your layout or is it a little higher than the utlx behind it?? Do you plan on doing any of the boxcars??

Chuck

Third or fourth time looking at these and just noticed the stake pockets on the sides. Nice touch…

(http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/36/36_1_11.gif)

Chuck Cole said:
Hi Rick, Nice work on your tanker. Is it just the way its sitting on your layout or is it a little higher than the utlx behind it?? Do you plan on doing any of the boxcars??

Chuck


Chuck,

Most of the height difference is in the picture and the fact the 1:20.3 is closer to the lens. However, the deck of 3904 is a stir stick higher. Since the yokes that hold the tanks are both mounted to the plastic deck, they should be the same height, they aren’t. I don’t have an answer for this, but I have never measured the Bachmann tank cars to see if they are held that close to tolerance. Nothing I did should impact the height. I guess I’ll now be paying closer attention to this. Just Great! Another major crisis to worry about. Thanks a lot, Chuck. :wink:

Just outta curiosity…what are the dimensions of a Bachmann tank? (Devious ideas abound)…

I think the tank car is in it’s own dimension…

:slight_smile:

What I came up with and not to the nats hair

3.5 inches diameter
1:22.5 = 6.5 ft.
1:20.3 = 6 ft

13.75 inches
1:22.5 = 25.75 ft
1:20.3 = 23.5 ft

HMMMMMMMM definately got possibilities… Diameter is about right…I need to get one of these to see what I can do about adding some length…

Why would you want it longer? Remember, in my case, the focus was to convert what I have. If I wanted to make it longer, I’d just start with something else or build from scratch.

If you can get it cheap enough (which shouldn’t be too hard), you get the tank and trucks (with metal wheels). Besides, finding PVC pipe the right diameter, with ends and a dome to boot, is a bit problematic. To lengthen the car, I’d cut the tank between the dome and the ends, somewhere in the middle of the tank barrel, and then get some .010" styrene sheet to form a new barrel to the correct length. You can add more scale rivet detail in the process, too.

Later,

K

“Cheap enough” changes after you are retired.

Still, this is a great conversion. I shall have to poke around and see what I can find.

Methinks Master Bart will be attempting this soon. I am sending him two for bash fodder in return for him returning a lengthened tank and some bolster castings for a frameless car to me. Reminds me I got to get moving on getting them packed up.

Using Ric’s dimensions gives the following capacities for the tank:

@1:22.5 scale: 6392 gallons

@1:20.3 scale: 4970 gallons

Both within reason very much within reason. The nearly 5000 gallon capacity of the 1:20 conversion matches the capacity of many narrow gauge tank cars, from logging to mainline operations.

Great conversion! I’ve got a couple I hope to do sometime this spring.

Happy RRing,

Jerry

Ric Golding said:
Why would you want it longer? Remember, in my case, the focus was to convert what I have. If I wanted to make it longer, I'd just start with something else or build from scratch.
Cause making the tank ends for a scale length 1:20 car are a pain! Actually Kevin is thinking along the smae lines as I am....I just need to have one in my hot little handses to do a little Imagineering.......

Ric could you share with me the Ozark Part numbers you used? Steps and Pockets?..

anyone: what #1 Kadee would be used to body mount on this particular car…just found my Bachmann Tank Car “kit” and I’m gonna give it a go!

Thanks

cale

“Ric could you share with me the Ozark Part numbers you used? Steps and Pockets?..”

1002 D&RGW double u-bolt stake pockets

1004 strap step 12", side sill mount

1018 Brake wheel w/ pawl

Use a good ol 820 Cale…or 830 if yer G scaleing…