Kid-zilla vs. Bachmann...A Story of Dad Learning to Let Go

[Eric_Mueller]

The MIK is behind us, and Kid-zilla has determined that his next project will be to transform a pile of Bachmann 10-wheeler bits from @Rooster , @PeterT , probably @David_Marconi_FOGCH , the Hawaii Historical Railroad, and probably other places into a working 10-wheeler. He already started gathering the bits on the lanai…

…and he has been dutifully restoring a non-B’mann tender to its former glory through the use of a paint marker.

He has asked me to note he did this work without masking!

Last year, we worked side by side to make his Starliners ( Triple O – Bachmann 10-Wheeler Salvage Campaign). This year, I am going to try really, really hard to step back into an advisory role. As such, I will be documenting his progress as I see it, not necessarily as he does it. My main effort will be on safety with a secondary effort on success. My goal is to not touch a tool or paint brush.

I am sure he can see his goal of bringing this beast to life through to completion. I know I will struggle to see my train buddy strike out on his own.

Updates as I catch them!

Eric

[David_Marconi_FOGCH (David Marconi CHHNNG)]

Gotta ask when will Kid-Z be acquiring that new parcel of land for the roundhouse he needs for all the motive power he has acquired over the last couple of years?
I’m looking forward to the build to start.
Seems CINChouse may be in for a round of negotiations to commence as the new year unfolds. The take over at the triple O seems well on it’s way.
As always YMMV JMHO

[Eric_Mueller]

@David_Marconi_FOGCH

Gotta ask when will Kid-Z be acquiring that new parcel of land for the roundhouse he needs for all the motive power

Like I’ve said, that is a possibility! Probably not this summer, but a locomotive service area is under discussion…or a rack railway.

In the meantime, he has removed the flashing from the parts he intends to use. He will be leaning into a Wild West / Late 19th Century theme, with gloss black boiler, brass trim, and yellow “wood” work.

I am working very hard to remain an observer, advisor, and occasional prod…

Eric

[Eric_Mueller]

Update:

Most of the flashing is gone. He is working through paint schemes. I am working on letting him do things at his pace in his order…

One sticking point has been the cab, poorly photographed by yours truly below:

You’ll note the gap between the boiler and the cab walls. He briefly thought about just enlarging the passages from cab to the future running boards. This would be not unlike the hulks at our museum, as seen in a photo from our 2024 “victory visit” with Golden Star.

That still leaves the issue about the space between the upper windows and the boiler.

He is confident that he can glue a styrene sheet to the back of the cab’s forward wall, but neither of us our sure how to shape it from there so that it fits over the boiler and leaves little gap between the boiler and cab wall. Any suggestions?

On Behalf of Kid-zilla,
Eric

[JRad (Jon Radder)]

How about trial and error with paper and scissors until the contour is close enough. Then use the paper to mark the styrene cut.

There are profile copy tools available on-line but are probably too bulky for this application.

[David_Marconi_FOGCH (David Marconi CHHNNG)]

Another method I have used is to take a picture dead straight on from the rear of the boiler measure the base of the boiler at that point, if you can, prop your ruler so it shows your actual width of the boiler at that point.
Open your just taken picture in paint on your PC. that will open on a grid.Make your grid read in what ever measurement increments you used and increase/decrease the pictured boiler to match with the grid size. i.e. if the ruler shows 2 1/2" make the boiler picture show the width if the boiler being 2 1/2" on the grid.
Print that picture out and you can cut the picture to remove the section of the boiler you want to cut your pattern too.

[Rooster]

Scribe it out with a tiny golf pencil. Or since the cab isn’t mounted lay a sheet of styrene on the back of the boiler and trace it out (the 1/2 circle ) on the front. Then put the cab back on lay the 1/2 circle sheet on top of the boiler,cab front and trace out the window lines on the back.