Large Scale Central

MDC Hustler Mining Loco Bash

Modeling
#1

MDC Hustler Mining Loco Bash

My latest little creation, I got a MDC Hustler from an LSC member (Thanks Kyle), I’ve always liked this engine as they were great for bashing but they can have weak gearing so are not very good pullers for more than 3 mini cars, also for whatever reason they made the cab 1/32 scale so it doesnt work scalewise with almost everything. So I thought if I left the cab off, it could then be built to any scale based on the driver placed in it, 1/22.5 in this case, I also left the sideframes off as most critters and dinkys have solid sideframes, so this is the pre-paint results:

Lousy pics as usual …

#2

Looking good Vic. But I must remind you that it is NOT eligible for “Miks Build Challenge 2014”

BTW I looked and never found the 3 trucker that you should have built to haul around those 5 or 6 cars that you built for last years build Challenge.

This year starts in only 24 days, So you better hurry up and finnish.

#3

I thought this years challenge was a building, which I still have something mind, but no this is just a happy acquisition…

#4

Mik nor I, ever said a building was in store for this years challenge, someone might have brought that up during a discussion or two. (my god, i’m sounding like a politician).

#5

Bring it on, I’m sure my idea will fit regardless the Challenge

:wink:

#6

Nice!

#7

OK since MLS is busted today, I decided to try uploading pics to my freight shed, lets see:

Eureka!

Finally got the MDC Mining Loco painted and weathered, sadly these are the best pics I can muster right now, one of my New Years Projects is to build a real photo booth!

Chief Mechanic Homer expresses his approval of the project…or he’s found a pizza.

#8

I like it. :slight_smile:

#9

I left mine pretty much stock, but converted it to run on a 9V battery. I’ve now decided to have it pull a track clean (ex-HLW) gondola, filled with batteries to provide both more speed AND more power.

But coupling the two together looks troublesome. I’d like to use Kadee #1 couplers, but it looks like the pocket is WAY too low. I can’t put a raised coupler on because nothing seems to fit in the pocket. Now I just may go with a solid plastic bar, pinned into the coupler pocket and permanently mounted on the HLW body somehow.

Any thoughts?

#10

Dick, try using small diameter Bachmann wheels on the HLW car that should lower the coupler hieght down to the MDCs height. If that doesn’t sound practical, You may have to consider using link/pin couplers otherwise and then you could use a bent drawbar between the unlevel couplers . LGB makes link/pin pockets that mount directly onto standard large scale coupler tongues. The MDC pocket is a standard link/pin pocket.

I got around this problem by raising the end beams.

#11

Thanks for the tip, Vic. I’m going to the big train show in Richmond CA next Sunday and will look for the smaller wheels there!

How did you raise the end beams. They are very heavy cast metal, and appear to hold the side frames in place. Got a picture? TIA!

#12

There are two tabs that hold the sideframes in place. The end beams are independent and are pressed into the plastic. I guess yours was pre- built. I just drilled new holes higher for the beams tabs and glued the beams higher up. I lined the top with the top deck of the body. If you notice I omitted the sideframes entirely to give it that bulkier critter look. Its not hard to raise the beams, I added a 1/2inch square wood beam under to fill in the gap.