Large Scale Central

Mikado to Consol Bash

Modeling
#1

I posted this over at MLS, but here it is again. I’ve been happy with the way my Aristo Mikado runs but more and more bugged by the way it looks–lettered for PRR but with no discernable PRR features, and its so obviously Aristo’s Pacific with 8 wheels. Also on our layout, which has some 8 foot curves, it just does not look right–it runs fine but it overhangs too much So I copied and idea from Rex Ammerman and married the Mikado to a Lionel Atlantic. I picked up two non-working Atlantics for a good price on ebay, and chopped the frame of the Mikado. It’s not done yet–I’m waiting for lettering and some more details, but you get the idea

Since these pictures I’ve lowered the tender and added the shiny bits. I’ll get a final shot when it’s done later this week. The nice thing is it pulls as well as the mikado, which was a very strong puller. I test ran a few laps today and it worked perfectly. Now I have a second Atlantic and I’m not sure what to do with it. Maybe just rework it so it runs well as a branch line passenger engine, or maybe kitbash another consol–I have the frame from an old aristo Pacific…

#2

That looks good, Mike.

I’ve done the opposite. I kept it as an Atlantic, but beefed up the wiring, tied down the Pitman motor so it is rock solid, and added about 3 or so pounds of lead weight. My friend did the work. It is a great puller, now, as long as I keep remembering not to try to pull 40 cars with it.

I added batteries and radio control. At least I can do that… :lol:

#3

Steve, did you put shims “under” the axles so the gears cannot disengage?

I put 3 ty-raps on mine, that motor is going nowhere!

Regards, Greg

#4

Hey Mike came out really good. The front tank is a nice touch. You asked me about the smoke box it is modelmasters dark metallic gray with a coat of testors dull coat. Good job.

#5
Greg Elmassian said:
Steve, did you put shims "under" the axles so the gears cannot disengage?

I put 3 ty-raps on mine, that motor is going nowhere!

Regards, Greg


Well, as I didn’t do that part of the work, I will have to defer to Mike Williams, above, who did do it. :lol: I just did the R/C stuff. Mike, did you put in the shims?

As I understand it, Mike put three Zip-Ties on the motor. Like you said, that motor is going nowhere.

#6
Mike Williams said:
Hey Mike came out really good. The front tank is a nice touch. You asked me about the smoke box it is modelmasters dark metallic gray with a coat of testors dull coat. Good job.
I tried using some graphite, applied with a "Q-Tip," to the smoke box. It looks really good.
#7

Nice work, Mike. Man, that’s a powerful looking piece of equipment.

#8

Looks great, Mike.
Did you ever complete the Box Cab?
Ralph

#9

Ralph I’m stuck on that boxcab–I’ve got a problem with the roof line and I will probably have to start over. I keep meaning to get back to it but it’s one of those deals where it has to sit in the back of my mind for a while while I figure out how to do it.

#10

All lettered up and painted. I think painting the smokebox might have been a mistake, but I still like it. Now it needs some weathering. I want to get the look of a working engine that has been wiped down–a little glossy in some places, but not everywhere.

(http://www.lscdata.com/users/lownote/h8leftlg.jpg)

(http://www.lscdata.com/users/lownote/h8ritelg.jpg)

#11

The smokebox sets it off. Looks real good.

#12

Mike,

You did a whale of a job! Even the lettering looks authentic. That’s a very, very nice engine.

#13

Thank you all very much. Tonight I took the other Atlantic apart. The gears are in good shape. I think I’ll keep it as an Atlantic, and just try to improve it. I’ll do the cable ties, and the shims, and since I like track power I’ll install metal wheels on the pilot truck–I have some from an old Aristo Pacific, and I think I can make power pickup bushings out of brass tube.

It’d be nice to get rid of the plastic trailing truck wheel. Any suggestions? Does anybody make a suitable wheel?

#14

Mike you might want to check the trailing wheel you have left from the Mikado.

#15

Fantastic !!!

#16
Mike Williams said:
Mike you might want to check the trailing wheel you have left from the Mikado.
Hey! That was my idea!
#17

I thought about that–it looks to be much too small. Does it work in the Atlantic trailing truck?