OK I know I need another engine like a hole in my head but Mik’s cool traction engine bash perked my interest and the Muse began speaking to me, but the final straw was the article in the latest Industrial and Mining Annual form Uncle Russ showing the unbelievable model of the Oregon Pony. Once I had read thru the article and studied the pics the louder the Muse spoke to me. Then I looked back at a topic on the GR forum about a neat little Stomper based loco bash that used a HLW gondola for the body. As I sat down at my bench I took an inventory, Stomper drive, ready to go, spare HLW body, check, fuel bunker, yep, front half of cheeser Xmas train left over from last bash, steam dome & stack from the junk box, check, also from the Xmas train, Boiler, Hmmm Boiler….there’s the caveat, no plumbing pipes, no dowels, errrr…maybe this wont happen, Hmmm then I noticed the plastic tube case my AC glue nibs came in was about the right size, maybe if I use a balsa block for the firebox…. …when the Muse hits me with the Baseball Bat it can rather hurt: A short Time later, the “Mules Relief” is taking shape:
As of today, its almost ready for paint, just haven’t taken pics yet BTW No its not missing a smokebox, its the clear plastic of the nib tube and, Yes that red circle is the lid of the nib container. PS to Mik, DON’T go buying that magazine by Uncle Russ, or like me you’ll be adding at least two more projects to the dogpile of projects. I’m trying hard to find reason NOT to do the ultra neat Iron Works engine that was in the same article.
