Large Scale Central

Preparing to "bash" my new 4-4-0. ?'s

Prototypes
#1

I’m starting with a bare bones Bachman American, unlettered all black. I want to model an 1860’s USMRR unit.

The modifications I want to make are:

Add fenders over the driver, and possibly the pilot wheels.

Shorten and narrow the walkway along the boiler. There appears to be a “can” affixed to the boiler forward of the lead drive wheels above the walkway with a line dropping down to something in the mechanism. Any answers on what this is for?

Remove the air pump and lines.

Change the smoke stack to a balloon type.

Modify the headlight bracket to a “fancier” design.

If I can find spoke pilot wheels, replace the solid wheels.

Change the string used for the bell and whistle to an idea I read by Jack Thompson, using stranded copper electrical wire.

Add arches to the top of the cab windows.

Modify the cab roof to look less plastic and perfect.

Change the fuel load to wood.

Paint the boiler bands to a brass tone.

Paint and letter.

Any thoughts or links to articles on any of these changes will be appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

dave

#2

Here I thunk ya had a real one. You posted in “Prototypes”.

#3

Don’t forget your link and pin couplers!

-Brian

#4

The links from Ozark are made of the “white metal” and I am not certain how they will hold up. I am using what I think is window sash chain. Every other one I have to cut but even then they are tough enough to simply squeeze back together. Once I file off the welds and “rust” them up a little bit. they look and work fine.

I posted in the Prototype section hoping to find accurate design and configuring of this unit. Please move if it is best someplace else.

#5

The “can” on the front is the sand dome. The lines coming down from them carry sand down to the rails for traction in slippery conditions.

I’m not sure why you’d want to narrow the running boards. They’re already quite narrow as it is. Folks have to be able to stand on those boards to fill the sand dome, etc.

Later,

K

#6

Kevin Strong said:
The “can” on the front is the sand dome. The lines coming down from them carry sand down to the rails for traction in slippery conditions. I’m not sure why you’d want to narrow the running boards. They’re already quite narrow as it is. Folks have to be able to stand on those boards to fill the sand dome, etc. Later, K

These “cans” are fastened on the sides of the boiler just about 3 o’clock and 9 seen at the end of the walk above the man’s head…

(http://www.lscdata.com/users/lastmanout/_forumfiles/UnkMech.jpg)

#7

Dave, When we talked yesterday I couldnt figure out what those cans were. The pic. jogged my memory sinapses. They are part of a water pump system used to pump h2o into the boiler. The pumps were activated by the motion of the crossheads or valve gear. The ‘‘cans’’ are the check valves and pipes that allow water into boiler. This system predated the steam driven water injectors used on later locos ,like Bmann loco that your bash started with.
Dave

#8

Progress shot:

(http://www.lscdata.com/users/lastmanout/_forumfiles/paintscheme1.jpg)

The colors are off in the pic. The boiler is an Earth Red (burgundy/maroon) and the cab is Nutmeg. The bands are a gold tone paint, close but not exact to brass. Everything was black except the gray smoke box and the red valves in the bulkhead. …arch tops in the windows added …smoke stack changed by cutting the screen on the side around the top and modifying to fit the boiler …the running boards along the boiler cut back, the mounting stubs removed and a base wood color paint applied …the air pump and lines removed and the mounting holes filled …the bands removed and painted to resemble brass as was the headlight brackets. I wanted to drill and shape the brackets but found them tough to drill. So I said to myself, “Self, leave them alone.” …the tender is painted to match the boiler I wanted to lengthen the tender body to the length of the frame, but there are too many rivets for me to deal with at my skill level. …the tender running board on the back is removed as is the newer style coupler favoring the link.

#9

David, looks good so far!

You got more guts than I do… But then, I’m just a skimmer.

#10

Boy are there a lot of pieces on your work bench…looks good Dave

#11

The tender is done except for the lettering, a few small details and some more weathering. The fuel was changed to wood, and it was painted. Easy.

(http://www.lscdata.com/users/lastmanout/_forumfiles/TenderII.JPG)

#12

Man, what a load of wood!!! …they won’t have to refuel the tender till the civil war is over!!! nice job Dave !!!

#13

I bent the line and added a fake mystery valve. It is an OM turnbuckle with a hearing aid battery glued on the bottom to simulate a can of some sort visible in the prototype pics. Whaddya think? Any idea what this is supposed to be? In the prototype pics there is rod leading from the mystery valve to the cab.

(http://www.lscdata.com/users/lastmanout/_forumfiles/Mysteryvalve.jpg)

#14

A battery powered fake mystery valve! Does this mean you are coming over th the Dark Side?

#15

Coming over to the dark side??? Hell, I’m the Sergent At Arms.

#16

Not 100% yet, but out of the shop for “show and tell” and a test run to be sure all wiring is replaced a-okay.

(http://www.lscdata.com/users/lastmanout/_forumfiles/AmericanB4.jpg)

(http://www.lscdata.com/users/lastmanout/_forumfiles/AmericanAfter.jpg)

(http://www.lscdata.com/users/lastmanout/_forumfiles/USMRRtrain1.jpg)

#17

That’s looking great Dave. I like the paint job too.