Large Scale Central

Project: 4-6-0--first kitbash

Modeling Rolling stock
#1

Second gen 4-6-0, had dead power pickups, so I installed an Aristo TE in the tender for onboard battery. I added a drill battery in a trailing car. Then I decided I hated the way it looked…I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves. Here’s how it looked before: http://www.flickr.com/photos/trainsandstuff/sets/72157608464663387/ And here it is now:

Thoughts? What should I do next? (other than an onboard battery in the new coal bunker) And might I add, I’ve done more than it looks; all the wiring inside had to be replaced, it was missing a headlight, and the tender had a truck snapped off.

#2

Hi Robbie,

The loco certainly looks different with the new chimney stack and it looks quite sharp. The tender is large and ideal for TE/battery conversion. You remind me that I had intended to convert one of my Annies to battery sometime.

I have one of those locos, same road name and colors, a four year old Annie and was purchased new in the UK. It is a superb looking loco and of course is an eye catcher here in this part of the world and it reminds folks of the western movies they have seen. lol

I only had one complaint with it: the ‘plastic logs’. aaargh! So I made new logs for the tender and placed them in a similar fashion as the imitation log mould. It certainly makes a great improvement visually.

#3

See, I didn’t like the logs either, but neither did I like the coal load that much–so I dabbed flat black model paint here and there on the tender. While it isn’t perfect, it looks enough better than I’m considering keeping it and not trying to crush any of my real coal.

The stack isn’t original, but neither is the headlight–it’s off a Santa Fe tender from the 2-4-2 that I picked up for $1, and I had to paint it also, along with most of the driver and truck rims. I might paint the tender wheel rims, too–I see that the Annie has them painted and I rather like the look :smiley:

#4

She looks good. Classy.

Actually, coal burner goes with extended smokebox much more than balloon stacked wood burner setup - extended smoke box held a coal cinder catcher arrangement.

As for the coal, someone, either here or Bachmann’s forum, or both, clued me in to charcoal for putting in aquarium filters.
Found some here that comes in a milk carton looking package and scales out pretty well for G coal. Name on this carton calls it Activated Filter Carbon.

Yes, white tires on tender wheels would lend it that spiffy loco look.

#5

Forrest, I just may do that.

At the moment though, I’m likely going to install my spare Bachmann 2-8-0 gearbox for some more torque and a quieter geartrain. This one, though it runs VERY smoothly, is just loud enough to annoy me–and it has some potential issues on downgrades.

Any other suggestions? :slight_smile:

#6

If it is okay to interject what may almost be a bit of self promotion. This isn’t put over the stock molded load but a block of foam as a different shape pile was desired. Hmm, apparently haven’t taken a “job as completed and dried” photo.

(http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa309/FSW4picts/G%20gauge%20projects/IMG_3366.jpg)

Hey Robbie, just went and got a quick shot (in bad light out on the deck where it is running right now) of completed load - different day, different loco, same stuff

(http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa309/FSW4picts/G%20gauge%20projects/IMG_4542-1.jpg)

#7

WOW! That’s fantastic!

I may have a new project for the K-27…and the LGB 2-4-0…and the 4-6-0…and the Connie…and…

Aw, heck with it, it’s 2 AM and I still have homework to finish…I suppose going and getting charcoal will have to wait…:slight_smile: