Large Scale Central

The Roosters Curse, or Now What Do I Do? A Modelers Conundrum

Modeling
#1

OK here’s the story, a short time ago David Russel aka the Rooster made me an offer I couldn’t refuse, no, not to knock off Vinnie Boom Boom, but whether I was interested in his “in pieces” basket case LGB CHLOE parts donor that he no longer needed, this is one of my favorite engines of all time, well long story short, it arrived, in many pieces, some missing, including some IMPORTANT bits like almost every screw and her PISTONS and SLIDE RODS :open_mouth: …but the Borracho Locomotive Works love a challenge :wink: And so after scrounging thru the scrap pile and parts bin, found the piston/sliders from a Bachmann Porter and a little creative technics from the Frankenstein Surgical center, FRANKENCHLOE is about 90% finished, she’s still missing some stuff and touch up paint, but for the most part she’s done.

Those last shots are the Bachmann organ donor graft pictures. I test run her, very smooth, even runs ON THE PIZZA! :smiley: OK so now here is the problem, I already HAVE a mint Chloe, NIB and safely tucked away (my Precious…) and I have noticed that this new one would not only make a really nifty Forney if I added a compact truck under the bunker, but if I cut off the fuel bunker, it would make a really nice little 0-4-0, I already have a couple small tenders I could use. Its already been sullied by the surgical repairs so Collector Resale value is no longer something to worry about. So…What to do…keep it near original, or make something really unique…???

#2

Obviously, you make something really unique…unless you’re going to keep that new Chloe in the box :wink:
Ralph

#3

Extend (enlarge) the fuel bunker making it a bit longer, 4 wheel truck under it I think would make a dandy Forney.

#4

Wait, you’re actually pondering this as a dilemma–you, who never met a locomotive you couldn’t kitbash??? Do we need to be concerned about your health? :wink:

Later,

K

#5

(http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f72/Shortybear/CVRR%20Utility/chloeparts-50.jpg)

(http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f72/Shortybear/CVRR%20Utility/002.jpg)

(http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f72/Shortybear/CVRR%20Utility/006.jpg)

(http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f72/Shortybear/CVRR%20Utility/006.jpg)

(http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f72/Shortybear/CVRR%20Utility/013.jpg)

(http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f72/Shortybear/CVRR%20Utility/013-1.jpg)

Pics from the vault …I think? …glad she has a good home and I did touch her steam chests. However Father Fred did bless her ! LOOKS GREAT SO FAR and actually you got a piece of my history! I knew she was sent to the right home (note the amount of screws removed in the pic) . :slight_smile:

#6
Victor Smith said:
OK so now here is the problem, I already HAVE a mint Chloe, NIB and safely tucked away (my Precious..) and I have noticed that this new one would not only make a really nifty Forney if I added a compact truck under the bunker, but if I cut off the fuel bunker, it would make a really nice little 0-4-0, I already have a couple small tenders I could use. Its already been sullied by the surgical repairs so Collector Resale value is no longer something to worry about.

So…What to do…keep it near original, or make something really unique…???


I can’t help you with that question …

#7

But Vic, the real problem is you forgot to give it your signature chrome-in-a-can!!

#8

Is it done yet?

#9

Hi Victor:

If you mounted a Bachmann Columbia ( or Indy ) boiler and cab you could increase the diameter of the smoke box.

Slice the Bachmann Columbia ( or Indy ) boiler at just behind the centre steam dome.

My favourite model is the LGB Chloe. However, the smokebox correct diameter is really small.

I prefer the look of the DLRR Ward Kimball loco with the larger diameter smoke box and elevated centre middle cab front windows.

Mounting a Bachmann boiler and cab, using the Chloe box headlamp and smokestack, on the LGB Chloe drive would make a nice 0-4-2T loco.

This is the type of 1:22.5 compatable product that I would like Bachmann to produce but Bachmann has now gone exclusively down the path of 1:20.3 .
Definitely no new future product designs in 1:22.5 from Bachmann.

Norman

#10
David Russell said:
Is it done yet?
I think till the next show I'll leave the body as is, I'll try adding a small rear bogie truck and see how I like it. Need to add couplers but I don't have any at the moment, once I run it for a while, I'll determine whether or not to cut up the bunker and build a tender version.
#11

How much work do ya wanna do, Vic? This was what those Hawaiian sugar loks looked like back in the day…

(http://i397.photobucket.com/albums/pp52/steamnut1917/Olomana_Plantation_Locomotive.jpg)

(http://i397.photobucket.com/albums/pp52/steamnut1917/olomana2.jpg)

And another baby Baldwin in Oz

(http://i397.photobucket.com/albums/pp52/steamnut1917/Baldwin0-4-0T.jpg)

I assume the stubby platform on the back was just to keep the fireman from falling off.

#12

Vic I would go with something unique because thats just your style and its great.
I really like that first picture Mik posted that is cool.

#13

I like Mik’s first pic as well. Chloe and Olomana are my two faves… Too darn cute for me to cut up tho’, or I’m a coward…

I say go for unique. The most interesting NG locos were all unique anyway!!!

If she were mine I’d be going with these suggestions from the other guys - larger boiler. The loco needs added weight anyways. Yes to the longer bunker and 4-whl trailing truck, at least on a trial. That’d work well I think.

I suspect the cab - at least its roof, will soon seem too old fashioned for the new loco though. And that air tank - well, to my eyes it seems way too big as things stand - kinda’ ugly to me, sorry… I’d lose it PDQ, or shorten it, or mount it on the rear of the bunker somewhere, Colorado & Southern style maybe. Just one guy’s opinion… Might look OK where it is with a bigger boiler, but I doubt it, sorry …

#14

I nixed the air tank, went with a flush walkway, more on the built up rear truck as I get to it. But that hideous plastic trailing wheel must go away either way.

(http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f72/Shortybear/CVRR%20Utility/002.jpg)

BTW this is exactly what it looked like when I opened the box, minus the screws and tools :lol:

#15

What were you expecting for the price?
:wink:

#16

No complaint on that front. Just thought it was a pretty illustrative pic. Building the Forney style rear truck. Using the smallest metal wheels I have and its still just a tad bigger than I hoped but give me a couple days to work it out.

#17

Vic, If you can find them Scientific did make a set that had metal wheels on the engine and tender.

Or Ozark has wheelsets in lots of sizes

#18

A quick tip from the Chief Troublemaker at the Old Late and Slow here:

Old tinplate trains make a good source of metal wheels in smaller sizes like this. They’re usually pressed steel, and that’s fine; I prefer the pressed steel over the sintered ones, esp if yr using them for electrical pickup. The sintered ones do have a nice weight advantage. The flanges are perfect, sizewise for our use. I avoid plastic and bakelite wheels entirely.

#19

Luckily I have a small pair of wheels that I believe came from Kalamazoo, built up the inside frame and trailing arm, now I have to build sideframes which creates a real head ache for me, I might actually have to make something precise! :open_mouth: The Horror! :lol:

#20

Wish you would have told me that …could have sent some Lionel wheels along