Annie bash started.finished at last!!

[Riograndad]

It`s time to update on of my first Annies as one of those things that has been on my mind for ages,out of the box ex circus set item,only thing I did was a repaint and some weathering which I must say didn`t turn out well.It is never used so why not bash it,plan is to go to 1;20 if it works out,I have seen at least one on another forum and looks fine.
I am using the dimensions roughly from the Connie cab to knock up a new one as I was surprised to find not a great deal of difference in some of the measurements ,changes to the walk boards,cab interior, pilot planned and some considerable work on the tender and not forgetting pipework,,,,oh I love pipeworkMore rivets,bolts and other details too of course! Will add a little extra weight too while its ripped down.The unit has been pulled apart to check all`s well inside and electrical test completed and everything works fine so its on with the project,

 

[Riograndad]

This morning after work I decide to make some sort of start on the work,I knocked up a template for the front cab sheet using the dimensions from the Connie`s cab,the main difference is the width and now its struck me how much work is involved!!!! If the Union Pacific can re build a Big Boy I think I should be able to manage this one. I have noticed a few things too,the bell swing arm is on the drivers side and the Johnson Bar(metal casting) is on the firemans side,I hope I can remove the bell assembly and turn it round and the bar may be used as a throttle in the cab as it appears to be in the neutral position and we ain`t going anywhere,plan to make a new bar assembly later.onwards and upwards!

 

[PhilP]

That seems a huge amount of boiler and firebox in the cab?

 

[JimmyB]

That seems a huge amount of boiler and firebox in the cab?

My early battery model is like that

 

[Riograndad]

That seems a huge amount of boiler and firebox in the cab?

Phil,
Couple of pics of my Connie cab,the fire box/boiler goes right back to the rear of the cab so is "fired" from outside on the tender,so is the Annie so keeping it the same,I did consider cutting it shorter but just too much messin` about so keeping as is. Bet it gets hot in there!

 

[Rhinochugger]

That seems a huge amount of boiler and firebox in the cab?

T'was a feature of some US locos , only repeated over here, I think, in the Festiniog double fairlies

 

[Riograndad]

A few days off and quite a lot of progress,cab shell well under way and a riveting time spent gluing them all on and a lot more still to add,wider walk ways added (and yes even more rivets )and some checker plate added to the cylinder tops,all very rough at the moment but begining to take shape.I wanted to turn the bell around but it will damage either the bell assembly or the boiler if I try so will have to get around that another way.Next job will be the pilot beam assembly and then back to the cab to start some detailing inside.I think the biggest problem will be the tender modifications as the majority of bashes use a Connie tender shell,still thinking about that one and considering cutting it lengthways in half to get the new width or building a complete new body.
I ordered a load of parts from Cambrian Models,rivets and alike and came within 36 hours,just a plug for them as great service as usual as this allowed me to carry on and have loads in reserve..

 

[Greg Elmassian]

Whose rivets did you use? Do they come as strips, or did you space them by hand?

Greg

 

[David1226]

I ordered a load of parts from Cambrian Models,rivets and alike and came within 36 hours,just a plug for them as great service as usual as this allowed me to carry on and have loads in reserve

David

 

[Rhinochugger]

One aspect that always identifies an Annie chassis is the rear bogie axle which is so far back. This is quite correct for the Tweetsie ten-wheeler which is the basis for the Bachmann Annie, but is probably unique.

I wanted to lose that element, and make mine a generic ten-wheeler, so shortened the bogie, bringing the rear axle forward so that it is behind the cylinders. I use minimum 8ft radius and mine negotiates those curves with ease.

 

[ge_rik]

Looks magnificent already. Can't wait to see how it looks when finished.

BTW Where do you source your round valve handles / wheels (the red ones in the photo in post #5)?

Rik

 

[Hal Farsed]

Looking good. Watching with interest.

 

[Riograndad]

Whose rivets did you use? Do they come as strips, or did you space them by h

Whose rivets did you use? Do they come as strips, or did you space them by hand?

Greg

Hi Greg,they come on a sprue,cut each one off and glue on one by one, Cambrian Models are the supplier Rio

Rio

 

[Riograndad]

Looks magnificent already. Can't wait to see how it looks when finished.

BTW Where do you source your round valve handles / wheels (the red ones in the photo in post #5)?

Rik

Hi Rik,I assume you mean in the Connie cab and they are factory items,I will use some new ones later on the Annie bash and I get them from Cambrian Models,small sprue of handwheels,dials etc,check the website,recommended and great quick service.
.
Rio

 

[Riograndad]

Lots more done over last few days,cab side window openings made larger,pilot now nearly done,I made new pilot deck and beam but retainted the stock pilot,a new coupling pocket knocked up and lots of bolt head moldings added,brass cut bar also made but will replace in time as not happy with it,the bell problem sorted out too,its now an air operated item so can be used by both crew from controls each side if the cab,piping started too and a few added so far including the electrical conduit from the dynamo into a junction box so to the headlight and back to the cab,begining to come together now.

 

[Riograndad]

Lots done over the weekend and actually got some paint on the loco,the controls in the cab are in and now match up with the pipe work on the boiler as the air pump now has some connections and the sand dome now has the pull bar added,throttle,train and loco brakes,johnson bar now on the right side together with gauges and hand wheels although the backhead is still to be finished,the cab is still removable,the pilot deck has now been changed to full width as I noticed there were no steps or footplate to get to the front and still some items to be added there.more pipework to go on under the cab and along the chassis together with som rivet and bolt head moldings,for the gate valves on the pipework I used hand rail supports the wrong way round and added the handwheels.I am leaving the loco as is for now and starting on the tender and tie the two together at the end,pics on progress so far

 

[PhilP]

Very impressed with the your blackhead!

PhilP

 

[Riograndad]

Thanks Phil,there are more handwheels on order so I can finish the actual backhead off,needs more on!!!!

 

[Riograndad]

It`s a bad pic but the sand dome pull is on and the handle is mounted inside on the front cab sheet.

 

[Rhinochugger]

Have you widened the tender at all, Neil?

Or have you enlarged the cab without much widening?