Gordon or Henry

[Trent]

Hi all,
I know I'm probably taking a risk posting this here, as I would expect someone will have thought of this and Kindly (or not) point me to the 5000 posts that have already been made on the subject, but:

Has anyone considered kitbashing a Bachmann 4-6-0 either into a Henry or Gordon from the Thomas series? I have a little man who will be joining me in the Garden Railway hobby as soon as he starts talking (well, maybe a little later), and while I have already picked up a Bachmann Thomas and Percy, I really wouldn't think that going up to a Henry or even Gordon would be a terribly hard bash. I know he will appreciate it.

Now, I should qualify this by saying that I'm not a rivet counter, and I wouldn't bother with trying to get a great representation of an A3 Pacific valve gear just so I could model one of these (however, I do have a nice Bachmann ten wheeler with the metal Walschaerts valve gear which I would use). I simply would be looking to use the core gear, shorten the leading truck appropriately, and get it under a decent chassis with most focus on the body work to try to make the loco look the part.

So throwing caution to the wind - tell me what a dolt I am for suggesting this! Anyone seen it done?

Trent

 

[Paul M]

Hi all,
I know I'm probably taking a risk posting this here, as I would expect someone will have thought of this and Kindly (or not) point me to the 5000 posts that have already been made on the subject, but:

Has anyone considered kitbashing a Bachmann 4-6-0 either into a Henry or Gordon from the Thomas series? I have a little man who will be joining me in the Garden Railway hobby as soon as he starts talking (well, maybe a little later), and while I have already picked up a Bachmann Thomas and Percy, I really wouldn't think that going up to a Henry or even Gordon would be a terribly hard bash. I know he will appreciate it.

Now, I should qualify this by saying that I'm not a rivet counter, and I wouldn't bother with trying to get a great representation of an A3 Pacific valve gear just so I could model one of these (however, I do have a nice Bachmann ten wheeler with the metal Walschaerts valve gear which I would use). I simply would be looking to use the core gear, shorten the leading truck appropriately, and get it under a decent chassis with most focus on the body work to try to make the loco look the part.

So throwing caution to the wind - tell me what a dolt I am for suggesting this! Anyone seen it done?

Trent

We can call you any sort of Dolt you like, especially as you've asked so nicely! Although you'll probably get a good deal of help as well.

 

[Flying15]

Hi all,
I know I'm probably taking a risk posting this here, as I would expect someone will have thought of this and Kindly (or not) point me to the 5000 posts that have already been made on the subject, but:

Has anyone considered kitbashing a Bachmann 4-6-0 either into a Henry or Gordon from the Thomas series? I have a little man who will be joining me in the Garden Railway hobby as soon as he starts talking (well, maybe a little later), and while I have already picked up a Bachmann Thomas and Percy, I really wouldn't think that going up to a Henry or even Gordon would be a terribly hard bash. I know he will appreciate it.

Now, I should qualify this by saying that I'm not a rivet counter, and I wouldn't bother with trying to get a great representation of an A3 Pacific valve gear just so I could model one of these (however, I do have a nice Bachmann ten wheeler with the metal Walschaerts valve gear which I would use). I simply would be looking to use the core gear, shorten the leading truck appropriately, and get it under a decent chassis with most focus on the body work to try to make the loco look the part.

So throwing caution to the wind - tell me what a dolt I am for suggesting this! Anyone seen it done?

Trent

I’ve not considered either from a Bachmann 4-6-0 chassis, but I have built an Indian Metre gauge YP Pacific and a G2 4-6-0 using this running gear
I think the issue is what size the drivers scale out at compared with the respective notional prototypes
They might look better if built to gauge 1 proportions ie around 10 mm to foot?
Here’s a couple of pics of my Indian metre gauge adventures

 

[voodoopenguin]

Not wanting to put you off a project but why not just add to the Bachmanns you have with a James and/or an Emily if you are wanting a larger loco?

Paul

 

[dunnyrail]

Hi all,
I know I'm probably taking a risk posting this here, as I would expect someone will have thought of this and Kindly (or not) point me to the 5000 posts that have already been made on the subject, but:

Has anyone considered kitbashing a Bachmann 4-6-0 either into a Henry or Gordon from the Thomas series? I have a little man who will be joining me in the Garden Railway hobby as soon as he starts talking (well, maybe a little later), and while I have already picked up a Bachmann Thomas and Percy, I really wouldn't think that going up to a Henry or even Gordon would be a terribly hard bash. I know he will appreciate it.

Now, I should qualify this by saying that I'm not a rivet counter, and I wouldn't bother with trying to get a great representation of an A3 Pacific valve gear just so I could model one of these (however, I do have a nice Bachmann ten wheeler with the metal Walschaerts valve gear which I would use). I simply would be looking to use the core gear, shorten the leading truck appropriately, and get it under a decent chassis with most focus on the body work to try to make the loco look the part.

So throwing caution to the wind - tell me what a dolt I am for suggesting this! Anyone seen it done?

Trent

I think you will find the wheels to be a little small, why not think about a modified James.

 

[Trent]

I’ve not considered either from a Bachmann 4-6-0 chassis, but I have built an Indian Metre gauge YP Pacific and a G2 4-6-0 using this running gear
I think the issue is what size the drivers scale out at compared with the respective notional prototypes
They might look better if built to gauge 1 proportions ie around 10 mm to foot?
Here’s a couple of pics of my Indian metre gauge adventures

Flying 15 - Those are very interesting builds! Definitely gives me something to think about.

Paul - I could easily go for James or Emily, but anyone can buy those!

Jon D - great point on the driving wheel diameter. I'll have to take a look at what I have in the scrap bin. My goal was to NOT go spend $250 on a new James (the only used James locos I have seen are the truly crap Lionel version). I can't readily find a diameter on the Bachmann James wheels, so not sure how much better they are than the 4-6-0. However, I could turn new ones to whatever diameter I wanted, and then perhaps mount a 3D printed spoke pattern on the front to cover what would be rough hogging out of the wheels behind. Hmmmm.

 

[Fred2179G]

Wat about the (horrible) Hogwarts Express loco - it was a GWR prototype so it will look more like a UK engine?

 

[a98087]

I think Thomas and James’s use the same motor block, just somewhat different bodies, this might help you decide what to do,

 

[Flying15]

Hi all,
I know I'm probably taking a risk posting this here, as I would expect someone will have thought of this and Kindly (or not) point me to the 5000 posts that have already been made on the subject, but:

Has anyone considered kitbashing a Bachmann 4-6-0 either into a Henry or Gordon from the Thomas series? I have a little man who will be joining me in the Garden Railway hobby as soon as he starts talking (well, maybe a little later), and while I have already picked up a Bachmann Thomas and Percy, I really wouldn't think that going up to a Henry or even Gordon would be a terribly hard bash. I know he will appreciate it.

Now, I should qualify this by saying that I'm not a rivet counter, and I wouldn't bother with trying to get a great representation of an A3 Pacific valve gear just so I could model one of these (however, I do have a nice Bachmann ten wheeler with the metal Walschaerts valve gear which I would use). I simply would be looking to use the core gear, shorten the leading truck appropriately, and get it under a decent chassis with most focus on the body work to try to make the loco look the part.

So throwing caution to the wind - tell me what a dolt I am for suggesting this! Anyone seen it done?

Trent

Your thread suggestion of building A representation of Gordon from a Bachmann Annie might have some possibilities if you accept the undersized wheels
Here are some pics of my almost finished Romney Hythe 4-8-2 based on a lengthened Annie Chassis
As a 4-6-2 the boiler would obviously be around one ring shorter, but otherwise the proportions would be much as shewn here

 

[Trent]

Oh wow - that’s an impressive build! I’m going to have to study your photos closely!

 

[Fred2179G]

Why not use the Aristocraft Pacific?

 

[Fred2179G]

Here are some pics of my almost finished Romney Hythe 4-8-2 based on a lengthened Annie Chassis

Not trying to change the subject but what scale is that? I never heard of G16.

 

[Flying15]

Not trying to change the subject but what scale is that? I never heard of G16.

The Romney loco is proportioned to match my other locos that are around 1/24 scale
But they are based on full sized Locos
The Romney loco really runs on 15” gauge track and is approx 1/3rd full size above the frames and Approx. 1/4 below the running plate
So I guess that means my attempt at modelling an RHDR loco is actually around 36mm to the foot or a tad under 1/8th scale
On the G16 assume you are referring to one of my builds in another thread They were built in the early 1920s for shunting the LSWR s yards which included a hump arrangement at Feltham in SW London
They all went for scrap in the early 1960s following g replacement by the dreaded diesels
You can find images of the real thing via the usual Search tools

 

[Fred2179G]

1/8th scale. Or 1 1/2 inch scale, as the ride-on guys call it. Beautiful job. Not quite Henry though

 

[Paul M]

Just had another look, I really, really like the colour. in my view dark blue engines always seem better looking than green or black, (as I said my view, others will disagree)

 

[Flying15]

Just had another look, I really, really like the colour. in my view dark blue engines always seem better looking than green or black, (as I said my view, others will disagree)

Hi Paul
The loco is in the darker Caledonian Rly blue which was I think used for that companies goods engines
It’s pretty similar to the Great Eastern Railways blue
I like a range of colours on my Locos as I’m not attempting to model a particular company or location etc and just enjoy the process of building locos that if ever we get back to doing exhibitions/shows will appear at Crib Lane loco depot