Li'l Bash

Thanks both. If the goo hadn't come off it would have been left until I was in a better frame of mind:rolf:
 
Glad you solved your problem, Mick, and the frames look good. I didn't make it out to the garage to check on how well the stuff I had used had worked, but Diane told me it had worked fine, so it must have done!
 
Hi mick this is an excellent job- when i did my high speed afternoon bash on one of theses i was pretty sure that some of you "proper" modellers would come up with some lovely conversions- as you have done. I tell you what would be nice a same angle before and after shot! Congratualtions!!
 
Thanks Gordon - I'm glad it worked after my faux pas!

Ian - you're too kind. I'm half bodger really. If I hadn't been half convinced that the split tank (small) loco might exist I would have gone down the same road as you.

I wanted to retain the US look but you proved it was equally worthwhile, interesting, and practicle with your conversion. I'd baulk at converting something like more expensive LGB models! I was tinkering around (what the heck do you do with time on your hands), it was easy for me to take pics, come into the house, defrost, and upload.

I think we both agree that, for the money, it's an excellent buy. I would like to see others having a bash at it.

I need to finish it - and I'll take up your suggestion:thumbup:
 
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my porter BEFORE...... now weatherin and dirt....thought u mite like to use logos on the sides?
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Mick,

I'll bet you have forgotten the balance pipe between the tank sections?

Without it it would waddle, or lean over, with one aside down in the weeds, (and full of water) and t'other (empty of water) up in the air.

Naturally they need not connect but a couple of bits of bent tube would suffice I think.
:):-:impatient:

Yours Peter.
 
peterbunce said:
Mick,

I'll bet you have forgotten the balance pipe between the tank sections?

Without it it would waddle, or lean over, with one aside down in the weeds, (and full of water) and t'other (empty of water) up in the air.

Naturally they need not connect but a couple of bits of bent tube would suffice I think.
:):-:impatient:

Yours Peter.

Peter! Thank's for reminding me. I did mention it in Post 19. Mind you, I can set off to do something and forget what it was when I get there:thumbup:

I'm still adding little bits and pieces and it is still dismantled. I'll write on a Post It note so I don't forget!
 
steven large said:
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my porter BEFORE...... now weatherin and dirt....thought u mite like to use logos on the sides?

Hi Steven - I haven't decided on how much weathering I'm going to do - and I'm no expert at this - so I don't want to spoil it. As for the logo, I'd need transfers so I probably won't letter the sides. It would fit in with my mining mogul and the slimmed down 45 tonner though!
 
Thats a super little loco you have created there Mick, a massive improvement over the base loco.:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:
 
Thanks Gary - its getting somewhere near to matching my mental picture!
 
Back in the shed again and got a few bits done ....

The loco is now assembled but there are still bits to do (bell cord, weathering or toning down, etc.).

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I painted the moulded window frames on the cab, made a cab floor, and added bits of bling ? brass knobs on tank filler tops (and sand dome lid), plus oilers on top of valve chests. The smokebox and stack are now matt black ? the rest of the loco is satin black. The camera flash makes it look glossy.


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There is a balance pipe (from tank to tank) under the boiler. A number has been applied to the cab sides.

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I was originally going to leave the wheels red but decided to ?mucky? them up a little. Not done a good job (should have decided to do this whilst the connecting rods were off!).

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I also made the ?visible? parts of the brackets that would have held and supported the pilot boards (front and rear of loco) in place. Made from aluminium, drilled 1.0mm and fastened to the draw beams with dome head pins through the plastic (0.65mm holes ? tight fit for pins).


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Incredible! From very toy like to a scale model. Congratulations on some fine work and a very good narrative.
 
Just a thought for someone else considering this process... Bachmann now has repair/erplacement parts on their website for sale, including a complete set of Percy's cylinders, guiderods, crosshead & main rod for a very modest fee.

If I was going to tackle a project like this, I might consider cutting the original cylinder chests off and bolting on the Percy cylinders. As they are oversize for an engine this size, they could also work well for a fireless engine which used larger cylinders to provide power with a lower steam pressure.

This isn't to criticize the work here, just offering an option for someone else who might not be ready to try this project because of the lack of working rods
 
Thanks Dan for your kind comments.

JD - yes a Fireless loco would be a relatively easy project. I wanted to see if I could make something of it without incurring any great costs. The motion is reasonably prototypical as per small US locos. It cost £4.00 for a can of spray paint and the rest was cobbled up from scrap or leftovers.

It would be nice to see other people's interpretation of the loco.

I posted because I have time on my hands (and its a diversion from the harsh realities of life), and to say - directly now - that it isn't just a piece of Bachmann junk. Its far better than the runaway Thomas range (London to Brighton in 4 minutes:rolf::rolf::rolf: ).
 
The loco is now more, or less, finished now. The only thing I would like to do is to letter the tanks. Not insurmountable, but not do-able at the moment.

I added stays from the smokebox, the bell cord, and attacked the drive rods - reducing the depth considerably.

Ian (Cogges Railway) suggested before and after shots so I've tried to do that ....

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More pics following .....
 
... and the last ones ...

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and the opposite side ...

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And finally on test this afternoon ...

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I notice there's the odd edge on cab showing blue (when I removed the sticky stuff) so I'll try and touch that in. A spray of varnish should blend it in (I hope).
 
It's a super little loco now, Mick, and a great example of what can be done with a basic item while providing lots of ideas for people who may not have the skills to do all you did. It's certainly got me thinking more seriously about fitting tank filler caps to my Playmobil tank engines, the use of screw covers is much better than the idea I had of some small plastic "dome" pieces. Look forward to seeing her in action when the weather permits.
 
Thanks Gordon - I've enjoyed doing it in the main. Now I need to make some ore cars for it to pull!
 
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