Lil Big Hauler Saddletanker, a few upgrades

[vsmith]

I know these little buggers are kinda too cutesy for the more 'serious' modellers here and there, but they do have a lot of potential and they certainly do have charm.

I've gotten busy with other stuff of late, and quite frankly didnt want to bother with bashing the pistons and cylinders like I did with the Bumble Bee version of this engine, so I decided to try something different, an inside frame version of the typical mining engine, like a Bell Locomotive was constructed.

Looks like a bog standard LBH but...

New smokestack, scratched bell and mounting, repainted parts of the body

Popped off the dummy cylinders, re-cut and positioned them under the fore-frame.

Added an air compresser, theres a small tank on the other side

Added a simple backhead details and coal bunker, link/pin couplers F & R

Bachmann did such a nice job on the finish, I just haven't had the heart to repaint it. I wasn't originally going to repaint the boiler but during modifications I smeared CA onto the upper boiler, by the time I have removed it i permanently marred the surface, so that's why its now black.

The best part is that I can still do the cylinders and siderods later when I feel like it, the mounts are still there and I can do the same way I reworked the Bumble Bee.

Overall a relatively small project, but one that looks very nice to my eye.

 

[playmofire]

A very neat bit of custom work and a very smart result.

 

[trammayo]

I think it looks good too. There is so much potential in these little locos - and all for the price (or less) than a motor block!

 

[vsmith]

I am very surprised that no one over here has noticed that if you remove the pistons like I did, and cut down the cab into an open style cab, its almost an instant quarry type engine:

A quick sketch study of the cab cut down

 

[playmofire]

That is very neat.

 

[vsmith]

Another idea, again I think these have a tremendous bash potential that alot of modelers are not thinking about.

 

[garrymartin]

I thought inside cylinders too the first time I saw one, The quarry type is an excellent idea though!

 

[GJFREESTONE]

hi victor
thought you would like to see this third attempt with in side cylinder.took your advice work in procress photo attached (hopefully)
graham shrewsbury

 

[garrymartin]

hi victor
thought you would like to see this third attempt with in side cylinder.took your advice work in procress photo attached (hopefully)
graham shrewsbury

That is absolutely superb too, I'm off to buy one

 

[vsmith]

hi victor
thought you would like to see this third attempt with in side cylinder.took your advice work in procress photo attached (hopefully)
graham shrewsbury

Very nice!

 

[playmofire]

Very, very smart! I'm increasingly tempted to go and buy one!

 

[vsmith]

Got around to adding to siderods to my LBH saddletanker:

I have to admit it really does make this look better, just a pair of standard Big Hauler pistons with
the tangs cut down, thats the hard part as the tang both narrower and thinner, a dremel tool is most
definetly required for this, also cutting down the pushrods and adding screws to the wheel pivots
just like the Bumble Bee bash. I really hope Bmann adds full siderods to these one day.

 

[dunnyrail]

Another thought about these, would be a good starting point for a Compressed Air Locomotive or even a Steam Tram (Steam Dummy to our US friends).
JonD

 

[CoggesRailway]

Hi Vic,

This is my interpretation of this loco on an engineers train. I made a "motion" from brass strip, additional bodywork is cereal box card. All in cost less than £50. As I added a coal bunker I thought I would make it an 0 4 2 to give it more balance.

Your modelling is very good, I always enjoy your threads.

 

[FatherMcD]

Hi, I realize this is an old thread, but I'm looking for ideas to bash the LBH engines. Unfortunately, all of the photos just show as red Xs. Is there a way to see the original photos? Thanks.

 

[dunnyrail]

Am I correct in saying that Photobucket dissapeared contravercially a little while ago? I always use direct posting of pics to the site rather than relying on a 3rd party. However I realise that some may have other reasons to keep their pics on a photo hosting site. Not lease the saving of space on the net!

 

[playmofire]

Photobucket cut out free direct linking; you pay about $400 a year for the privilege now.

I've seen a way round it on another site which I'll look up and get back here.

 

[Kurt Ubl]

Where have all the pictures gone?

 

[playmofire]

Hi Vic,

This is my interpretation of this loco on an engineers train. I made a "motion" from brass strip, additional bodywork is cereal box card. All in cost less than £50. As I added a coal bunker I thought I would make it an 0 4 2 to give it more balance.

Your modelling is very good, I always enjoy your threads.

Aha, it works! There is a wheeze which gets round the problem, although how long it will work is an unknown and whether it is problematic in other areas is also unknown. Click on Click to expand.

 

[Henri]

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