Little and Large

[beavercreek]

I am going down the route of kitbashing (well playing about with, really) a few Bachmann Big haulers.
A couple of good fellas on the forum have donated tenders to help with the process.
I may need some spare bodies as well................

One will become a Rio grande T12 (along the tracks of some of Woderwick's fine 'poor man's' T12 conversion)
Two will become T19s
One a T28 and one a T29
All were 4-6-0 and to a greater or lesser extent have a basic similarity to the bog standard Big Hauler look.
The only thing is that ideally the T28 and T29 should be a lot bigger as they were standard gauge locos

I use the Denver photographic library for a lot of my research photos and came across this one a T29 at the head of 'The Mountaineer' alongside a 2-8-2 K27 narrow gauge loco 454.
Now my 1:20.3 K27 looks the opposite next to a Bachmann Big Hauler...hey ho it'll be fun converting the Annies!

 

[daveyb]

watching with interest mike,,,,,

 

[Tim Brien]

No where near the detail or finesse of Rod's beautiful creations, but a reasonable T-12 none the less. Requires body parts from two Annies to lengthen both the body and chassis. #167 was actually scrapped before the flying herald was introduced but not having any toilet seat herald decals I cheated and used the 'Rio Grande' herald that I had.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yJM9xSL2DA

 

[beavercreek]

Hi Tim, I have seen your vid of a T12 conversion quite a few times and it was one of the things that has 'pushed' me to changing one or more of my Annies.
I know what you mean about the herald but no matter it is still a good looker.

BUT....I am not so sure about doing the chassis extension like yours, but I am in two minds (I used to be indecisive but I think that I am okay now). I might end up with a completely cludged up loco! The metal extended rod might also be a little difficult for me. So a 'titivated' Annie might be the end point (but not to the extent and good accomplishment of Woderwick's one).

Most of my Annies have the metal Walschaert's valve motion (http://home.roadrunner.com/~trumpetb/loco/rodsf.html). < Link To http://home.roadrunner.co...petb/loco/rodsf.html).
So either I will have to strip some of it out orobtain some simple chassis or.... make more T29s (as they had the Walschaerts). Only problem with making T29's (besides the obvious scale problem, changes in the body and the cab, is that they had twin round shaped cylinders (the Annie has one round and one rectangular on top)

Bitten off, chew and more than, are words that come to mind here.

I will have to put a plea out for some 'spare' Big Hauler bodies now!

a repost of this piccy (from 'wanted' thread). It shows the non-Walchaerts versions
And one photo of a T12 complete with snow plow..now that would be nice to do....

 

[Rhinochugger]

The easier thing to tackle is the leading bogie.

The Annie is correctly based on the Tweetsie locos, which had this very ling wheelbase bogie, but for 8ft diameter curves, if you shorten it, it won't foul the cylinders

 

[Rhinochugger]

The easier thing to address is shortening the front bogie. the Annie is based on the Tweetsi locos with a very long wheelbase bogie, but if shortened, it doesn't foul the cylinders on 8ft diameter curves

 

[beavercreek]

The easier thing to address is shortening the front bogie. the Annie is based on the Tweetsi locos with a very long wheelbase bogie, but if shortened, it doesn't foul the cylinders on 8ft diameter curves

Good advice, well taken Ian...it was so good you posted it twice!

 

[Rhinochugger]

Ah, I got an error message the first time, and assumed it had crashed.

Our high speed broadband in West Sussex is a bit bush telegraph at times :thumbdown::thumbdown:

I should have added, instead of repeating myself, that I used Brandbright uninsulated 32 mm wheels and axles, cut them in half and rejoined them with styrene tube, and therefore ended up with solid wheels which retained the split axle current collection arrangement

 

[Richie]

Some great projects there Mike will be following your progress
The picture you have of the T-12 looks alot like a Bachmann 2-6-0 mogul could one of these be used but with a 4 wheel pony truck ?

 

[beavercreek]

Hi Richie
This has been mentioned before. I have a Spectrum 2-6-0 but it is in almost pristine condition and I do not want to muck about with her. If I see a very cheap battered one come up I will try for that but ones like that seem to be pretty rare.
I have found more pictures with T17, T18 and T31 that are even closer to the Big Hauler configuration.

 

[beavercreek]

Even better.
I have found a Rio Grande T24 531 which has a striking similarity to the Bachmann Big hauler and will not need too much 'bashing' to make a fairly good facsimile. Unfortunately it is a standard gauge loco and has a bit more of the 'heft' of that type...but hey ho, my modelling skills and patience (or lack of them) will strike the balance between 'prototype' and 'near enough' !
The pilot bogie and pilot could be shortened and that will also help with the proportioned 'look' . Domes made squatter and the cab roof lowered.

T24 531

Annie