I've been working on this thing over on the Atlas board and it's pretty well done now. The guts of it is a Kato 11-105 frame, a Faulhaber 0816 motor, a jackshaft gear/shaft from an old Atlas/MP GP-something, a 'driver' from an Atlas 0-6-0 driver set, Bachmann 4-4-0 siderods and cylinders, well you get the idea. A 'shake the junkbox' project, probably never to be repeated. I made my own sideframe castings, finally learned how to do that. Also got hold of some pretty good Class A Climax drawings, and did some checking. Is this actually possible? Well.... I think it is, and an initial component check convinced me to try it. To make a long story short, I think the "A class" is a go, and I'm slowly and painfully making resin parts and molds from the brass masters as I go. If this works (and I think it will) I'll be able to offer this as a very much handmade-type kit. But, from what I can tell, the modifications to the actual Kato critter frame are minimal. I got the two-part mold for the water tank done, so I'll start a thread here and keep you all updated.
That looks great! Yes, keep us posted. Always enjoy output from your critter works. Nice looking tin siding on that sawmill, BTW.
Randgust, Every time you post one of these, I go running off to my junk box and look in. What motor do I see in this one?
That looks great! Now in the words of a former Boss (Don Katula of Northern Hydraulics - Now Northern tool) "send it to China to be copied".
Thanks.... The motor sticking out of the water tank on the A class is the stock 11-105 critter motor. The challenge there is to come up with something to replace the 'cover clip' with, and hold the motor down. The stock clip/top has to go because it's huge. The water tank covers about 80% of the motor, and the front part will be in the cab, so this will do. Late Class A's also had a rectangular tank, which will be the same size as the 'tender' on the Model B, which can be used to conceal the better Faulhaber motor. The mill, by the way, is my scratchbuilt Wheeler & Dusenbury 'upper' mill, at Endeavor, PA, about 1920. My grandparents, father, and mother all worked at various times for that company. I built that whole diorama/module back in 1976-78 when I was in college. It was in MR in 1995. Here's my web page on the Hickory Valley / W&D prototype: http://gustafson.home.westpa.net/wd1.htm W&D/HVRR never had a Climax. They connected, however, to another logging railroad at Mayburg, PA (Watson Lands Lumber) that had this 30-ton Class B. Another connecting logging railroad, the Salmon Creek Lumber, had a standard-gauge, vertical-boiler Class A that was almost completely enclosed.
Randy, I've followed your critter creations on the Atlas board and all I can say is WOW! The Class B Climax is on my all time "if you could have any loco what would it be?" list. Thanks for sharing your talents.
Well, I'm hoping that at least a handful of people will REALLY want an 18-ton Class A, because I'm making molds of every part as I go here. So far, so good. The tank is a resin part - my first ever two-part mold result. So far, designing molds and casting the parts is way harder than just making them. "Didn't we order a cab?"
Randy, Your talent and expertise once again shines thru. You make me believe that anything is posible when one sets their mind to it.
seriously? you are making these? What will we need? a kato critter? and your parts? or you building them? total parts estimate? thanks -Koz
Again, neat stuff, Randy. My caption would be, "Hmm, guess we parked it in the wrong neighborhood again."
walks out to street and picks mind up out of the gutter....So thats where I put that Building to a Climax I uh.............thought........uh......nevermind
I am going to be offering them for sale. Exactly. I think I finally found something that 'fits' on a stock critter frame (without adjusting much) that can be done this way. The molding and casting is slow going though. I just tried my first metal casting last night. Another learning experience. I'll probably do a couple assembled and sell them on Ebay as an expiriment. I'll also sell the parts and materials kits, but I have to have a couple friends test this first. My basic idea is that you start with an 11-105, 6 or 7 critter and cut stuff off; the resin parts are all add-on. Casting the boiler is a bear, but I'm learning. So stay tuned!
Sounds like you are going well Randy! I've just received two Kato critters in the mail today. One is for the 44 tonner and the other one is being saved for your kit (no pressure )