I thought I would give a visual status update showing both shells and the mechanism (one) so you can see how far I've got. So here's the Texas Twins!
I split the mechanism apart and fixed the spacing between the second and third drivers. I added styrene spacers to try and strengthen the joints which used to snap easily. The styrene has a better bond with CA glue.
Mr. Alister, Looking good. I was always amazed with Santa Fe as they had stoves that looked bigger then what they actually were. Always with a good sized boiler. The Prairie's and other smaller switch engines not so much. The one you are working on would fool you from the front every time. Nice, real nice.
Yes they always look like huge machines, even the Praries with their large drivers. After the Hudson is done a Prarie will be made!! Hmmmm Prarie Mallets ..........
Here's a trio of modified Bachmann 4-8-4 shells, front is a 3751 class 4-8-4, next is a 2-10-4 Texas Type followed by a Hudson at the rear
Too the best of my knowledge Santa Fe although known as AT&SF at the time built two of these in the San Bernardino Shops. An attempt at getting trains up and over Cajon Pass, Ca.. They didn't last long. Maintenance issues plagued them. No doubt it would look nice moving over my layout or pike. Would look nice.
There were quite a few 2-6-6-2's produced Nos 1160 - 1169 and 1170 - 1197, for fast freight. The 4-4-6-2 had only 2 produced and were designed for helper service
Sounds right to me. I don't have my testimony books out where I can find them. Obviously, you've done the research. Non-the less that still that sounds right to me. Hang in there, I'm looking forward to the finished product.
I have corrected some problems with this shell, cut it open and re-glued it, it looked a bit bent before. I also grafted on a new boiler frontend with ladders. I see wonky bits that need to be corrected, funny how you see the faults when you post pictures on forums!!
Now compare the above shell which is made with very old shells with this one - brand new shells from Bachmann.
I spliced together 4 contact plates to get two 2-10-4 contact plates. Will fit tomorrow. I'll be assembling the mechanism to see how things work or not.
I managed to get the contact plate on with the gears and wheels. Will begin testing with a motor etc. I will have to extend the mechanism a little under the cab, it's a bit short.
It looks like I got my whitebox mechanisms mixed up!! The 2-10-4 was supposed to get the motor that now will only fit in the Hudson - doh. Good news is that I have a few motors the same as the one that fits in the Hudson. I'll just have to make some modifications. First picture is the 2-10-4 the second is the Hudson. Hudson
I've now straightened the boiler, I had to re-cut the boiler in 2 places and add some styrene to straighten it. It looks a bit of a pigs ear at the moment but that will get sorted pretty quickly.
The picture I am posting will show some progress and an oops moment. I have a motor installed and one weight over the motor fixed in place, the longer weight is just placed on the mechanism. I did power it up and got some movement out of it. I noted the following, the contact pick up from the wheels is crap, I have the front most wheel locked up, I now know what's causing it but while I was gently prodding it the front cylinder and front truck support broke off. So now I need to drill glue and pin the front so that I can handle it without breaking. When this does go I get a lot of wheelspin, it's not a dragster so that's no good. Sorting this mechanism will take a while. It's currently far from Kato / Atlas performance which is the goal, it has to run very very well.
Better performance but still way off the mark! I've got it running in a herky jerky kind of way - So it's kinda like the really early Bachmanns but with a much better motor. The contacts need improving and the drivetrain is binding a bit. I reckon it'll take me quite a while to get it running as smoothly as I want it to run. It has potential. It really needs its front truck I'm impressed that it actually goes after all the cutting up and re-motoring, extending the contacts etc. If I get the front truck on I can extend the weight further which should help. I probably need to add some more phosphor bronze wipers to get the power to the motor. I think I will also replace all the axle muff gear thingys.
