EM-1 / Cabforward -- bash progress thread -- N Scale

Carl Sowell May 16, 2022

  1. Carl Sowell

    Carl Sowell TrainBoard Supporter

    3,032
    8,079
    82
    This past Friday (OMG Friday the 13th) I posted a thread on "What's on your workbench" outlining my 3 current, in progress, projects plus mentioning a new #4 project.

    This project has come about because cabforwards are hard to find and I don't have long enough to wait for one, sooo I decided to take my 3rd EM-1 and bash it into a cabforward, a non SP version being built in the backshops of the CD&WJV roundhouse. I am using my unmodified EM-1 chassis and changing out the cab for a DIY and adding an oil bunker to the coal EM-1 tender, plus adding 2 air pumps.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    Yes, I know there is a lot of sanding, filling, and sanding again, plus fitting the cab roof on properly. I paint these in white so that I can easier see all then scratches, dents etc. to sand out plus it is easier to apply the rivet decals. I have the following to add when the time comes:

    1. KATO FEF overhead brass bell.
    2. KATO GS 4 number boards
    3. KATO GS4 cab hand rails
    4. Keystone creations front pilot

    I will have to make a front headlight to attach to cab front, add some piping as needed, make the deck between the loco and tender, paint it all black, add decals seal the thing and then weather.

    I know, I know, I am an idiot but there were cabforwards on a couple of lines. I think one was experimented with by a Canadian RR.
     
    Kurt Moose, Hytec, Hardcoaler and 9 others like this.
  2. Carl Sowell

    Carl Sowell TrainBoard Supporter

    3,032
    8,079
    82
    I know, I said this thing would not be an SP version, but as I was looking closely it will look a great deal like this #4144. I am thinking about numbering her 4884 for wheel arrangement, on the other hand a 3 digit # would be easier to make #'s for the # boards. Oh such decisions :

    [​IMG]
     
    Kurt Moose, SP-Wolf, Hytec and 7 others like this.
  3. BNSF FAN

    BNSF FAN TrainBoard Supporter

    9,902
    29,196
    148
    That is going to ge one cool looking locomotive Carl! Great work so far! (y)(y)(y)
     
    Hardcoaler and Carl Sowell like this.
  4. badlandnp

    badlandnp TrainBoard Member

    4,587
    16,153
    90
    And another great kitbash from Carl.......!! Looking forward to seeing it pulling freight and varnish!!
     
    Carl Sowell, Moose2013 and BNSF FAN like this.
  5. C&O_MountainMan

    C&O_MountainMan TrainBoard Member

    266
    683
    12
    But if you’re using an EM-1, wouldn’t you number it 4882?
     
    badlandnp, Carl Sowell and Moose2013 like this.
  6. Carl Sowell

    Carl Sowell TrainBoard Supporter

    3,032
    8,079
    82
    Yes sir you are correct, however this is a bash job and at this point I intend to make the EM-1 a 4-8-8-4. I want it to e different!
     
  7. Carl Sowell

    Carl Sowell TrainBoard Supporter

    3,032
    8,079
    82
    The last images I posted showed some very rough "1st draft" cab, roof, and tender. I have worked out the bad spots, I think, so if you see an outstanding goof please let me know.
    I have added walkway to the boiler shell under the cab on each side. My Keystone Creations front pilot will be in on Monday. I moved the reverser rod to the opposite side of the boiler. Made the roof fit the cab.

    TO DO:
    1. Add front pilot, headlight, number boards to cab, and overhead bell.
    2. Add air tanks under the cab.
    3. Attach 2 axle truck under cab.
    4. Complete the porch on the tail end.
    5. Add 1 axle truck under porch.
    6. Add some grabs to cab and other detail parts.
    7. Tomorrow or Sunday I shall add rivets to the tender, cab, and cab roof.
    8. Paint & decal some day.

    I wanted to make it a 4-8-8-4 but not enough space so it will be a 4-8-8-2.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    Need some more work as I see some rough spots on these two. Oh well, hell it is a steam locomotive!

    [​IMG]
     
    Kurt Moose, Sumner, MK and 4 others like this.
  8. Carl Sowell

    Carl Sowell TrainBoard Supporter

    3,032
    8,079
    82
    A day early: Happy Memorial Day, may we not forget !

    I have some update shots and comments:

    1st, I was measuring the coupler height
    [​IMG]

    2nd, overall shot as of today
    [​IMG]

    3rd, shows the cab area with bell hanger attached, front pilot taped near the front. You can see a pencil mark on the plate that marks the coupler height.

    [​IMG]

    I have a great deal of adjusting, smoothing, working to be totally happy. Not too sure about the cab roof but it does resemble this one
    [​IMG]

    Still have a lot to do such as adding the # boards and building the monkey deck on the front, now the rear. Need hand rails on the deck and need to attach the smoke box door. BTW ,the cab and some of the newer parts are glued on with Aleene's tacky glue so that after I am happy with the fit I can soak in hot water and remove and then attach with E2000 Bob Smith acc.

    Now something different:

    Here is the B'mann EM-1 board before I cut it out
    [​IMG]

    Pretty straight forward but way too many wires to try to run to tender on opposite end

    So I opted for a non sound ESU LokPilot v5 micro DCC, check out the space available
    [​IMG]

    I will run one red & one black wire back to the tender pick up that will just add to the drivers pickups. I will wire in a headlight LED and I hope a firebox flicker as well.

    Thanks for looking. I will not get much accomplished today with the Indy 500 & Coca Colo 600.

    Be well ! !
     
    marty coil, fordy744, MK and 7 others like this.
  9. Moose2013

    Moose2013 TrainBoard Member

    747
    3,490
    47
    Moose understand the issue with potentially having to run sooo many wires between a sound decoder in the tender and motor & lighting in or near the cab. Perhaps you could add an additional sound decoder in the tender to provide sounds as well as function control for a tender light. Just a moose thought...
    :cautious:
     
    badlandnp, BNSF FAN and Carl Sowell like this.
  10. Carl Sowell

    Carl Sowell TrainBoard Supporter

    3,032
    8,079
    82
    Sir Moose,

    Thanks for the thought, it means a lot to me, coming from such a a talented modeler, er a moose.

    Actually the EM-1 tender had an LS Select Direct DCC decoder in it, so I could easily put it back in. In running it in tandem with the LP5 but not connected to the motor load would it operate correctly as you suggest with sound & rear light control only? ? Give it the same address as the LP or consist the two? ?

    I have some very fine flexible wire from Ngineering that I might be able to disguise and run 3 on each side to the cab area. I suppose I need to stop worrying about that issue until I finish the cosmetics.

    BTW, my old hands & fingers are probably as hard to work with as hooves!
     
  11. Moose2013

    Moose2013 TrainBoard Member

    747
    3,490
    47
    @Carl Sowell

    Yes, program both the locomotive non-sound decoder and the tender sound decoder with the same address.

    You just have to be careful to avoid using wires that control the same functions on both decoders. Example: Obviously don't use the headlight function wire with the sound decoder and don't use the reverse light function wire with the non-sound decoder.
     
    BNSF FAN, Carl Sowell and badlandnp like this.
  12. Carl Sowell

    Carl Sowell TrainBoard Supporter

    3,032
    8,079
    82
    I did not think I would work on the project yesterday 'cause of the 2 car races, but I did.

    1st image
    [​IMG]

    Cab is looking better, not "good enough" as yet, I need o lengthen the 2 axle pony truck attachment bar to get the truck up under the cab better.

    2nd
    [​IMG]

    The monkey deck is not attached as yet, so it fell just before I shot this. I can better see how I need to move the pony truck forward. The tender is ready to air brush black on so it can dry for 5-6 days ( in our 106* temp that shouldn't take long) before decals are applied. BTW, I made a "long haul" tender.

    I have the cab roof fitting better and all the addons to the front are ac'd on so I can soak the cab area in warm water to soften the Aleene's and remove cab assembly.

    All comments/suggestions to improve are very welcome.
     
    BoxcabE50, fordy744, BNSF FAN and 6 others like this.
  13. Carl Sowell

    Carl Sowell TrainBoard Supporter

    3,032
    8,079
    82
    It has been a week since I posted any update on my cabforward bash job. So here are some shots I just made :

    1. here is the "monkey deck" that is plated with tread plate, hand rails added, painted and ready to fasten on correctly . Note the Lima pony truck.....
    [​IMG]

    2. Cab end with the cab held up with a pair of tweezers between the rails. It is looking pretty good, just not totally happy with it but after painted
    black it should be OK. I was able to move the truck up a tad and I think it looks better. I think I'll add some air tanks to fill in the gaps .....
    [​IMG]

    3. Overall shot towards the front ...
    [​IMG]

    ... towards the rear ....
    [​IMG]

    This is a B'mann EM-1that I am bashing. I have made zero alterations to the chassis other than remove that cab and attempt to produce a plastic cab using a KATO GS-4 cab. The tender chassis is also "as made". I did have to create the front and rear truck connections. I am getting anxious to "test run" her on a layout as I may need to adjust the truck connections.

    Be well ! ! !
     
  14. Carl Sowell

    Carl Sowell TrainBoard Supporter

    3,032
    8,079
    82
    It's getting closer. I can hear that lonesome whistle blow..................

    Not real happy with the way the TC paint laid down this morning but it was almost 100* @ 10:am, in the open garage when I airbrushed it. After it dries for 2-3 days I will continue.
    [​IMG]

    This will be a "flickering" firebox when completed. I think I have the color about right and am getting anxious to see it working. It will look more real with the boiler and cab hanging over the LED. I may have to tone down the power a tad more.
    [​IMG]

    Thanks for looking and above all, be well,
    Carl
     
  15. Carl Sowell

    Carl Sowell TrainBoard Supporter

    3,032
    8,079
    82
    Good evening to all. I have not worked on this bash job since 06/11 because my wife (Diane) had major two day back surgery on 6/14 & 6/15. A total of 9 hrs. surgery + 6.5 hrs. of recovery room. She just cam home last Saturday and is doing quite well. She is set for home re-hab for 9 weeks. A lot to do. The best thing is NO BACK PAIN, at all.

    Next best thing is I have been able to work on my project. Here is an image from today just as proof of work. I have some paint touch up otherwise it is ready to go.
    [​IMG]

    I have decaled the cab and have done some hand painting and sealed with clear flat sealer. If I may say so myself this thing is going to look pretty good and since no alterations on the chassis it should run like the EM-1 that it is.

    Be well!
     
    Doug Gosha, BNSF FAN, Sumner and 7 others like this.
  16. mtntrainman

    mtntrainman TrainBoard Supporter

    9,982
    10,821
    143
    Best wishes for your wife's speedy recovery Carl ...(y)
     
  17. Carl Sowell

    Carl Sowell TrainBoard Supporter

    3,032
    8,079
    82
    George, thank you for the comment. I was initially against "back surgery" but man was I wrong. Sure glad I did not make an issue out of it. Suppose being married to her for 59.5 years I learned something. Oh yeh !

    Here is another shot of tender. My decals did not turn out as well as I like but some weathering will fix that, I hope. BTW, your fence is great and I like that THERR weight on the corner!!!

    [​IMG]
     
  18. BNSF FAN

    BNSF FAN TrainBoard Supporter

    9,902
    29,196
    148
    The tender looks great Carl! Nice work (y)(y)(y)

    Hope the wife is continuing to get better and that you are doing good as well.
     
    Carl Sowell likes this.
  19. Carl Sowell

    Carl Sowell TrainBoard Supporter

    3,032
    8,079
    82
    I have posted some in progress images but now I have some to show how I am fitting the decoder in the boiler shell.

    This shows the ESU LokPilot sitting flat on the chassis with the wires dangling out the rear:
    [​IMG]

    2nd image shows the boiler shell attached and the red/black wire connection tucked inside of the cavity. Also shows a couple of wires not used that I cut short , glued together and placed a blob of Aileene's on end to insulate them:
    [​IMG]

    3rd shows the wires from the decoder white/yellow/blue along with a wire set up for firebox glare. Cab laying along side to show how much room I have left inside the cab. The resistor for headlight is already attached to floor of cab:
    [​IMG]

    Here's the inside of cab. I need too blacken to stop the light leak:
    [​IMG]

    I'm having fun!!!!
     
    Kurt Moose, SP-Wolf, BNSF FAN and 6 others like this.
  20. Carl Sowell

    Carl Sowell TrainBoard Supporter

    3,032
    8,079
    82
    Here is an update as of Sunday's work.

    I need to straighten some steps, touch up some paint, and try to figure out how to make the tender to boiler wire feeds less prominent. Any and all suggestions would be appreciated:

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    All be well!!!
     
    Kurt Moose, BNSF FAN, SP-Wolf and 3 others like this.

Share This Page