Bachman Forney Kit bash

Jack28 Feb 21, 2010

  1. Jack28

    Jack28 TrainBoard Member

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    Starting with a 2-4-4 and making a 2-4-0 with tender. I don't like the way the butt end follows as this.

    So, never done this cold turkey, no kit, just a mental image of what I what as an end result.

    So, it was pretty neat taking it apart.

    Take off the coal/water bin, 4 screws from the bottom. Detach the control board. I had a little trouble getting it over the one stand. If I had disconnected underneath first, that would not have been an issue. Neat the connector setup under the cover on the bottom in the ash pan.
     

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  2. Jack28

    Jack28 TrainBoard Member

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    So that little card thing in there is just a junction/connection board. Pull the little black knobs off and the wires just disconnect, no solder.

    Remove the rear truck by just gently pulling down, stow the spring so you don't loose it, but not sure will need it yet, haven't gotten that far. You have to disconnect the two wires from the truck. They look like simple copper wire, but they are insulated and best of all the rear truck is insulated side to side, so it is another full pickup for the rails. Since I plan on having the decoder in the tender, that is really cool.

    Eventually I just pulled off the screw ends and pulled the wires through with the factory control board and decoder.

    Having all the junk out of the way, I took a jewlers saw and cut from the topside, until I had cut through all the plastic, then using a dremel from below to cut the metal frame.
     

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  3. Jack28

    Jack28 TrainBoard Member

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    Now that separates the two main parts. The butt end of the Loco will need a bumper and lowering for the coupler. The part that will be the tender needs more added to the front not only to make it look right, but to balance the body on the trucks....thus I am not sure about the spring yet.

    Essentially this is as far as I managed to get for the next week or so. Eventually hope to have a sound decoder in the tender with a speaker....

    Oh, you need to epoxy the post for the rear truck with the truck on the post so it is dead center between the frame rails on the bottom, which is not dead center on the top side....see the arrow.
     

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  4. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    What are you using for the tender? I believe someone makes a kit. Or will this also be freelanced?

    Boxcab E50
     
  5. Jack28

    Jack28 TrainBoard Member

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    Going to try to freelance that from what is left over. Going will get a lot slower for the rest, will make castings and such to help with additional weight.
     
  6. DSP&P fan

    DSP&P fan TrainBoard Member

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    :thumbs_up:
     
  7. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    The coupler swing issue was one reason I did not acquire one of these locos. I won't have space available for such a track radius to overcome the problem.

    :(

    Boxcab E50
     
  8. Jack28

    Jack28 TrainBoard Member

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    Yep same here, that is why the bash
     
  9. Jack28

    Jack28 TrainBoard Member

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    Have made a little progress with the tender side of things. I have a little issue with the trucks and the spring under them.... The spring when fully expanded is at the right height for the couplers.

    Anyway, I made a prototype bumper and I think I will add this to the loco side of things as well. Using CA glue worked very well to put this on. I added lead #12 shot, 0.4 oz to balance the tender as much as possible. This was made with the intention of using epoxy to glue it on, but CA was perfect.

    So, my problem now is that the spring is not adequate to keep the height, and it allows the tender to...(trying to come up with the right word). It does not stay even unless perfectly balanced, which will never be reality. I need to get rid of the spring and put something in that will keep the height and still allow for turning. But, for now, here are some new pictures.

    Now, I hope to put the decoder and sound system in the tender and just run the loco wires up forward.
     

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    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 26, 2010
  10. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Seems as though your tender needs something similar to side bearings. Four, instead of two. Like we used to fight with on freight cars. I can remember having to tear a car back apart. Jack it up, and add shims.....

    Boxcab E50
     
  11. swissboy

    swissboy TrainBoard Member

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    From the last of those pictures, it is easy to see how this construction is prone to get out of balance. Likely in all directions, I'm afraid. So some kinds of supports that limit the extent of movement plus a stronger spring may be what you need. Would it be possible to glue a ring structure on top of the truck? That could be used to support the upper part or to limit its sideways and back-and-forth movements, while still allowing turning movements.
     
  12. Jack28

    Jack28 TrainBoard Member

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    exactly Robert, that is what I intend on doing. Just need a teflon spacer.
     
  13. Jack28

    Jack28 TrainBoard Member

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    Moving along, I took a teflon spacer and used a band saw to cut off a slab the right thickness. A little sprucing up on some 320 sandpaper to make it even and it was the right size. I did have to trim the center piece a little bit and put the original washer between the spacer and the truck. The fit is exact, not too tight nor loose enough to be unstable.

    Now, I have yet to test run this. I want to get the funds to buy a decoder with sound, and it is a PIA to do the decoder stuff, so I am going to wait a little on that. For now, I have pictures. The 'plate'(for lack of the proper term) between the two is to help with stability at the coupler as well as have a logical way for the fireman to access the tender while moving.

    As I look at these pictures, I think I want to add some 'stub walls to both the tender and the loco. Later.

    Finally, the loco got the same treatment as the tender with the weighted piece. Unfortunately, until I find a source of steel #12 shot, I am unsure if I should sell them with lead shot to the general public. Some little kid could get hold of one, and well...

    But this is a neat way to do this and the tender is a full source of pickup of the rails. When I test, I want to try with just the tender as the pickup and see what happens, thus another reason for the weight.

    To the pictures.
     

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  14. Jack28

    Jack28 TrainBoard Member

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    More pictures.
     

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  15. KaiserWilhelm

    KaiserWilhelm TrainBoard Member

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    Wasn't this precise bash in ON30 Annual a few years ago? Fine work, regardless.
     
  16. Jack28

    Jack28 TrainBoard Member

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    If it was, I never saw it, was not in the hobby then.
     
  17. Flash Blackman

    Flash Blackman TrainBoard Member

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    Nice Job!

    Heck! I couldn't figure this out until the end as I was locked on the idea that it would be a conventional four axle tender. Actually, I suppose you could use one of those if you chose to do so.

    This is one heck of a kitbash. I don't know if it is prototypical, but it sure is a nice looking engine. Very nice job.
     
  18. Jack28

    Jack28 TrainBoard Member

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    I found steel shot small enough to use as the weight for public use. :)

    I got a decoder, just need to install it, trying a different way and using the micro tsnuami.

    Sure the tender could use some of those solid wheelsets front and rear and resolve any unwanted movement. Remember I still haven't tested this on my steep grades and turns yet either. I just hope it is better than the Forney was before.

    I kinda got sidetracked with nice weather and did some flying for a change, but it is supposed to return to winter tomorrow.

    Thanks for the kind words.
     
  19. Jack28

    Jack28 TrainBoard Member

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    Well this runs around my layout much, much better than the original did.

    If there is interest I will kit this for less than the outfit in GB that sells a similar setup, not the same tho. On30 scale.

    Interest?
     

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