So recently I purchased some drawings for IRCA equipment from a hobby shop out west. It was mentioned to me that these folks had these drawings available, so after several emails and whatnot, the drawings finally arrived. Comparing them with a friend the other night, we figured out 2 things. 1, they are in O scale and 2, Bachmann makes dead on ringers for the 2-8-0 and 4-6-0 shown in the drawings in On30. The 2-8-0 is an outside frame engine. In fact, in the drawing, the firebox is sticking out the cab. The 4-6-0 is an inside frame engine, with the firebox 3/4 of the way inside the cab. Both have headlights mounted on the cab roofs, not the tenders as seen in NA. They are also oil fired. With a little work, the Bachmann engines could be made to look like them. Now even though my current modeling interest is in N and HOn30, I have to tell you that I have had a flirtation with On30 for awhile. This may have tipped the bucket that way. But, with the equipment being of 3' size, I'm still looking for some HOn3 equipment that may work. I thought about the Blackstone 2-8-2, but some modifications would be needed. My modeling space currently limits me to a shelf layout in my office, but I should be expanding before too long. In the mean time, I may have to explore the options between scales. The other drawings are for cabooses, boxcars, a tankcar, 2 flats, a banana car and gondola and 2 passenger cars. I've got enough base drawings to work on a fairly large roster. Pretty much most of the rolling stock would be scratchbuilt, but that's not an issue so much. Stryene is cheap where I buy it. Just some thoughts on a cool Saturday in Iowa....
