Just out of curiosity, has anyone here kitbashed any C&O steamers? If not C&O, what other roads' steamers have you modeled? Currently, I'm considering redoing my Kato Mikado to represent a C&O K-2/3/4 class heavy mike.
Kitbashing steam engines is a must for me. I model the PRR and few models are true PRR. I changed the KATO Mikado to PRR .. before the PRR conversion kit came out. ** Then the Bachmann 2-8-0 to PRR. **Bachmann 4-8-4 (Texan ??) to PRR S-2 Turbine. ***Always have to lift the headlight up off the firebox. Takes some close cutting and firebox replacment. ***Best source of parts are old engine shells and any plastic part that looks right. ***I didn't let the cost of a new engine stop me from cutting it up and replacing parts. At least after many days of thought!! ...Eddie
Eddie , I am in awe of you! Your kitbashing up of that PRR turbine is just AWESOME!!! You have now given me the courage to kitbash a 2-8-4 Berkshires into a CNR 4-8-2 and a 4-8-4s'. I had begun to wonder if I was the only one out there still kitbashing steamers. I would love to show some of mine on Trainboard but I haven't been able to make the picture attachment system work for me. I 've only been able to get three of my Mikados onto the Kato Photo Gallery. I have kitbashed some Bachmann Northerns into CN 4-8-2s and using three different steamers per engine, have kitbashed up four CN 2-10-2 Santa Fes. I am currently changing the open cabs on 15 of my Kato Mikados, Con-Cor Hudsons and kitbashed Santa Fe steamers to CNR winter cabs. More pictures please....you have made my day!
Eddie, that is just awesome. Got any suggestions for how to replace the sand dome on the Spectrum Consolidation with a different one, in a different location? That and a couple other minor changes would make it a near dead ringer for a C&O G-7 or G-9, which were quite common on branch lines.
Thanks for the comments. They may force me to do more kitbashing.? The sand dome on the consolidation is a real problem to move. PRR had it more to the front of the engine. Cutting it off and moving it may be possible but the piping leading from it would also have to be moved. Alot of work!! Also the bell needs moved between the domes. But would also require moving the sand dome. Had to use fiber-optic line to get headlight to work. Sand dome movement is still under consideration. I added electrical pickup in the trailing trucks and in the tender. The center drivers are flange-less and weak at electrical pick-up. Biggest problem was getting the 3-axel pilot and trailing trucks to track correctly on curves. Required some spring tension and top blocking stops. I saw the 3-axel trucks on a tender and that gave me the idea of bashing into a 6-8-6. The single drive-rod for the 4 sets of drivers was a real chore to construct and lineup as well. Lots of piping needed. Made from different sources. Even tried my hand at molding parts. All in all the project gave me months of enjoyment. Not really finished yet. Would love to remotor it. Looks great leading a line of heavy-weight PRR passenger cars. ** Have one question on the turbine. All my research has yet to discover were the 'Bell' was located, if any? ...Eddie
did you try here eddie,and your models are great this site has some great pictures of the pennsy, rich http://www.dnaco.net/%7Egelwood/other/prr-loco.html
I have no choice but to bash because the NP stuff was almost all custom. My latest was the Bachmann 2-8-0 into an NP G-2 class 0-8-0 switcher: And the prototype:
Pray59: Nice looking! ajb: I'll head straight down to my local hobby shop right this minute and pick up that issue. I need to go down there anyway to get some 36" wheelsets.
Rich, Thanks for the link. I may have found that before? That site has the PRR turbine labeled as a 6-6-6 !! It's a 6-8-6. No bell in view? Have many pictures and references to the turbine but few close-ups. I feel the bell is hidden under the frame somewhere. The project never ends anyhow...drag out the enjoyment with constant changes and improvements. I have a brass PRR Keystone number plate for the final touch when done. ..Eddie
Here are pictures of kitbashed steamers, four Kato Mikados, three MINITRIXKATOATLAS 2-10-2s, three Hudsons, one Bachmann Consolodation. .....OOPS, forget it fellas', the proposed new system for putting photos on Trainboard still isn't functional......SORRY! GUYS!
Steam engine and tender parts? Yes Yes I'm not good at molding my own. pilots ladders bells generators headlights and marker lights tender lights and marker lights tender trucks 2,3 and 4 axle rods (my S-2 needs a good 4 driver rod) trailing trucks / booster trucks engine to tender draw-bars (electrical line) windows / shades pilot couplers ........etc ....Eddie
My latest was the Bachmann 2-8-0 into an NP G-2 class 0-8-0 switcher... She is a beauty... would love to know more about the extra sand dome but my reason for posting is this: there were a number of roads that converted 2-8-0s into 0-8-0 switchers, the N&W and AT&SF are two off hand that I can think of... so your model is not only beautiful but also prototypical in a way you might not have guessed...
I'm always kitbashing or customizing steamers! I take HO scale Big Boys and retool their boilers, and turn them into B&O EM-1's "Yellowstones" and even as much the Rivarossi Y6b's I custom ize into B&O EL-5's 2-8-8-0's! And I have taken a Y6b and turned it into a B&O LL-1, 0-8-8-0! I also took a Rivarossi UP Challenger and made it a Western Maryland M-2 Challenger being the 2 Challengers were really different, the UP's was of ALCO design and the WM's Challenger was of Baldwin design.... So I done some chopping on him as well.... I haven't gotten into the customizing of the smaller rigid frame loco's to much. their wasn't all that much in difference in them. but I have done a B&O 2-8-2, Q-4. And a B&O L-2, 0-8-0. All my 4-6-2's are Mantua "Mantua Collectables" so... no real custom work to be done to them. But I'm going to get another Challenger hopefully and do up a B&O KK-2, 2-6-6-4 which is my next custom job! Can ya all tell I love my Articulateds, and Mallets? I have like 19 or 20 of them already!
I have considered scratch-bashing two 6-driver chassis to make a C&O H-5 2-6-6-2. I just haven't found an appropriate starting point or motivation.
KITBASHED CNR 4200 SERIES SANTA FE 2-10-2 No. 4253. 4253 has been scratchuilt up from 5 different steamers. She has a Minitrix Decapod chassis covered with a Bachmann Northern 4-8-4 shell that has been sectionalized in three different places. The open Bachmann engine cab has been cut off and replaced with a resin cast CPR winter cab from Miniatures by Eric, that I kitbashed into a typical CNR winter cab. She has a Kato Mikado pilot, trailing truck, drawbar and tender and has a smokestack, steam domes, sand domes and walkways and cylinder steam pipes off two different Atlas steamers and the Elesco feedwater heater tank and associated piping have also been scratchbuilt. Extra weight has been added to the chassis and the engine and tender now weigh 400 grams. With the four traction tires on the original Decapod chassis and the benefit of good electrical pickup from utilizing a Kato Mikado tender, this 2-10-2 will pull about 100 box cars and runs as smooth as any of my Kato Mikados. I have three more almost Identical kitbashed up 4200 series 2-10-2s' ready for painting along with four Con-Cor Hudsons and three Kato Mikados that have all had winter cabs kitbashed on. As I do not have a website I have only been able to show these pictures on Trainboard through the courtesy and effort of Alan Curtis who sized and cropped them for me and put them on his website so I could attach them to this site. Thank you for your effort Alan! [ 15 May 2002, 06:41: Message edited by: Alan ]
