Building a Climax A-18 in N scale

[SteamDonkey74]

I put in some more work on the Class A Climax 18-tonner last night. I got the sideframes ground down, got the round tank fitted, and modified the circuit board for attaching a decoder.

You can see my first day's progress here on my web log (shameless plug):

Climax 18-Ton Class A Locomotive - Day 1 - TrainBoard.com

and the second day's here:

Climax 18-Ton Class A Locomotive - Day 2 - TrainBoard.com


If I have time today I am going to drill and tap some holes for the screws and go from there.

Adam

[randgust]

I'll be watching this as well!

I've revised the kit several times based upon watching how things turn out in the field and appreciate feedback. Unlike an injection-molded kit, I have a lot more leeway to adjust things that don't work out well. A good example was the thickness of the wall on top of the square tank - it didn't hold up well at all in either molding or finished models and had to be thickened to .015. On the Climaxes, they are on generation 3 of the molds now. On the Whitcombs, I've had to do similar adjustments, particularly on thin cross-section parts.

[MRL]

Neat project.

[J Starbuck]

Looking good Adam,
Keep us posted as you progress.

[SteamDonkey74]

Thanks everyone.

I meant to get more done on it today, but in part because of all the time I spent not doing other things (e.g., household chores) yesterday I didn't find much time today. Well, I was online an awful lot.

I would like to make a shameless plug for randgust's kits. I have no affiliation with him, other than he and I share an interest in modeling funky old locomotives and that I purchased one of his kits and will soon be buying a Whitcomb center cab. His instructions are really rather clear and he has been gracious enough to answer questions I have about some of the trickier modeling aspects. The Climax kit I have, anyway, is not a simple snap-together and paint kit, and probably isn't for someone who doesn't like modeling, but if you want a distinctive custom piece and enjoy modeling I think his kits are a good value.


To continue much further I have to find my 00-90 tap for the screws. Things are going well and I look forward to continuing. Hmm... am I feeling a sick now... too sick to go to work.

(Kidding)

Adam