Got a question for the great hive mind of trainboard. Is it possible and feasible to take a Kato 2-8-2 Mikado, and swap out the front truck for a two axle truck off of, for example, the Kato GS4? The idea being to create a 4-8-2 Mountain type. Lacking both types of locomotive and zero experience modifying things, thought I would ask before blowing my July and August hobby budget.
You are talking about installing a four wheel pony truck where a two wheel one was. The issues are going to be the room under the pilot for the four wheel truck and the location of the steam cylinders and first set of drivers. That is going to mean some possible frame mods and a new pilot possibly. And then there is the issue of keeping the cylinder lined up with the steam cylinder pipes which may mean some shell mods. You would probably be better off just saving up your $$ and buying either the light or heavy mountain with the appropriate tender for your road. Mark (Spookshow) most likely has some photos of each model not to mention a review that is useful of the model.
I had to do all that and more to convert a Bachmann 2-8-0 to a 4-8-0. I lengthened the chassis, the boiler and had to move the cylinders, valve gear and move the main crank up from the number 3 driver to the number 2. It is a pretty involved kit bash. Fun if you are into that.
Yeah, I totally blanked on the Bachmann Mountain. I was trying to think of a way to come up with a NYC Mohawk L4B.
That tender seems to be the biggest challenge since there is nothing out there close. But maybe by bashing two of the long Bmann tenders something could be done.
A Bachmann Heavy Mountain with the tender from the Bachmann EM-1 would be a pretty close match. Have fun, Mark
Someone entered this in the model contest at the convention in Roanoke last week. (I borrowed this photo from Marc Starmans)
I offer as a word of caution that the Kato 2-8-2 locomotives vary in construction from one release to the next. I learned this personally when I attempted to switch a letter tender from one of mine with the unlettered tender of another of mine. Sent to Kato USA to solve the problem I created; they told me the drawbar-harness was changed. Also on this forum, under dcc for the locomotive is a post about driver construction.
It looks to me like Con-Cor NYC Hudsons would be the best fodder for a kitbash for the tender and boiler shell/cab on a Bachmann mountain.
