Hi Tom, Before doing that (it won't fit) read the 2008 Addendum to the N Scale Steam Locomotive Information Book and look at Hans Starmans build. That's basically what I am doing. I'm going to cut the 4-8-4 mechanism and add another section from another 4-8-4 mechanism to make it fit the 5 driver pairs. Of course I'm doing a bit more than that as I have to close up the distance on drivers 3,4 and 5.
Well, well the duck waddle was due to out of quarter drivers. Now I only need one set from Bachmann - sweet!!
I have confirmation that my parts are on their way to New Zealand (it'll be a longish wait). Now the next bit will upset some of you. Yes I am using bachmann bits because they are available and of the correct size etc. Having said that this locomotive must perform somewhere near a Kato and be reliable. So first steps - make a casting of the bachmann 4-8-4 mechanism so I can make a resin copy which means if I make a horrible mistake I can just cast another and I don't have to wait for replacement parts. Once the mechanism is modified to close to what it should be, yes I am reducing the distance between the drivers to be more prototypical. I don't want a way too long mechanism - it needs to look like a Texas Type not a stretched limo. Once the mechanism has been extended I can sort out the rest of the parts like the motor, gears, shafts etc. The resin copy will be a test rig making sure the wheelbase measurements are close to ATSF specs. The bachmann motor that came with the donor loco runs well but I know that probably won't last long. The Spectrum J Class 4-8-4 seems to have a good reputation on here, I could use that motor or a kato coreless motor from the FEF-3. Just some thoughts on where I'm going.
My parts have now left Japan (USPS transit point) and is on it's way here. While I am waiting I bought a Bachmann J 4-8-4 for umm... Class 5000 2-10-4 with 69" drivers. The J is 70" so it's very close and seems to have a better reputation than the Bachmann Northern (not the sound one - it's a 2009 version). That will be stripped down and parts saved. I'll need more parts too! The shell on this one will be very different more like what superturbine produced but extended. I need to find proper sand domes, I'll probably look for HO ones and recreate them in N Scale. If that comes off I can use them for 3751 class (4-8-4 Northern)
I went and got the Spectrum J class and got a small bonus - two dead older J class loco's. The dead ones will be harvested for their drivers, the motors will be junked - I need some worms so I'll save those. The J Class has some nice handrails so I'll save those along with the pilots, front and rear trucks. The tender chassis will be used for a Santa Fe 6 wheel type tender
Well the non spectrum version won't be suitable. The chassis is bad plastic thing and the wheels are of really old design. However if I make a brass mechanism I can make a Prairie Mallet which will be about right but that is slated for 2022. So all is not lost and I also got an Atlas / Rivarossi 4-6-2 out of it as well. So i still need some parts from Bachmann.
"Duck waddle" is the perfect description of what my Bachmann Spectrum 2-8-0 does and it really spoils the fun of running it. I've tried requartering with fair success, but some remains. I suppose that a set of out-of-gauge drivers might be my problem too. I need to check everything again.
Shown are the two shells I'll be cutting up and joining to make the Texas Type boiler, and the 5 pairs of drivers. Time to get modelling!!
I have obtained some scale drawings of the Santa Fe 2-10-4 and it's going to be a bit trickier than I thought. The benefit of the drawings is that I can now measure each section of the boiler and make some small adjustments to make it correct. I'll have to rework some of the running boards along the sides of the boiler. The sand dome needs to be lengthened and moved closer to the small dome (steam?) at the back of it. (a bit tricky). It's going to be a good challenge. For Mallet fans I have a good number of parts on order for the 2-10-10-2.(I still need some donor locos (not 2-10-2's either)
All, I Happen to have a Scanned copies of this Three part Article -Steam from Kits- if anyone is interested. Tom
Did another cut to the donor shell. It's now in 3 pieces. I won't be using the cab part nor the front of the donor 4-8-4. The middle section is all I need. The next step is to make the appropriate cuts in the new shell to extend it. I need to be very accurate when I cut the new shell.
I cut up the new shell, I need to spend some time making everything square and to the correct measurements. It's actually going to look quite big. I've spaced it out so my mistakes are harder to see!! I'll be fixing everything up but might take a few days until I'm happy with it.
Hi Steve, yeah that's to make it harder for the Axis forces to tell whether it's going backwards or forwards along the track
Awww nuts!!! When I offered the front boiler part to the older shell they didn't line up. So in the later runs of Bachmann 4-8-4 there's two shells and they are not compatible. I got another 4-8-4 white box version and that has a different shell that isn't compatible with either one of the later runs. So it's back to Bachmann to get another shell to cut up!! Project delayed.....
I have a new shell on the way, it'll take another 2 - 3 weeks to get down under. However I have bought 2 secondhand 4-8-4's that Rick (BarstowRick) is really gonna love - the white box growly things. One shell is in very good condition, the other has the bits I need in good condition. I will now be making two 2-10-4's. The white box one will get a new motor. I may even make a custom brass mechanism as the white box locos have a plastic chassis (it takes two 4-8-4's to make one 2-10-4). The better newer ones that I have will use the split frame chassis and may get a new motor. Just so you know - there are no split gears!!!
