G scale help

[Klinger]

I'm pretty stumped by this one. I am trying to modernize my Bachmann G scale 2-8-0. Moving the headlight is easy, got a retangular number board for the smokebox, got brass piping to do the pipe work, balsa wood to rebuild the tender coal bunker, however, I am having problems finding the final piece of the puzzle.

I am looking for a G scale Cross compound air compressor. I have seen numerous single stage compressors, but not one cross compound

Now, ideally, I would want a 1:20:3 scale compressor, but I'll settle on anything between that and 1:32nd at this point. I badly want to modernize this 2-8-0, and have something unique. Not one 2-8-0 detail project I have seen employs a cross compound compressor....but most of my other work is pretty standard.

 

[simulatortrain]

I don't know of any sold seperately, but I'd suggest asking on some large scale forums if anyone has one off of something they'd give you. Either that or you'll probably have to scratchbuild.

Make sure you keep us updated on the progress, I want to see this!

 

[Klinger]

I've got a couple of leads on a cross compound compressor, so I will be doing some further digging.

On the front of the locomotive, things are starting to change. The Front end will have a whole new, Rio Grande feel to it, raised headlight (thanks to some tips from Robbie) and a rectangular Numberboard. Just needs numbers. Still using the stock headlight and mount, though I might look into a new mount tomorrow morning, at least new brackets, mine got damaged by the hacksaw I had to use to remove the headlight bracket from the smokebox

I decided to cheat, I added pieces of masking tape over the damaged area's to cover the grooves, except the one on the door rack itself. However after looking at 346, I may chance that. If you have ever seen the front of a K-36, the masking tape looks like a welded on patch to a hole. I thought it was rather clever (and lazy). And the good thing is, if the masking tape falls off, I can always put on another piece

Following Removal

NUmberboard

Cylinder Caps and Finished Smokebox front

Smokebox Front with "patches"

Repainted Smokebox

 

[simulatortrain]

Looks like a good start. You could always cover the masking tape in super glue. I've done that to model canvas roofs and in 2 years so far it hasn't peeled off.

 

[Klinger]

She has a face again! And a mighty good looking one. I never in a million years thought I would take a hacksaw to an $800 locomotive, but I am glad I did, it looks a million times better. I have to go to Caboose Hobbies after work tomorrow to pick up more decals, going to try Dry Transfer since the wet transfer one's fell apart.

I also cut out the new tender coal bunker extension, I need to get some Square pieces of Balsa from Hobby Lobby Tomorrow before I assemble it. Its going to be a true to life wood coal bunker. Going to use Nails in place of bolts (obviously) using HO scale track nails cut off at the end to hold it together along with glue. That's a scratch building project if I have ever seen one....If it falls apart I'll make a new one out of plastic, but I want to give the wood a try first. Whats size coal should I use to redecorate the coal bunker?

Before

After

 

[sawyer811]

awww...she's cute.

Great, now i gotta go buy me a bachmann 2-8-0 and do that. I'd have images of turning one into an IRCA B-4G for ever, maybe i might have to act on that.

I've got so many projects for my G-scale stuff in my head...i want to buy a junker bachmann 4-6-0 and put a barry's big trains 2-8-0 chassis under it (without walshearts valve gear) and turn it into a plantation engine...read "Kitbash-a-palooza" ie the freedom to turn it into anything i want.

sorry for the hijack, and back on topic, that engine looks amazing. almost looks like a C-25 or a C-21 with actual valve gear, not just stephenson's.

 

[simulatortrain]

Man... you have me thinking of one of these again... Maybe next summer.

I have an ON30 one.

Not sure what to tell you on coal, but I'd maybe see if you could get some coal and crush it yourself. That's how I do coal. I found it on the side of the road (not sure why it was there) but it seemed like a shame to leave it so I grabbed a couple pounds.

 

[Klinger]

Can't post pictures right now, I can't find my camera.

Worked on some minor details today, reattached the single stage air pump with some hot glue and all the default piping. I don't believe I will be able to find a cross compound before the show so I figure 1 compressor is better then none. Caboose does not even carry 2 of single stage compressors that I would substitute for a single cross-compound. If ANYONE has a lead on a 1:20th or 1:22nd Scale Cross compound compressor, preferably a site I can order it from, please let me know, I need 2 now, as my friend and I have started work on a Second Bachmann 2-8-0, and its modification requires a cross-compound as well

Anyway, I added Airhoses with Glad hands on both the front and rear, working right now on fixing the broken 4 way plug between the loco and tender, one of the wires came loose so I have to fix it. I also finished the new framing for the tender coal bunker. It added quite a bit of height, in fact maybe too much, so I may trim it down later, but for now, it will stay as is.

Need to get my hands on a few lumps of coal to complete the tender, but overall I think it looks quite good, as soon as I find my camera I'll post some pictures

 

[simulatortrain]

You could always get it 3D printed. I know of a site that I've heard good things of, you just send them your model and they do it. If you want the link, PM me.

 

[Klinger]

Actually I finally found one from Precision Scale Inc, $20 each, 1:24th scale.

Going to order them tomorrow, also picking up some coal from the steam trains at work tomorrow to decorate my tender

 

[sawyer811]

Actually I finally found one from Precision Scale Inc, $20 each, 1:24th scale.

Going to order them tomorrow, also picking up some coal from the steam trains at work tomorrow to decorate my tender

yeah, 'cause old 346 isn't gonna miss those...

 

[Klinger]

346 has no coal right now, I'm getting some from where I work (for money). Our two steam engines don't eat all that much anyway at Lakeside

 

[Klinger]

well, the coal was....interesting to say the least. The coal at Lakeside is pretty terriable stuff, good thing our fireboxes are the size of a medium sized cardboard box. The stuff is soft and turns to dust when you try to downsize it. 346 burns a much harder coal, it usually takes a few big hits with a big hammer to break it apart, this stuff just crumbles

The one thing I did not count on was weight. The tender gained over a pound when I added the coal, I was considering doing my Big Hauler as well while I had coal, but now I don't think I will as the big hauler can barely move under its own power as is, let alone with another pound of weight in the tender to drag

 

[Klinger]

Finished for now until I receive and install my Cross Compound Compressors

 

[simulatortrain]

You did find a compound? Good.

Except I sort of liked the 3D printing idea, mostly because I'm scared to have something printed myself to see how the quality is.

 

[sawyer811]

god, i'm getting one of these for christmas...and i WANT THIS!!! looks like i'm gonna be takin' a hacksaw to mine.

Well, maybe not, i like the centered headlight, but i've got images of a coal-burner with its bell over the headlight, that and maybe a slightly slimmer smokestack. I don't know, i've got like three-dozen different ideas in my head (ranging from a IRCA B-4G a la Georgetown Loop 40 to a mexican NdeM 260-class) :udrool:

yeah, should probably stop rambling now...and hijacking your thread klinger. I should have said this before, but awesome model!

 

[Klinger]

My other 2-8-0 is going to be based off of GB&L 40......Down to the number, tender, and many other things

 

[simulatortrain]

I'm thinking about getting one of these. If I do it'll be Pennsylvania-tized as much as possible. Extended smokebox with the light on top, stack cap, coal boards...

 

[sawyer811]

My other 2-8-0 is going to be based off of GB&L 40......Down to the number, tender, and many other things

other 2-8-0?

 

[Klinger]

Yes, I have another one. It was donated to Youth in Model Railroading, my club, in pieces. Its missing A LOT. No tender, no stack, smokebox front is missing, along with a half millions other pieces. Valve gear is thankfully intact, but the Bell and Sand dome are removed, bell is missing, but the sand dome is still there Cab is intact as well, thankfully.

When we got it, the drive gear was split in half, so it did not run, but we replaced the number 3 axle completely, that's all that bachmann sells, the whole thing, so now id does run.

Were building a new tender from scratch, based on a Big Hauler frame, but that's all me and my friend are using. The tank is going to be scratch built from Brass plate, based off 40's tender, and an Oil Burner as well. Were going all out on this one, new tender trucks, I am trying to find a spoked pilot wheel and spooked tender wheels, but 44's tender, which was behind 40 for many years, has soild cast wheels, so I may give up on that one. Were going to either do Georgetown loop Lettering, or Colorado Central Lettering using custom made stencils, based off my pictures of her.

Its an even bigger build then this, we might even modify the cylinder castings to more closely match 40's