4-4-0 locomotive

[General1861]

Ok, I have another question for you guys. Is it possible to build a 4-4-0 from a bachman 4-6-0 with some modifications?. Or is there something else out there to use?.

[toenailridgesl]

OK Travis, since no-one else has jumped in, I will. Firstly it would involve a lot of chassis modification, mostly from the front, as the back of the chassis has the motor and gearbox. You'd also have to do some delicate work on the valve gear and side rods, not impossible but daunting for a newbie. Modifying and shortening the superstructure isn't that big a deal but getting it to look good and in proportion is. Given that there are reasonably priced 4-4-0s on the market already, why chop up a good loco in the first place? You can buy an excellent B/mann 4-4-0 for about twice the cost of a 10-wheeler and you'll have an accurate prototypical model that runs like a clock and is properly engineered

[vsmith]

Like this?

A little experiment using an older track powered Big Hauler chassis by moving the lead wheel back about 1 inch and moving the drive rod to the front wheel and replacing the siderods with new, since repainted black but never finished, Its now too large for my shrunken head of a layout. Changing the wheelbase altered the geometry a bit.

While it has really nice proportions it really needs R2 (5'D) or wider curves to look right as it has a bit of front overhang on my R1 (4'D) curves, if your interested send me an e-mail or private message, will sell for very reasonable, it needs a good home, comes with an shortened Big Hauler tender. BTW the new siderods are metal not plastic.

[dwbeckett]

How about a picture of the completed engine?? BTW I like what you did, as per-usual an outstanding convershion.

 

Dave

[vsmith]

Dave I'll try to take a current pic, besides I'll need some pics if I Ebay it.

[dwbeckett]

WELL??

Dave

[vsmith]

Hey give me a break, its the weekend before Xmas, and I have to chaufer SWMBO. Personal time is something unmarried people have.

I'll try to get some pics as quick as I can. If not this week then by next weekend I should have some 

[grandpopswalt]

 Vic,

That's a great looking kitbash. The drivers look as though they're farther apart than on the original, were they moved?

Thanks,

Walt

[vsmith]

grandpopswalt

 Vic,

That's a great looking kitbash. The drivers look as though they're farther apart than on the original, were they moved?

Thanks,

Walt

Yes, the front driver was moved back 1", I cut new notches into the frame and moved the pickups back as well. The siderods are new metal ones made by Barry of Barry's Big Trains, the driver rods are the old plastic ones just moved to the front wheels and shortened to fit. Its all built on a older Bachmann chassis just to see if I could do it. Runs well but it really needs wider 5'D minimum to run well as there is alot of overhang with the front driver moved back, 6.5'D would be better. I know why Bachmanns 440 needs wide diameters to look right.

Dave, here are current pics

 

Side view

rear view, "coal" load still needs painting

Dusty, but still runs well