Bachmann Porter + LGB saddletank = my new engine

[vsmith]

Hello all

I thought I'd post some shots of the most recent project to roll off out of the Borracho RR engine shops...

http://1stclass.mylargescale.com/vsmith/new%20bachmann%201.jpg[/img]

This is my Bachmann sidetanker that i had removed to side tanks from to use as a tender engine, but the tender part of it never looked right coupled to the engine so I just used it as a tankless switcher, but after scrapping an LGB Porter to use the boiler for a Class A Cimax project(on hold, i want to scratchbuild the chassis) The tank was just sitting around, till one day I was looking at it and it occurred to me that it might fit onto the bachmann boiler. A quick check to confirm my suspicion, and five minutes later I had stripped the model and had the dremel tool out.

I carefully cut off all three dome bases, infilled the front dome base with a styrene filler piece and putty. i moved the steamdome base to the rear sand dome position. cut off the LGB sand dome and onstalled the Bachmann sanddome. Once I was sure everything was dry and sanded smooth I added the saddletank and 4 mounting brackets. I then rebent the LGB sand lines and added them, all the remaining loose parts were reattached and this is where it is now. i still need to add a water pump and water lines to the left side of the engine.

http://1stclass.mylargescale.com/vsmith/new%20bachmann%202.jpg
http://1stclass.mylargescale.com/vsmith/new%20bachmann%203.jpg
http://1stclass.mylargescale.com/vsmith/new%20bachmann%204.jpg

http://1stclass.mylargescale.com/vsmith/new%20bachmann%206.jpg

I used the 2004 Finescale Railroader Mining special with the great article on the Coronado RR/Arizona Copper Co RRand the terrific line drawings of the RRs Porter engines. I used Coronado engine #2 as a rough guide. Overall this was a fast quickie project but I'm so far very pleased with the results..
[8D]

[aljay]

Looks good to me, nice work

AJ
Happy New Year.

[Anonymous]

Very Nice indeed! A little weathering and ready for switching duty.

[wa1lbk]

Very nice! I also read the Finescale Railroader Mining issue & recognized your conversion as based on that, even before I read the text on your post. Looks GREAT! [^]

Tom

[ondrek]

Vsmith-

Where can one find Trucks for a Class A climax?

I have a scratchbuilt project in plan and I will need two Climax type trucks, as close as possible would be acceptable too.
I ask you because you always seem to have a great deal of scratchbuilt items.

Thanks

Kevin

[vsmith]

I'm going to use two truck from an Aristo 44tonner with scratched side frames for my Class A, unfortunatly the best choice would be to get two trucks from the Bachmann Class B climax, but they have been out of production for a while now and to buy a Bachmann Class B just to scrap it for parts is price prohibitive for me. So in come the A/C trucks and a bit of modifications. I dont know if I'll try to add a driveshaft mechanism, but the sideframes simply unscrew and new more prototypical sideframes can be added easily. My class A is on hold at the moment as i really hated the way is was coming along with a HLW flatcar as the basis. I'm going to build a new chasis from scratch as its a fairly simple design. Hope this helps.

[ondrek]

vsmith-
I was hoping to find some bachman climax trucks on ebay, but no luck.

Maybe at the train show this month someone will have some.

thanks

Kevin