Scatchbuilding a Mack shunter (switcher)

[Culcreuch]

 An article in Garden Railways started me on this project. In the article, a Hartland Mack switcher was repowered with a Bachmann motor bogie. As I did not wish to cut up my Hartland Mack, I decided to build one from scratch using styrene. The bogie was from a Bachamnn 44 ton switcher. I purchased two for US$30.00 each

[Culcreuch]

After measuring the Hartland Mack, I made up the cab:

[Culcreuch]

 Then the footplate:

[Culcreuch]

 Attached the cab to the footplate:

[Culcreuch]

 Bonnets were cast and fitted: (Tried to get bonnets from Hartland but after several months of emailing and getting no reply I made an RTV mould using an original bonnet and cast two)

 

[Culcreuch]

 With couplers fitted and several runs on the Culcreuch Fold Garden Railway, it was trialed on the H & M Garden Railway of JRinTawa. (Of Dubs A fame)

[Culcreuch]

 After obtaining an EMCO compact 5 lathe with milling head, the window glazing was milled from 3mm Perspex

 

[Culcreuch]

 The steps were milled from 3mm styrene and attached:

[Culcreuch]

 Painted, handrails and glazing installed and signwriting completed. Emblem and zebra stripes are custom made vinyl. The artwork is mine and was processed by a proffesional signwriter. First outing on the Culcreuch Fold Garden Railway. (It's home railway)

[Culcreuch]

 First run "in service"

[Culcreuch]

 And another visit to the H & M G R to show off the completed model.  )The H & M G R is in Tawa, over the ranges about 65 miles southwestof home territory)

[Culcreuch]

 The Mack travelled to Christchurch, South Island to run on the Garden Railway layout at The Big Model Train Show on 4 & 5 October 2008. Later on the Sunday evening it ran on a local Christchurch railway

[Culcreuch]

 And the "arty" shot from below the bridge.

[Culcreuch]

 Here is another photo on the big viaduct;

[vsmith]

As I said on GSM, a very cool bash!

[altterrain]

 Nice work!   You're lucky to have such nice railroads to run on.

Those 45 tonner trucks are great for bashing I cut up a 45 tonner and used it for my 7/8's project -

-Brian 

[ttrigg]

vsmith

As I said on GSM, a very cool bash!

Vic:

Between Culcreuch and lownote, its begining to look like you will be having some competition.  You up to the challenge they present?    If I only had the skills, well guess I;ll just have to try one myself, I've been having this dream (daydream as well as nightmare) about a consist of "self propelled" logging disconnects from Ozark Minitures!  Wouldn't that be fanciible nightmare?