Hello, I am with the 4000 foundation, LTD out of La Crosse Wisconsin. I was approached by another member asking me if I could make a model of it in HO scale. I have seen pictures, but I am wondering what would be the steps to create a realistic represenation. Thank you!
There is of course no current commercially available model of a CB&Q 4-6-4, although I have a recollection of a brass import many deacdes ago. In fact I think there was a brass version of the 4000 as it looked back when it had its streamlined shroud.
How exacting and accurate a replica are we talking about? It might be possible to "resemble" the 4000 to varying degrees without actually being accurate by cobbling together parts of other models.
The most commonly available 4-6-4 models are typically New York Central Hudsons, and the boiler/cab and tender are really not close to the Q's overall look. I suppose it could be possible to start with the running gear of a Rivarossi/AHM NYC Hudson and play around with the plastic boiler of one of the Bachmann 4-8-4s to cut it down to the right length. That could be tons of effort and still not be very satisfactory.
If the model is not intended to be run, don't overlook the Monogram NYC Hudson mantelpiece model for its running gear. But not the boiler or cab which are instantly identifiable as NYC.
The NYC valve gear is different looking too but perhaps livable if we are speaking only of a "somewhat close" model.
One thought is to find one of the Tyco/Mantua "Hudsons" where they basically took the running gear from their popular 4-6-2 Pacific, added a four wheel trailing truck, and if memory serves used the boiler casting from their also popular 2-8-2. It was a hulking looking Hudson but was generic enough that with some added details a "sort of" "squint hard and it looks OK" sort of Q Hudson could result. That does call for knowing how to work with zinc alloy metal however. And the valve gear and tender issues would remain.
IHC had a Hudson as well, didn't they? And it was generic, not NYC in outline. I suspect as much detail would have to be chiseled off as added.
Not sure what to do about the tender -- again cutting down a tender from one of the Bachmann Santa Fe Northerns might somewhat come close. I don't think the IHC Hudson tender is very close either but do not recall it clearly enough to say. We are talking boxy for the Q tender.
All of these kitbashes call for considerable skill and nerve and even with the best modeling in the world you still wouldn't end up with a "real" model of the 4000. The guys who do this best have boxes full of derelict steam loco models and parts that they sort through and frankly they don't even remember where everything came from originally. I know I cannot always ID the origin of all the stuff in my steam locomotive scrap box. Or my caboose parts scrap box.
Dave Nelson
I did infact find a model! http://brasstrains.com/Classic/Product/Detail/062976/HO-Brass-Model-Train-Sunset-CB-Q-Burlington-4-6-4-S-4-Steam-3007-w-Tsunami-Sound-DCC, However it is not #4000, So I will be re-numbering as well as making a few changes to repersent the loco, as I have acces to it!