A freelanced railbus for the M-K & Eastern RR

[Graffen]

I had bought a LaBelle 1905 coach a good while back and when cleaning the workbench last Sunday, I decided that this could work as a good starting point for a railbus conversion!
I then looked for some kind of trucks to use. I had some older Atlas trucks that was in good shape, I also had some old Roco motor that worked good (I think it is Roco at least). A set of Mantua driveshafts and sockets was at hand as well .
I laid all parts on the table and went to work.

I started on the chassis, so I knew that that would work. I settled for drive on the forward truck only.
This is how the chassis looked like after about an hours work:

I then assembled the body of the bus, wich is quite straightforward:

I then made some ventilations on the sides, using some old cut down grills from a scrapped GP 18:

The roof on this kit is a piece of work to make good, here is my result of the roof ends and the beginning of the front with the pilot, I also had to make a new middle section with window in the front as well:

The underside is taking shape as well, I know that the truck sideframes aren´t really correct for a railbus, but I will replace them later if I get some better looking Brill-type sideframes:

I covered the roof in Alu-tape that I cut in smaller pieces to fit in the rounded areas:


I then added some lights and roof vents that I had in the parts box, the exhaust is an old Kato one I had:

I painted the whole bus in Mahogany paint and the roof and chassis in a black grey color:

I added some couplers and the diaphragm on the back and here is the result as it stands today:

I have some small finish work left to do and the weathering and decals. but I´m quite happy as it ended up.

I have a Loksound decoder in it as well ,
So it can be heard as it rumbles in to the stop.
It runs really well and I added almost 8 ounces of lead into it to increase its traction and power pickup.
For a 4 day project it isn´t too bad I hope...
I will also add some radiators on the roof, but I haven´t found some nice prototype yet.

[Anonymous]

Wow!  That is really neat.  That looks like an old Roco motor that probably came from the same old Atlas / Roco GP that the trucks came from.

Good job!

[Forty Niner]

That looks fantastic!!! You did an outstanding job there, you should enter that for the Dremel "kitbashing" award.

I'd keep an eye open for a junked out Botchmann gas electric for a more correct set of trucks. I've snagged them for as little as $20 so I know they're out there, on Ebay naturally.

This is one to be proud of in my book, and Iike the finish as well.

Mark

[Graffen]

Thanks for the tip on trucks from B-mann! I would love to enter it for the RMC kitbash award, but how do I submit it?

[Graffen]

I have ran it for some time now, and it is a real smooth runner.

Here is some pics of it as it is parked by the docks:

[cudaken]

 Gaffen, that sure looks good! Would have never thought about using metal tape on the roof!

                       Cuda Ken

[shayfan84325]

Outstanding model work.  Thanks for taking pictures during progress, and posting them here.  It sort of reminds me of the way the model railroading magazines were in the '60s and '70s.

[Flashwave]

*Ahem*
The Bachmann Parts Department might have the trucks you need.

(front-power)                                                        (rear)

[wedudler]

Cool!

Wolfgang