While perusing an old copy of Model Railroad News (which I believe is now defunct), I came across an announcement for Accucraft's new (in 2011) large scale Whitcomb 45-Ton model. It was love at first glance...unfortunately this locomotive isn't available in On30. Further inspection had me realize that the power 'base' for this locomotive could be the lower part of Bachmann's excellent Spectrum GE 45-Tonner...all that seems to be required is another On30 body shell.
I am currently kitbashing a Bachmann 44-Ton into a 'sorta - kinda' narrow gauge 45-tonner lookalike...lots of work; but the Boulder Valley kit is well designed. How cool would it be to be able to buy a Whitcomb R-T-R (of course any narrow gaug'r worth their salt will further 'bash/decorate the product to suit their tastes).
Check out this model at: http://www.accucraft.com/modelc/AC78-531-C.htm (http://www.accucraft.com/modelc/AC78-531-C.htm)
Please, please Mr. Bach-Man.
Ray
www.backwoodsminiatures.com do a kit for the centrecab Whitcomb, very easily assembled, and easily adapted to fit many readily available chassis.
Thanks for the information Steve. Question: Does Bachwoods Minitures (a UK company) ship faster than the glacial speed exhibited by Boulder Valley Models?
Ray
Hi Ray
Cannot really answer that, I have ordered from BVM a few times and not experienced any real delay,
approx 10 to 14 days, which is around the same time my Micro-Mark orders take to arrive here in Wales (UK)
I can get orders from Backwoods delivered next day! (providing the items are in stock) but cannot say how long it would take to the USA, but i know they do a lot of business with customers in the States, they do advertise in US magazines such as 0n30 Annual etc.
Steve - I didn't mean to leave the impression that I was in any way dissatisfied with Dallas and Boulder Valley Models...merely stating that your order will take a while as Dallas fills every order as received (BVM is a one-man operation). Thanks to your comments I will definitely consider an order to Backwoods Miniatures. I have previously ordered from E. Hatton's with excellent results. I have also have had excellent results with The Signal Box.
Regards,
Ray
Hi Again
Hattons are an excellent retailer, they used to get a lot of bad press, but these days they are very good, I used to visit the shop very regularly when working in Liverpool but these days i mail order as it is actually cheaper in terms of time and Petrol (Gas) costs, Although we can actually see Liverpool from the top of a hill 1/2 mile from our house! its around a 50+ mile round trip ( which I suppose is nothing when road trips in America are considered!)
I am told that Hattons is the UKs biggest retailer in terms of Volume sales for Bachmann's total model railway range ( all scales)
Ray,
I've ordered from Backwoods Miniatures several times and have found their shipping to the US to be very prompt. I have one of their Whitcombs as well as their Forney conversion and can highly recommend them.
Hi EandRR..............................
did you use the specified Athearn Chassis or an alternate one, the Athearn one is becoming a little difficult to purchase over here these days
I used an SW9 chassis, Atlas I believe, with Quantum sound. Took quite a bit of work to both the shell and the chassis with a table top mill, but it runs very smoothly and the sound is great.