Hey all, figured I might as well share with you a project I've been working on.

I recently purchased a Western Maryland 4-8-4 3D print from Shapeways and I was planning on recreating a D&RGW M-68 in N scale. Thanks to James in FL for the measurements of the Bachmann AT&SF 4-8-4, I'm now able to bring this idea to life.





The other mess of parts is for an N scale Ditcher





The shell will obviously need modification removing the large sand dome and moving the smaller one to the front part of the boiler and details added and the like. The project seems pretty straightforward. Cannot wait to finish this one!

Today I humored the idea of how small a radius my 2-10-2 could do and to my surprise it will traverse 8-9/16" inch radius with ease, better than the spectrum 2-8-0 can

Does anyone know if the driver size in N scale is 73 inches or 80 inches?

I need to know for a project I'm working on that I will feature here eventually!

Thanks
-Ryan

Is the parts store going to release parts for the 2-6-0 anytime in the future?

Do these reefers have working roof hatches by chance?

Dear Bach-man,

was wondering if by chance the upcoming mikado will have surface mounted domes?(without a gaping hole in the boiler)

I feel like being able to pry off domes and replace them with whatever one pleases would make your models more versatile for the average kitbasher like myself. Just a thought...


was eye-balling the Berkshire exploded parts and I noticed that the domes might be surface mounted on the boilers therefore making those engines easy targets for potential kitbash. 

I think after the USRA Mikado, Bachmann should do either the  a USRA 2-8-8-2 or a generic Non-USRA, Non-N&W 2-8-8-2 in its standard line

A non-USRA/N&W prototype would diversify the offerings seen in Plastic/Diecast considering it can only be found in brass. Think of all the roads that had 2-8-8-2's

Even a USRA 2-8-8-2 would be welcome considering they're not very common on the market yet found on a lot of Roads both eastern and western.


Of course this is only the plea of someone modelling western roads, considering recent medium/large locomotive offerings favor eastern roads over western.

I was kind of indifferent with the announcement of the USRA Mike considering having high hopes for a Harriman Mikado, maybe I shouldn't count my chickens before they hatch and Bachmann perhaps has plans to use the chassis for a western road style locomotive.

Hi guys,

It's probably been a while since any of you have seen any of my projects so here's one I worked on today.

For about 4 or 5 years now I've been playing with the idea of turning the Bachmann Spectrum H-4 2-6-6-2 into a D&RGW Engine, I did make a 2-6-6-0  conversion out of one but I wanted a 2-6-6-2. Over the years I managed to pick up various photos of different kinds of D&RGW Small Articulateds like the L-62, L-76 and L-77

The D&RGW L-62 2-6-6-2 were the only engines of this wheel arrangement that were actually built for the Rio Grande, they were built in 1910





Next were the 2 N&W Class Z1a 2-6-6-2's which were sold to the Rio Grande to help boost the war traffic in 1942, these were class L-76's







Last of the Rio Grande Small Articulateds were the D&SL 2-6-6-0 which were  incorporated into the Rio Grande roster when the D&SL was bought out by the D&RGW. These were the L-77's. I have rebuilt a PFM basket case to include a Bachmann chassis. And I have two in N Scale also sporting Bachmann chassis.






Today I've been working extensively on converting the Bachmann H-4 into an L-76. I started by removing detail parts on the H-4 such as pipes, smokebox door, smokestack, sand domes and a few other parts. I made modifications to the running boards where necessary. The old holes for the sand domes were filled in with bondo and sanded to shape. Various brass parts were bought from Precision Scale in Montana where they have an extensive selection of brass detail parts. I was fortunate that they had important parts for the Z-1 included in the catalog from when they made a run of the engine a few years back. I bought a new smokebox door, a stack, the sand domes and firebox sides(which I'm not sure if I plan on using)

The cab is from a Bachmann heavy mountain. I moved the air pumps to the fireman's side where appropriate. I then  put some grab irons on  the smokebox door and used a bachmann wide screw for the number plate.

The tender is a bachmann auxiliary tender chassis with a Proto 2k tender shell from a 2-8-8-2. I really wish bachmann made the 16,000 gallon tender the N&W had, as they were seen on over a dozen railroads across the country.

Here's some pictures of my progress:







































Will continue work on this engine and will post picture of the progress!

Hey bachmann,

How about some curved nickel silver turnouts? Like with 33 and 35 inch radius

This engine started life as an LMB KMT Brass DM&IR 2-10-4





I didn't like the tender, and the running capability of the locomotive left much to be desired, so it went off to the Kitbasher's torch











It was considered too large an engine for a heavy switcher's tender so the tender went off to a 0-10-0(which was another brass engine with a bachmann russian decapod chassis)

So a D&RGW tender from an L-131 2-8-8-2 was bought to replace it in it's stead:




The engine was give some number boards and other details and painted D&RGW style, but I was still not satisfied, the engine was really lacking the character I wanted:



So finally with existing parts I had from other projects and a D&RGW M-75 4-8-2 taking a nose dive off the work bench(a blessing in disguise) The boiler front of the M-75 was reworked and repaired and fitted onto the monstrosity and gave the engine new life with a better look, the pilot was replaced with a Varney  Casey Jones pilot and brass sheeting from my 2-6-6-0 leftover was used to make an extra set of steps. The original LMB Pilot truck was then used as the front pilot truck.







I have to say with all the tinkering I've done with this locomotive, the actual final look makes me really satisfied with the way things have turned out,this engine went from being  something neat but not completely appreciated, to just an abandoned side project, to eventually getting the recognition it finally deserves as a neat piece of art, I love it now and proud of my work.  

For anyone who has abandoned a project locomotive or similar kitbash and gave up because you didn't get the results you wanted I hope this inspires you to think outside the box and give an idea new light!  

Any chance these trucks will be restocked in the parts store? I really need a few of these, and I don't want to have to buy  the actual locomotive to get them.

in HO and N Scale

I'll give you a hint, both locomotives have Bachmann 2-6-6-2 Chassis.

The HO one was made from parts from a PFM Brass Model and the N Scale one was developed using 3D Printing Technology

It's a Denver and Salt Lake 2-6-6-0. Some of them were built as early as 1909 they were used on Rollins Pass in Colorado. They were double headed quite frequently with themselves and 2-8-2's and 2-8-0's and were known to do 55MPH with a moderate sized freight behind it. When The D&RGW acquired them they were put to good use and ran until they were scrapped in the 1950's

The unique thing about these engines is they all have had a multitude of modifications done to them over the 4 decades they were around, so not all of them looked the same either. The HO version being created to look similar to D&RGW #3371 but with the ladders on the tender. I have another N scale engine that's  modified already and going to be painted and lettered for #3371

These are really fun engines, I must say 

like does it have to face a certain way, or can you operate it with it backwards?

The reson for this is I milled the 2-6-6-2 down so I can fit a PFM D&SL 2-6-6-0 boiler on it, and I'm having space restrictions in the D&SL tender since it's shorter than the vanderbilt tender

is bachmann planning on doing this model??

I am creating a background layout against the wall opposite of my HO layout using forced perspective. Here's an engine I just finished among other projects I have going on

I have to say, for someone who stopped doing N scale because of how flimsy engines can be, I just  a 2-6-6-2 in the mail today and test ran it, and I was completely sold on its perfomance, nice smooth running, and quiet too.

I  had the older bachmann stuff like the 0-4-0, the old 2-8-0 and the 0-6-0 it was really saddening when they finally crapped out on me :/ But after 10 years of absence from N scale, I think I'm ready to come back.

I will say this engine is going to be kitbashed into a D&RGW locomotive, I can't say one just yet because it's a secret project in development now, but I'll definitely be sure to post it all when it comes out!

I'm also looking forward to buying the 2-6-0's and 2-8-0's

I have a project Steam locomotive  I'm working on involving a Trumpeter BR-52 that I'm trying to make engine have actual moving drivers and made for G gauge track( it is 1/35 scale but I'm not trying to be a rivet counter, I already have freight cars of that scale gauged out to match)

so I need a set of 5 locomotive drivers that are an 1inch and a half or an inch and 5/8 in diameter

and if memory serves correctly the bachmann columbia 2-4-2 or the mining 2-6-0 had about that size.

Anyone here know where I can get just the locomotive drivers without buying the whole engine? Or have a few spares in their junk drawer? Or perhaps an alternative means of getting driver?

Thanks

Rye Guy

I know the reading consolidation from the earlier pre-spectrum years had the screaming pancake motor or the white box motor but when it entered the plus series, wasn't it outfitted with a plus style can motor because I've seen under the hood of some of these engines and some of them had a stock can motor...


Can anyone confirm this???

Hey Mr. Bach-man and other Bachmann staff,

I have ideas for new rolling stock that would go great with you silver series line. I was thinking introducing a drop bottom/general service gondola car would be an excellent new product as I've noticed the only way to buy some are to scour the internet for old ulrich cars that more often than not are deteriorating with age, one in good condition can fetch $20 or more. A nice plastic/metal car with up to date details would be excellent. I know I need a dozen more or so of this type of car in Rio Grande or Utah Coal Route roadnames.







Another good idea would be outside/truss braced 40' boxcars that represent the war emergency era that were around for quite some time from WWI to WWII and postwar.

So I bought this engine brand new and its been nothing but bad luck for me. One of the motor brushes disappeared, headlight burnt out, the rear set of drivers have been fixed before but finally crapped out on me. The sound decoder was fine but recently it kept turning on and off, the engine has become a basket case for me. It's 2 years old, I still have the warranty slip, can I still send it in for repairs or an Exchange or should I just give up? I was really hoping to make a N&W Z-1/DRGW L-76 out of this but all this trouble has hindered it.

I have no experience with the service department, so I'm clueless as to what to do...