Kitbashed Locomotives

This page contains photos and short descriptions of what modelers have done to create a unique locomotive, given some commercial base model. If you have such a model and can take a digital photo or two of it, feel free to contact the webmaster. Click the photos for a larger version.

Bachmann On30 4-4-0

According to Paul Vaughn this model's inside frame matches the Southern Pacific's engine's frame in an S-scale model from the forward axle to the rear driver axle centerlines. So, it could be good for an Sn42 locomotive.

Bachmann On30 4-6-0

Converting one of these to S-scale requires NWSL #2721-6 shouldered 3mm x 1.031.

Bachmann On30 Models

Bob Stelmach wrote an article in the January 2015 issue of the NASG's The Dispatch, and the April 2015 NMRA Magazine about how to re-gauge Bachmann On30 engines for S.

Bachmann On30 Climax

Below, is a photo of Brooks Stover's S-scale 3-truck Climax #4 of the Elk River Coal & Lumber Company, which he constructed by modifying a Bachmann On30 2-truck Climax. The conversion involved re-gauging the trucks, fabricating a new cab and coal bunker, and scratchbuilding the tender. S-scale details, such as the whistle, headlight, generator, and air pump, were also added. A complete description of this conversion was published in the November 2014 issue of NMRA Magazine.

He also built a 2-truck Climax using similar techniques. Construction of this model was described in the May/June 2013 issue of the Narrow Gauge and Shortline Gazette magazine.

Tender

Kirk Ainslie kitbashed the tender shown in the photo from A.C. Gilbert American Flyer split tank car, A.C. Gilbert Atlantic parts, Lionel Sunoco two-dome tank shell, Northern tender trucks (rear modified), and caboose catwalk.

GE "Super 88"

Bob Hogan explained that GE built several "Super 88" switching locomotives, so named because they supposedly could do the work of two of their 44-ton engines. Bob created one of those engines by combining two of the Smoky Mountain Model Works GE 70-ton switcher kits.

Southern Railways GP7

Bob Hogan took an American Models GP9 and converted it into a Southern GP7. Des Plaines Hobbies sells the short and long hood parts for a GP7, so Bob had to first cut off the hoods from the American Models base model. He states that this is "not for the faint of heart", as the project also involves installing stacks, grills, and the dynamic brakes. The photos below show the converted shell before painting. The painted model still has the American Models handrails, which Bob plans to replace with the Des Plaines Hobbies handrails for a GP7.

External Links

• Stumpy's Station. A page that Chuck Harrington put together about projects that Terry 'Stumpy' Stone did and documented.