Here are a few shots of my latest project--an HOn30 0-4-0 "gypsy" logging engine.
The engine is freelance, based on lumber locomotives used on California's northern coast from the 1880s to the 1930s. Small rod engines like this were built by a number of manufacturers, including Baldwin and Vulcan, but local manufacturers like Eureka Iron Works and the Samoa shops (and local company shops) turned out small special-purpose locos like this one.
It is based on elements from several prototype locomotives, including Mattole Lumber Co. #1 at the CSRM, the "Falk" and "Gypsy" at Fort Humboldt State Historic Park, and Arcata & Mad River Railroad 1 and 2. I have lettered it for my as-yet-unconstructed mini logging layout, the Burke Lumber Company, a freelance line based on Humboldt County logging lines.
The model represented is a wood-burning tank engine, modified with a "gypsy" steam donkey attachment. The gears and capstans on the front of the engine could be connected to the power of the steam engine, allowing the engine to serve as a steam donkey to haul huge logs onto logging cars.
The model was built using a Bachmann 0-4-0 chassis. The boiler/tank is .010" styrene wrapped around the original Bachmann lead weight, and the body is constructed mostly of styrene, with a little bit of brass strip and wire. The steam dome and donkey gearing were bashed from a Rio Grande winch kit, and the stack, headlights and some other body details were taken from an MDC Shay superdetailing kit. The steam whistle and bell are Cal-Scale brass detail parts. The unpainted photos make it clear what is made out of what...
I may still add a set of trailing trucks if I can figure out a way to do it securely--I think that rear coupler is going to cause problems with derailments on the sharp curves I intend for my mini logging layout, so I may have to experiment further. This is my first attempt at scratchbuilding a steam engine, done largely without plans other than a few prototype photos to act as guidelines.
The engine is freelance, based on lumber locomotives used on California's northern coast from the 1880s to the 1930s. Small rod engines like this were built by a number of manufacturers, including Baldwin and Vulcan, but local manufacturers like Eureka Iron Works and the Samoa shops (and local company shops) turned out small special-purpose locos like this one.
It is based on elements from several prototype locomotives, including Mattole Lumber Co. #1 at the CSRM, the "Falk" and "Gypsy" at Fort Humboldt State Historic Park, and Arcata & Mad River Railroad 1 and 2. I have lettered it for my as-yet-unconstructed mini logging layout, the Burke Lumber Company, a freelance line based on Humboldt County logging lines.
The model represented is a wood-burning tank engine, modified with a "gypsy" steam donkey attachment. The gears and capstans on the front of the engine could be connected to the power of the steam engine, allowing the engine to serve as a steam donkey to haul huge logs onto logging cars.
The model was built using a Bachmann 0-4-0 chassis. The boiler/tank is .010" styrene wrapped around the original Bachmann lead weight, and the body is constructed mostly of styrene, with a little bit of brass strip and wire. The steam dome and donkey gearing were bashed from a Rio Grande winch kit, and the stack, headlights and some other body details were taken from an MDC Shay superdetailing kit. The steam whistle and bell are Cal-Scale brass detail parts. The unpainted photos make it clear what is made out of what...
I may still add a set of trailing trucks if I can figure out a way to do it securely--I think that rear coupler is going to cause problems with derailments on the sharp curves I intend for my mini logging layout, so I may have to experiment further. This is my first attempt at scratchbuilding a steam engine, done largely without plans other than a few prototype photos to act as guidelines.
