One thing. The couplers. I’ve been working with Sergent couplers. This little guy would benefit from these. They really do work, and beautifully. ONE of the benefits of these couplers (besides the fact that they are scale and work) is that you really don’t need a coupler box. Try them out, and you’ll see what I’m talking about. All you REALLY need is a mounting screw and some kind of spring washer. The spring that Sergent uses isn’t really necessary. Strictly speaking, you don’t really need that spring washer. It’s only there so the coupler doesn’t flop about too freely. To me, the ideal would be a #2 “wavy” washer, and a shouldered screw. And, the coupler. THAT is really compact.
There is no need to use Kadees on a little guy like this. In fact, the smaller the critter, the more obnoxious the Kadee. While I work in mainline railroads, I do have a logging branch. And I expect to outfit all the little guys with Sergents. They are a vast improvement.
I use Kadee #711s on my critters. They are smaller than the ‘scale’ size Kadees but they still work with the larger couplers. They look fine on the tiny engines. Granted they are plastic but that really isn’t an issue since the critters can only pull one or two cars anyhow. They will also work without a coupler box where space doesn’t permit and they have to be glued in solid.
I know the feeling, the 2 Hustler kitbash HOn30 switchers I started last winter are still on the bench, other projects just seem to be getting in the way…
Congrats on the finishing of the new addition! 4 ounces is pretty hefty for something that small. I like your attention to detail; the hand rails are straight and clean, etc. I’m impressed. Dan
Don’t underestimate the ruggedness of Kadee 711 couplers. Back in the days before Sergent and “scale” Kadees, a friend of mine had a layout on which he used 711’s. One day I brought a new brass B&O EM-1 2-8-8-4 to run, even though his layout was designed for much smaller equipment. We coupled 40 cars behind that engine, with the lead freight car equipped with 711’s. The engine pulled the train with ease and the couplers never failed, although we could see that they flexed a bit. I don’t think I would recommend their use if your trains are usually in the 40 car range. He usually ran trains of 10 to 15 cars, occasionally going up to about 20 cars, and never had a problem.
At first I did not understand what our friend meant when he referred to using a Kadee coupler spring for electrical pickup. The brass wiper looked like what I have on my old Mantua Booster 0-4-0T and Little Six 0-6-0T. Then I looked closer – what a clever idea!
As for the motor I have not looked under the hood to see what powers the new reissued versions of the old AHM Minitrains HOn2 1/2 diesel, but it must be pretty darn small.