OK, got to add my two 2 cent nickel (yes, that is an actual USA coin)…
To the OP,
I’ve read all of your threads, and its obvious that there are a lot of folks that want to help you. And now that we recognize your personal situation, we want to help you even more!
But that only goes so far. It’s time for you to actually do something. Be it a loco kitbash, building a car or structure kit, or starting on a layout, or whatever…
You need to put down the keyboard and pick up a kit or scratch materials and get to work. As Richhotrain said, get with a project and give us updates periodically.
We all would look forward to that, and you will have actually accomplished something in the MR arena.
I’ll weigh In. I love doing “junkyard specials”/fantasy units… I mean i made a self propelled diesel rail car by slicing a rivorossi E9 nose onto a concor streamlined observation car. A fairly easy kitbash, but it was a pain to make the roofing line up correctly. So I second what Tstage suggested, and start small. I’m 26, I’ve been modeling sincec I was 10, and hace only been doing the kitbashes with PRESENTABLE results for a couple years or so.
I’m still trying to figure out just what is a Cab Forward Big Boy, and why on earth anybody would want one. I’ve studied steam locos for most of my 72 years and never heard of such a preposterous thing. It’s hard enough to do a credible job replicating things that really existed. Are we modelers or cartoonists?
How about trying something a bit cheaper as your short on cash. Start with a cheapo (Clunker) Rivarossi Cab Forward off eBay and kitbash it into a SP AC-9 as Dan proposed.
I’ve done 3 and working on my forth, each one is a bit better than the previous kitbash. It’s something I wouldn’t have done as a fi
What’s so preposterous about it? If the SP needed any bigger locos, that would have been the next step up, a 4-8-8-4 cab forward. They already went up to 4-8-8-2, what’s another 2 wheels on the trailing truck?
The internet has become a blessing and a curse. With the endless stream of information available, a lot of people get bogged down with an idea or project for fear of doing something wrong or something that doesn’t make sense.
I recall many times myself as a young lad, having a box of left-over / broken engines and trying to cobble something together that would look neat and maybe even run. I didn’t have the luxury of the internet to ask the masses if what I wanted to do would make sense … or if it would even work. If I remember correctly, that wasn’t even a concern.
I jumped in full steam ahead fully believing my odd creation would somehow work. For the most part - in most cases they never did pan out as I had envisioned and I don’t recall any that actually got to the point of running to any degree.
But … I learned a lot in the process. How to chop up shells and combine different pieces. How to mount trucks that would actually negotiate a radius tighter than 60 inches. How to configure various drive components. And on and and on …
If I had been inundated with logic and common sense about some of those projects, I no doubt would not have even attempted any of them.
Turn off the computer and turn on the imagination. Live in your own little world and get creative - who knows what you may come up with, and I guarantee, you WILL learn something.
No. I concur with Tom’s evalutation. Start small then work your way to the bigger projects.
My first kit was an N scale box car when I was 8 or so. That was somewhat successful. There was an interviening few years of more important things (cars, girls, larger model trains, USN) that got in the way. My second kit was a box car 5 years ago. The third kit I built (a week after the second) was a Branchline passenger car.
I learned a lot from that Branchline kit. The most important thing I learned was that I didn’t know what I was doing.
So I built some athearn BB kits, Accurail kits then proceded to start building structures. Ive recently completed my first bridges, central valley girder bridges.
I too have a locomotive scratchbuild in mind, but I know that my skills are not quite there yet. That hasnt stopped me from obtaining the appropriate brass detail parts, basic metal shapes, appropriate instructions and tooling to procede with the work.
Watch the movie “What about Bob?”…baby steps…
My opinion on this project:
Skip the whole Big Boy and figure out how to mount a 4 wheel trailing truck in place of the two wheel on the Cab Forward. It is doubtful that if SP had made a 4-8-8-4 Cab forward that it would look much different than their existing cab forwards.
Also note.
The 4-8-8-4 Big Boy had a 4 wheel trailing truck to support the weight of the firebox and a 4 wheel leading truck for guiding the locomotive around curves at higher speeds. The Cab Forward has its
You need to take 100 steps back and just start with the basics…
Seriously though,
At this point you need to stop posting and actually listen to the advice you’ve been given. You’re going around and around in circles and enough is enough.
Legos and plastic structure kits are two different animals, Steven. Legos allow you to assemble and easily disassemble if you mess up - without lasting effects; plastic kits are not quite so forgiving in either category. You’ll also need to paint the kit either during or after assembly.
I think it would be better if you started with a more complex rolling stock kit(s), as outline in my initial post on pg. 1. If you are determined to put together a Walthers kit then do it and do NOT post or ask any questions here until you’ve completed it. Experinece, mistakes, and correcting those mistakes will be your best teacher.
To be honest, I don’t fully agree with all the postings to build an endless string of freight cars and / or structures before attempting one of his mega monster engine projects. He doesn’t want to build boxcars and buildings - he wants to build a massive engine !
Sometimes experience can be the best (and sometimes expensive) teacher. There’s been more than a few guys have come into our store having never flown an R/C plane before and have their mind set on the big bad-ass R/C Spitfire. Going against our recommendations of starting smaller and really learning how to fly, they buy the Spitfire … they are usually back the next week to buy a Cub Trainer and ask if parts are available for the Spitfire !
From a personal perspective, I was given a large model of the Cutty Sark when I was 7. My Dad and I always built models together, so I did have some experience, but not the amount needed for that one ! Dad suggested I hold off until I had more experience, but I picked at it until I knew I was way in over my head. I was 24 when I finally finished it …
What I’m saying is - this is a hobby, not a life altering decision. If he wants to attack a monster engine, I say go for it. Experience is an amazing teacher. He’ll know soon enough if he’s over his head or not. Just don’t expect to come here on an hourly basis and expect all of us to hold your hand through the entire process. Sure, post pictures of the progress as I’m sure helpful suggestions will follow, but don’t expect anyone to provide step-by-step instructions for you.
Tom, So, if Steven doesn’t start out building the models you think he should then he can expect no help from this forum? Somehow I don’t think that is at all in the spirit of our gracious host; Model Railroader and the Kalmbach Publishing Co.
Peter, that is not at all what Tom is saying. He has issued a challenge to Steven to put together a Walthers kit without asking questions about it until he has completed the kit. [:#]
You’re reading too far into Tom’s reply to our young friend.
If you go back through the forums, you’ll see that Steven (NWP-SWP) starts multiple topics daily with giant monsterous dreams, but with no budget, room, or skills to complete them. Young Steven has received comment after comment with advice, wisdom, encouragement, criticism, help with designs, feedback on ideas, and anything else you can imagine. This is routinely and frequently (near always) ignored while his ideas continue to fill the forums and end up frustrating other folks. Multiple attempts have been made to guide and help him see one project through, but it doesn’t happen.
I don’t believe Tom’s comments were meant to be “Go do it and don’t talk to us until it’s done”, but moreso “Go build it and see it through” because frankly enough is enough, and constantly wasting our time trying to help Steven is getting to be absolutely pointless around here. Case in point, he’s moved on to other forums here within the Kalmbach community looking for input on his “dream” of building an enormous locomotive that he doesn’t have the skills to build.
Sorry if my statement to Steven came across harsh but it was a challenge for him to see the [kit] project through before getting back to us. As mentioned the experience and any mistakes Steven learns from it will be his best teacher - even if he struggles with it.
Steven has already put together a handful of (5) Accurail kits so even a Walthers kit will probably stretch and broaden his skills. I mentioned the more complex rolling stock kits as the next step up from Accurail because they would be less expensive than a Walthers structure kit but still accomplish the same task.
Just so I’m clear, I will look forward to hearing back from Steven if and when he completes the kit. Do it and learn…