I have a Spectrum 2-8-0 that I plan to modify to more closely resemble a particular prototype. However, the prototype was an oil burner, and the Spectrum tender has a coal bunker. I wonder if any manufacturers have produced a retrofit kit for this type of conversion? I won’t have much trouble scratchbuilding an oil bunker, but not if there’s an easier way.
Thanks,
potlatcher
You could use a MDC oil tender shell…
As part of this conversion, don’t forget that a coal burner has ash pans under the grates and an oil burner does not.
Dave Nelson
Potlatcher,
Bachmann Spectrum makes three varieties of Vanderbuilt tenders for exactly this purpose (presuming the prototype you are modelling used one). They are a plug and play for the 2-8-0. I have two of them and they look great. The front of the tenders are different heights depending on the road you choose. The SP appears to be the lowest of the three.
Guy Cantwell
Athabasca Shops ( http://www.athabascashops.com/ ) has a brass kit for an oil bunker for the Bachmann 2-8-0 and 4-8-2. This is a very simple kit to build, even if you have not built a brass kit before. The only draw back some may have is that the kit is very Canadian Pacific looking as the kit is intended for us up here in the land of ice and snow.
Hope this helps.