As with many on this forum, I have a sizeable assortment of “projects” that have accumulated over the years. We recognize that some kits are limited runs and that companies go out of business, so we stockpile things. Many of us have numerous such projects that we hope to get to “some day”. Recognizing the reality of the calendar, I have worked some over the past couple years to actually reach into the drawer and work on some of those “some day” projects.
I remember when I went to the model train store (which no longer exists) on a payday and while I didn’t have much time for modeling then I wanted to buy something. I purchased one of the then just-released Bachmann Doodlebugs. This was the offering in about 1996 or 1996 and was a DC model, even containing a warning of a wire that needed to be cut if it was to be used with an “advanced” DCC power.
The Doodlebug as offered is too modern and too large for my era. My project this summer was to shorten the model. I sectioned out 17.5 scale feet, reducing the model from 10 passenger windows per side to 4. The motor and flywheel in this model is quite large, and my initial thought of reducing the length of the baggage compartment would not have allowed the motor to stay hidden. My initial plan was to back-date the model by adding a clerestory roof, but upon working with it I kept the original roof because (1) the roof has a slot and tab fit with the body which adds to the structural integrity after cutting out a section and (2) there was no way to reduce the height of the sides and I feared that the taller roof would make the model oversized. Can’t have a hi-cube doodlebug.
So here is a photo of my shortened Bachmann Doodlebug, which now scales in as a 55 footer. EMC did make models in about that length. Trailer coach #16 in the photo is a Maryland & Pennsylvania prototype, from a Funero & Camerlengo
I’m trying to take care of some of those “set-aside” projects, too, but for me, it’s steam locomotives - five Bachmanns, two Athearn, a Bowser and parts-/scratchbuild, all to match prototype locomotives. I think I have another doodlebug to build, too.
I took the liberty of scrolling through some of your pictures. I must say you are an excellent modeller! Your saw mill scratch build (I’m assuming) is superb. Amazing detail. I also noticed a McKeen Motor Car which I’m assuming (there I go again) was an F&C kit. I did one of those last spring. It was a challenge but very rewarding.
I’m in the same boat as far as having tons of projects on the go or waiting for me to get my butt in gear. I’ve had to lay off the modelling for a few weeks because of muscle spasms in my back, but they seem to have abated so I need to get back at things.
Bill … Thanks for sharing your doodlebug project with us. It looks outstanding.
I have the Bachmann doodlebug, and in mine I repowered it with the NWSL Stanton drive kit made for the Bachmann doodlebug. I could not be more pleased with the performance of the NWSL drive. The conversion was not very difficult. My doodlebug no longer has the large motor and flywheel you mentioned. … So, I suggest you include such a conversion on your outstanding model. … What’s another project on your to do list ?.. LOL
Here are some shots of when I installed the NWSL drive in the doodlebug as inoformation. I did not use the unpowered truck supplied in the NWSL kit. I included a rear headlight and a decoder.
Thanks to you and the others for the gracious comments! My sawmill (thread titled “Sawmill soiree”) was from a 30+ year-old kit from Keystone Locomotive Works, although the connecting sawmill tramway to carry the lumber carts to the drying yard and planing mill had to be scratchbuilt. That McKeen car, Motor 1 on my railroad is an old brass Ken Kidder model which has been re-motored with a can motor and usually pulls a 40-ft baggage car (Bethlehem car works kit) modeled after a Santa Fe prototype that was actually used behind McKeen cars.
Hope that back gets to feeling better. Even a ten minute session at the workbench can keep progress going on a project, so hang in there.
OK, my assumptions were all wrong! That doesn’t detract at all from your excellent modelling.
The Funaro and Camerlingo HO McKeen Motor Car resin kit that I built did require a lot of work. The exterior of the body was done quite well but that is where the quality ended! I had to remove tons of resin from the inside of the shell roof, and I pretty much trashed all of the supposed ‘detail’ castings. I scratch built the front ‘cow catcher’ as well as the front truck and engine. The car is powered by a Tenshodo spud.
hon30critter, I’ll get to finishing my F&C McKeen one of these days! I am happy to report though that my single axle custom drive works well.[:D] I used some very tiny helical gears for a 2:1 reduction on a Bachmann 44T motor, and then used an Athearn worm and axle gear with an NWSL axle. The rest of the axles are Intermountain freight car wheelsets.
Congratulations on creating yet another unique drive system!
I’d really love to see some pictures of it, maybe even before the motor car is finished?!? Be warned however, you know how bad I am at stealing your designs.
The challenge with McKeen cars is always that front truck, where the front set of wheels was distinctly larger in diameter than the others. Utilizing power trucks from “trolleys” or “cable cars” thus doesn’t work, as that one set of large-diameter wheels gave a signature look to side views of the car just as much as the knife-nose gave a signature look to the body. If I ever get West, that operable McKeen in Nevada will be high on the “to see” list.
Scratch building the front truck for my McKeen Motor Car was a bit of a challenge. It took two attempts. For the first one I attempted to copy the resin truck that came with the kit. That didn’t work too well, and I was going to try it again when I discovered a picture of a different truck/engine assembly that had also been used on the prototype. The design seemed simpler to replicate, and indeed I did manage to come up with a decent looking (non-powered) truck the first time. I was able to mount an engine taken from a Life Like power generator on to the truck so the engine actually pivots with the truck just like the original. The engine lacks some details like the exposed valve gear, but it looks good enough for me.
The motive power is a Tenshodo ‘SPUD’ drive with the side frames from the kit’s rear truck attached.
