I just got back home after running around the Great Train Expo in Columbus. In general, I noticed many price increases over last time and many vendors trying to sell things at MSRP. There were definately some deals to be had if you dug around a little, and boy did I dig. I walked out with a United 2-6-6-2 logger that just needs cleaning and painting, a remotor job is also in order, and an HOn3 shay in a million or so pieces. It really appears to have been a kit, as the cab is still in unsoldered pieces, as well as the bunker and everything else. The engine has a rotating crank and ecsentrics, and there are two (at least) present. One is still in unbuilt form and another looks to be an aftermarket purchase already assembled but very detailed. The box contains multiples of many parts, like 3 bunker shells, but only 1 top piece. This is a great little find but will take a lot of attention and some really small screwdrivers. The only thing missing is some sort of diagram for it. Most parts are pretty self explanitory, but there are SO many extremely small parts, small enough that I’m thinking using 2 magnifying lenses stacked up. First things first, I would really like to find some sort of diagram if there was any. Does anyone know what companies might have produced something of this nature? By the way, for anyone wondering if there are any deals at these shows, I picked up this thing for $100. It is about the size of the keystone shay, which is tiny. I think this thing will be about 2 1/2 inches long when done.
I got brave tonight and put all the pieces on a piece of paper in the basement, trying to sort out extras as I came across them. Nothing was in any kind of order, but most of the smaller parts were in tubes. I believe I’m missing one sideframe on the driveline side, which I’m hoping to be able to overcome. There is no drive system (motor) nor is there any provisions for mounting one. The axles do have a gear setup similar to the MDC shay, but thats it. I took a picture hoping someone might have some ideas. I’m starting to think with the size of some of those bevel gears and screws and even the engine that this was not a kit at all, but something that was got out of one of the manufacturers overseas prior to assembly, which might account for all the extra parts, such as 4 sidewalls and fronts to the cab, but only one rear wall. 
At any rate, this looks to be a monumental challenge. I really want to see if I can make the second engine look like the assembled one. I cannot believe that not only the rods move, but the pushrods as well. I’m really afraid of sneezing around this thing! There are a couple parts that I’m unsure about. I’ll look at this thing some more under a magnifier and see if I get anywhere. It does look like it would make a nice looking shay IF/when done. WHAT HAVE I GOTTEN INTO???