I’m looking to get into HOn3 modeling, but I don’t want to model D&RG, or use their locomotives. Does anyone know of any good resources for how to kitbash locomotives(specifically steam)? (chasis modifications, electrical, body modifications, ect.)
Not sure about kitbashing, but there are brass models out the for the Pennsylvania based East Broad Top. I don’t know if a brass model of an engine from the Tweetsie RR, which was a narrow gauge RR based in the Carolinas.
MDC, (Roundhouse), offered some narrow gauge locomotive kits in the 1970’s. They were very popular but were discontinued in the early 1980’s. While they were Rio Grande based, they were generic enough to fit almost anywhere. You can still find complete kits on E-bay at times.
Kalmbach has a book that might help. If you have back issues of MR in the 40’s,50’s,60’s (maybe later) there were some articles that might help. Kalmbach also has a dvd with back issues for sale.
If you’re willing to bash, you might want to consider Sn3. HO gauge is Sn42. You could use this gauge and HO track while bashing the cab and other details to S scale. You could possibly bash HO to Sn3 by narrowing the gauge.
Good luck
Paul
I am currently considering bashing a couple of my Blackstone, HOn3 K-27’s to be more in tune with my custom road’s needs. Due to their expense and lovely nature, I am as nervous as a new bride about starting, but start I will. In the end, you are best advised to buy an extant model and bash it into what you think looks pretty.
HOn3 is pricey and if you don’t buy Blackstone, you are forced into old brass, of which there seems to be plenty on e-bay, but you will want to re-motor whatever brass you buy and add Tsunami sound if you are DCC bound. At least you won’t be ruining a lovely finished model, but bringing an old narrow gauge iron horse back to life in the 21st century standard while bashing the heck out of it.
Bashing is a craftsman’s effort and it is best to just leap into the work and hone skills along the way. Looking for a “take you by the hand” text is going to be tough. Ideas and some bahings can be found in back issues of the Narrow Gauge and Shortline Gazette which, if you are truly into the narrow gauge, you should be taking. It has been around since the 70’s and all issues are collectable and all back issues are usually more than the original cover price. Can’t say that about many MR mags.
Richard
Some good tips so far.
In HOn3 steam, probably 90%+ of all locos imported are Rio Grande prototype. After that, there are logging, C&S and EBT, all of which tend to be rare enough to fetch good prices on the used market. So not much to work with if you’re wanting something completely different.
Chassis mods? Assuming you include drivers, etc, this is a place on experts should venture. Things have to be square and true and that is harder than it may seem at first.
Electrical? Pretty much the same as any other loco. Except for wipers. Add as many as you can for contact on both rails. Practice on the cheap stuff before shifting to the expensive stuff.
Body mods? You’re kind of stuck with the boiler, but lots of other appliances, etc can be changed with the detail parts now available.
If you really want to bash HOn3 locos, a good place to start is with diesels. Lots of options, cheap material to work with, good locos once done. For more, see some of mine:
http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/t/215880.aspx
Mike has given some fine examples and good tips. You can bash mildly by making almost no structure changes but moving around extant parts and adding new ones. You can bash more heavily without major issues by tearing off the pilot, extending it and taking off or adding leading and trailing trucks, morphing or changing the tender. changing the stack, moving or altering sand and steam domes, etc.
Major, hard core bashing like making an outside frame 10 wheeler out of a k-27 mike will, if successful, make you a true bashing craftsman.
I have bashed about 4 steam locos while in HO over my many years, but nothing super major. While not a hardcore stickler for terms, kit bashing is generally taking a kit and building it into something different from what it was supposed to be. Bashing is taking a finished item and altering it into a different animal.
The sky is the limit if your skills, fortitude and enginuity prove up to the task.
Richard