Started a new project of building a 2-6-6T Mason Bogie out of existing train parts. Started with a Lionel gold rust 0-6-0 engine and a extra cab, a LGB spreewald 2-6-0 engine and a eztec tender. I pieced the cab to make it look like the ordinal mason bogie and extend the roof. Cut all the extra plastic material off the spreewald chassis and chopped and shortened the tender body. I have added rivet detail using Mirce model air plane rivets and being as they are flat rivets I raised them by adding a drop of gel super glue to each, a little time consuming, but still much faster than adding each rivet individually. So far I have gotten the cab, and tender body completed with paint that matches my passenger cars, and road name lettering that I did on a cameo silhouette. Added real coal to the to the tender and the only thing left to do on it is to pick a number for the side of the tender body that will be placed in the large open area.
Have shortened the chassis of the spreewald and added the gold rush special cowcatcher + added rivet detail to the smoke box. Purchased 1 1/2" tubing for the boiler from Plastruct. Replaced the European engine cylinders with American style walschaerts. It is surprising how much of the Lionel engine I will be using but if you take the time to read (www.npcrr.com/Articles/PhilJensenStory/ThePhilJensenStory.pdf)
but understandable when Phil Jensen was responsible for much of most US manufactures designs. Plan on articulating the motor chassis the same way as LGB did their Forney which is really a 2-4-4T mason bogie not a true Forney, LGB did it so the engine would negotiate their 4’ diamet
Thanks for the detailed update. It fascinates me how you are able to see the finished product in all of these disparate parts. Do you think you could detail a bit in how you decide what to use? There are obvious things, like wheel configurations, that dictate motor block selection, but there are other things like what cab will marry to what boiler and what cylinder will mesh with what motor block that just blow my mind. It is that inability to “see” how things will come together that really makes me reticent to - at last - make a swing on e-Bay.
Eric, how about we just concentrate on 1 part, the cab? I have always liked old steam engines and particularly different styles and one that caught my eye was the 6 driver mason bogie. They were engines that were unique in as much as the driver part articulated under the boiler and this was done with a special pivot joint that was designed by builder Mason. The Brits had something similar I believed called a Farie(sp) and this allowed a powerful engine to negotiate tight turns with out overhang like happens with a Forney ( non articulated). Interesting fact is that Mason believed that engines needed to be powerful but also good looking so all of his creations have very detailed paint and window designs. Let it be know that LGB’s Forney is really a mason bogie because the drive is articulate for the same reason that Mason built his to do the same. There are several wheel configurations for different models but all worked on the same principle, there is even a 2-2-4T that really funny looking almost like a toy. ( I will attach pictures in order with attachments), I came across a Lionel 0-6-0 gold rush special, look at the cab and especially the windows and doors and you will see they are very close except that the Lione
Thanks for the detailed answer and accompanying pictures. I have to digest it but, in short, it begins with a prototype, continues with a detailed knowledge of what’s available (possibly the trickier part), and ends with craftsmanship. Along the way comes the cost assessment of time and dollars relative to effort and desired outcome.
I recently was in a hobby shope that had a trove of trashed Big Haulers, G-gauge toys, and a pair of lightly beaten LGB 2-axle freight cars. The prices were right, and there was probably room to dicker. I just couldn’t “see” a project in the parts before me any more than I can “see” one in the e-Bay advertisements.
I am wondering in part from your description if my problem may be a lack of study of the prototypes. Hmmmm…
Moving right along, got the bases for the domes done out of PVC pipe and also fitted the boiler running boards + sizing the boiler to the chassis and installing the upper section of the fire box
Further progress on the mason bogie, boiler painted using cab light green and missed with silver over spray and the fire box I added rivets and colored both it and the smoke box with a dark gray metallic graphite. Pretty much most of the detailed fitting is done allowing a better look at the articulation suspension. which will be next along with the coloring of the running boards. Domes are done and screwed to the boiler with single 8/32 screw and leaving only the bell to be built and fitted to the top of the boiler. More to come, Bill
Moving along at a snails pace the Mason Bogie is taking shape. Finally got everything fitted, what a pain, being as I’m not a master builder I adjust as I go along. Funny after fitting 1 piece and going to another when rechecking now the first piece is off a little more readjustments and so it went, on and on but finally everything is now fitting. Next is fitting the headlight and making the bell bracket and mounting, always touch up paint and the motor chassis has to be re assembled but the tunnel is getting shorter, more as it progresses
Since last post I have got the headlight done and mounted + got the side gear in place except for the reversing bar but moving r… moreSince last post I have got the headlight done and mounted + got the side gear in place except for the reversing bar but moving right along, ordered the Gscale graphics rail boss 4 and a charging (door way) board and still looking at mounting the batteries in the boiler, more to come, Bill
More progress on the Mason Bogie, got the boiler handrails done and piping for the sand dome and was done with 1/16" brass wire, reused the stanchions from the original Lionel 0-6-0 and was going to purchase 2 more to put 3 on each side but after reviewing the shipping cost I decided on 2 on each side. Received my G scale graphics R?C system and am looking forward to getting it install but first will have to make some more detail parts like the bell and the firebox but at least it is starting to look like something, more to follow.
Got a little more done this weekend but we also had a tropical wave come thru wich meant cleaning up and shoreing things but I did get the firebox finished, just need to add the spool to the starbord side and hightlight the rivets so they show up better, more to come and on to the bell
Slowly moving along, got the rear firebox bulhead detailed out and have the bell/reversing lever bracket made, not if i could just find the darn bell, more to come, Bill
While still looking for the misplaced bell I have gotten most of the shifter mechanism done still in styrene white but as soon as it dries up around here it will get some paint. Left to do on it is designing the vertical lift bar that runs between the shift leaver at the top and the side drive bar on the chassis. Am considering using round cord elastic that would give with the turning and side rod movements, got to get it on the rollers and see how much everything moves, More to follow, Bill
Started a new project of building a 2-6-6T Mason Bogie out of existing train parts. Started with a Lionel gold rust 0-6-0 engine and a extra cab, a LGB spreewald 2-6-0 engine and a eztec tender. I pieced the cab to make it look like the ordinal mason bogie and extend the roof. Cut all the extra plastic material off the spreewald chassis and chopped and shortened the tender body. I have added rivet detail using Mirce model air plane rivets and being as they are flat rivets I raised them by adding a drop of gel super glue to each, a little time consuming, but still much faster than adding each rivet individually. So far I have gotten the cab, and tender body completed with paint that matches my passenger cars, and road name lettering that I did on a cameo silhouette. Added real coal to the to the tender and the only thing left to do on it is to pick a number for the side of the tender body that will be placed in the large open area.
Moving right along, got the bases for the domes done out of PVC pipe and also fitted the boiler running boards + sizing the boiler to the chassis and installing the upper section of the fire box
More progress on the Mason Bogie, got the boiler handrails done and piping for the sand dome and was done with 1/16" brass wire, reused the stanchions from the original Lionel 0-6-0 and was going to purchase 2 more to put 3 on each side but after reviewing the shipping cost I decided on 2 on each side. Received my G scale graphics R?C system and am looking forward to getting it install but first will have to make some more detail parts like the bell and the firebox but at least it is starting to look like something, more to follow.
While still looking for the misplaced bell I have gotten most of the shifter mechanism done still in styrene white but as soon as it dries up around here it will get some paint. Left to do on it is designing the vertical lift bar that runs between the shift leaver at the top and the side drive bar on the chassis. Am considering using round cord elastic that would give with the turning and side rod movements, got to get it on the rollers and see how much everything moves, More to follow, Bill