Scatchbuilding a Mack shunter (switcher)

Garden Railroading
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An article in Garden Railways started me on this project. In the article, a Hartland Mack switcher was repowered with a Bachmann motor bogie. As I did not wish to cut up my Hartland Mack, I decided to build one from scratch using styrene. The bogie was from a Bachamnn 44 ton switcher. I purchased two for US$30.00 each

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After measuring the Hartland Mack, I made up the cab:

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Then the footplate:

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Attached the cab to the footplate:

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Bonnets were cast and fitted: (Tried to get bonnets from Hartland but after several months of emailing and getting no reply I made an RTV mould using an original bonnet and cast two)
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With couplers fitted and several runs on the Culcreuch Fold Garden Railway, it was trialed on the H & M Garden Railway of JRinTawa. (Of Dubs A fame)

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After obtaining an EMCO compact 5 lathe with milling head, the window glazing was milled from 3mm Perspex

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The steps were milled from 3mm styrene and attached:

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Painted, handrails and glazing installed and signwriting completed. Emblem and zebra stripes are custom made vinyl. The artwork is mine and was processed by a proffesional signwriter. First outing on the Culcreuch Fold Garden Railway. (It’s home railway)

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First run “in service”

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And another visit to the H & M G R to show off the completed model. )The H & M G R is in Tawa, over the ranges about 65 miles southwestof home territory)

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The Mack travelled to Christchurch, South Island to run on the Garden Railway layout at The Big Model Train Show on 4 & 5 October 2008. Later on the Sunday evening it ran on a local Christchurch railway

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And the “arty” shot from below the bridge.

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Here is another photo on the big viaduct;

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As I said on GSM, a very cool bash! [tup]

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Nice work! [tup] You’re lucky to have such nice railroads to run on.

Those 45 tonner trucks are great for bashing I cut up a 45 tonner and used it for my 7/8’s project -

-Brian

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Vic:

Between Culcreuch and lownote, its begining to look like you will be having some competition. You up to the challenge they present? [:-^] If I only had the skills, well guess I;ll just have to try one myself, I’ve been having this dream (daydream as well as nightmare) about a consist of “self propelled” logging disconnects from Ozark Minitures! Wouldn’t that be fanciible nightmare?