Serious tools for a serious hobby, Dremel need not apply

I discovered a new use for my air operated die grinder, i’m in the process of building a S scale Putt Trains mogul kit with some significient modifications from stock. This is your traditional Zimac kit that requires every level of metal working to obtain a credible finished product. Since the model purports to be a Reading prototype, it has the truncated cab and wooten firebox which need to be reworked. [sigh]

The 3 inch air operated cut off disc made quick work of removing the cab, the die grinder made quick work of reshapping the fiebox and boiler , it also excelled at removing the domes, boiler details and running boards. Tonight i’ll work at removing that hunk of metal under the cab and layout the details for the open frame, gotta do the same in the pilot/lead truck area as well . Next on the agenda is more grinding to recontour the cylinder castings and creating patterns for new running boards, boiler jackets and firebox sides. Stay tuned, with any luck the end result will be a credible SP example[8D]

Dave

Dave:

From Reading to SP–sounds like a pretty MAJOR transformation to me. How about some ‘in progress’ shots? I’d really like to see how you progress. Sounds like a neat project, and kudos to you for ‘kit-bashing’. [bow]

Tom [:)]

Major indeed, got a deal on three, less the $200 per kit, steam kits begin at the $500 range is S and are biased towards eastern or Canadian concerns, this is my one tiff with S scale, manfactures remain to be convinced we have railroads west of Ohio . I’ve got a my work cut out for me, as they say,. I’ll work some photos and discriptions up in the interest of others so inclined to walk on the wild side.

Stay tuned for my Bachman On30 to S, 4-4-0 conversion, coming in the near future

Dave