I got a old rivirossi big boy that has some body parts missing from it, like boiler end cap and tender end cap. I remember somebody said long ago the revel and mongram model train kit . Guy where converiting them over and used part to fit rivirossi big boys.
Anything is “do able” with enough work, is it worth it, doubtful, is it possible, of course it is, with enough time and work.
If a Cadillac engine can be installed in a '32 model A then anything is possible if you want to invest the time and work.
Personally, I’d watch the trains shows for a “junker” Rivarossi Big Boy that you can buy cheap and then you would not only have your shell but also all of the rest of the parts as well.
You can never have too many parts…
Mark
It is most unlikely, that the parts from these kits will fit to your Rivarossi loco, as they were designed and produced separately with the kits in mind. You could give it a try though.
I have the revell big boy kit and nothing you take from that will look right with the rivarossi stuff. Very little detail of any sort. The rear tender housing is a blank piece of plastic basically with the rear bumper molded to it in no scale what so ever. I agree to try to find a junker one and use it for parts. Ebay always has them, check the train shows, and maybe even ho yardsale?
In terms of detail I agree with rs2mike that the static model is a very different animal than what is missing from your model, BUT it could at least provide the basic start to a detailing effort of your own. It is worth thinking about if you can find one cheap (the unbuilt kits seem to carry a high price but often you can find a somewhat botched effort at a completed one more cheaply). I don’t know if I would seek out a full price unbuilt kit just for those parts, but if at the end of the day it is the only way to come even close, with some skill you can graft on the parts (just as the old and not very detailed Hobbyline NKP 2-8-4 unpowered kit has provided parts to a needy Rivarossi engine).
That said sometimes you can find “junker” engines that provide just the parts you need at a bargain price. This is particularly true if you don’t care if the junker runs or not. And sometimes lucky finds just fall into your hands. Just a couple of years ago I was able to score a brand new in the box Rivarossi Big Boy tender for $8 at a swap meet. It was really only after I got home with my prize that I got to thinking – what do I need this thing for?
Dave Nelson
the proublem is,the junkers that are ebay for parts goes to much on the bids. Just a non rivirossi tender went for 70.00!! the boiler end cap went for 25.00! I can pick up a monagram for 14.00… could mod the parts to fit my rossi? unless you guys know where I can find replacement parts at a resonable price at?
The static kit tender has long been used by persons building the Bowser bigbiy kits, by adding wheels, weight, and a few detail parts.
You should be able to harvest and modify the needed usable parts from this kit, and park the remains out behind your shop.
Even though alot of the detail is molded on, these are great models, and alot less $$ to fill the roundhouse.
at least this guy likes it!
Rivarrossi overscaled their engines to match the larger flanges, a cheap trick, they are closer to OO scale than HO, but you just don’t notice.
Look to do a bit of tweaking kitbashing if you do.
The difference prolly may not mean much except for critical fits.