Finished my fantasy saddletank 0-4-0 loco :-)

I read that previous thread, and didn't think the 0-4-0 would work out for ya, but I gotta say, you really pulled it off.  I like it!  Nice job Lee.

That is a pretty nice rendition of that SP switcher.  Adding another unique item to your layout.  I will see this layout someday.  Good job....

Amazing craftsmanship Lee.

Another fine modling job Lee.  It looks like alot of work went into the cab and saddles but it's wonderfully ugly in a brutish sort of way even for so short of an engine.  I think that's just what you were trying to achieve.

 

Joe

Beautiful modeling work.  One question.  How does the crew see where they're going?  It looks like the rear tank is the same width as the cab?

It's wonderful.  And I do say, you certainly got it done faster than I thought it'd take.

I like that......A LOT!!! Very cool build!

You never cease to amaze with your inventiveness!

 

--Greg

You know, I wondered that, since the prototype (below) I losely based this on is just like that.  But, I figured in Lindbergh could cross the ocean and land without a front window, no doubt the engineer and fireman here, who have a convenient window to lean out, can get around a RR line. Or maybe its intended to now be a cab forward, although I will not run mine like that.

 

Very nice work, Lee. I am amazed it is so much like the picture Don posted. 

Great work Lee, you nailed it. Don

I like it!!  You have yet another wonderful custom engine.  Very cool.

Since the prototype seems to be lacking an obvious headlight on the smokebox, I would guess that it was indeed intended to run cab forward.  Still, it's a fantastic model!  Great work!

Lee, amazing. Do you ever sleep? Your designs and work ethic is mind blowing!

A few comments about the prototype SP 0-6-0T:

 

1) It was designed solely for a Shop Switcher, thus it never went "out around the RR line".

 

2) It was design as a "Cab Forward" ONLY.

 

3) Since it was solely a Shop Switcher, ALL movements were governed and controlled by a person ON THE GROUND. Thus the Engineer/Hostler really didn't have to actually see all that well when he was backing up, since the Ground Man was signaling he what to do.

Wow Lee! Truly terrific.

Boy, that's a fine model, Lee! You captured the chunky look of the prototype perfectly.

 

If I hadn't read your description, I probably wouldn't have noticed one less pair of drivers.

Lee, 

 

VERY nice job. Very well done. 

Fantastic, the essence was captured, and at the speed of light....that got done really

quickly.  I don't think you will see any duplicates of that in the model magazines.

Very nice, thank you for sharing it with us.

 

Gilly

Which 0-4-0 did you use??? The current loco??

That's great Lee, I love oddball stuff, that that one goes to the head of the class!

It is the current conventional 0-4-0 shifter.  I took this photo just before I started work on its conversion.

 

This shows it about four hours later: most of that time was taken incutting the side doors out.

I can't believe it's already finished Lee! I like it a lot! Great job!  Terry

Lee, what's that putty-like material you used to secure those walls?

It is Loctite epoxy putty (phot below) - one of my favorite modeling materials.  I literally buy in by the dozen (from Amazon). Feels like modeling clay and comes in a two-part roll: blue on the outside and white on the inside.   You cut off a bit of the roll and roll and knead it in your hands for about a minute and it turns light gray and warm, and very pliable.  for about five minutes then you can push/mold it where you want it to go and let it harden (an hour or overnight if possible).  When hardened it  tenaciously holds to about any surface including somewhat to glass, is very strong but can be drilled, tapped, and sanded, etc.  I prefer it to JB Weld (easier to work) or Liquid epoxies (messier).  

 

Only one caveat: when you work it with your hands, it leaves a thin film on your fingers that will leave permanent fingerprints on, say, the glossy painted bodies of diecast cars, if you just touch them: they will not wipe off.  This film on your hands will remove - detergent or a good soap will do it (not paint thiner, etc., or Goop) but it requires a lot of scrubbing.  Best to avoid touching anything critical until you do.  

 

• 

Well done LEE, Enjoy that little lokie.  I enjoyed looking at it, Thank You!

Lee,

Great job on your tank engine!  The Bayshore Roundhouse, in the background of the photo, is within walking distance of my house.  The roundhouse is the only thing left of the big SP Bayshore Yard.  When I was a kid my grandpa used to take me to the Bayshore Yard to watch the steamers.  My dad's best friend was also the yardmaster there.  Matt

Great work Lee. I love ugly engines and appreciate how people used to create things to get the job done!  You certainly continue that idea.   Your day must have at least 36 hours in it.  

THE REST OF THE STORY

 

The best-laid plans.  My lovely little ugly duckling was done and running fine.  Then I remembered: I had not replaced the portal and cover over the tunnel of my BEEPWorld loop (the loop passes around and under itself there).  

 

Some background, I had trouble cramming a third loop onto my layout and had to accept a rather limited amount of overpass headroom where it passes under: specifically I left just a smidge more than 1/4 inch clearance for a BEEP.  The stock Lionel 0-4-0 Shifter's smoke stack clears by just 1 millimeter.

 

So it was not going to make it through with the bell and railing, etc: I had to remove the railing, lower the catwalk along the top 1/8 inch, relocate the bell (to the center between the tanks) and the whistles, etc., to the front of the leading tank.  I actually like the look a bit more.  I think I will weather it though, in a day or so.  

 

Very nice modeling work.  The headlight does throw you off.  It seemed odd there was no headlight on the back but there was one on the "front".  Hot water's explanation on the prototype really clears it up.  I was beginning to wonder if it was like the Darjeeling Express with a couple of guys n the cow catcher yelling back to the driver :-)

 

Sorry to hear about the clearance issues.  Some of those details help make the model "pop" visually.  Is there any reasonable way to fix the layout?

Here is a photo I found online of an S.P. 0-6-0 Tank locomotive...

Yeah, we speculated somewhere above in this thread that maybe it was now a "cab forward" and I will probably mount a headlight at the rea,r but to be honest - I don't like cab forward steam, so I will continue to run it as in the photo in "Spirit of St. Louis" mode, so to speak: lean out the window and look ahead.  After all, not like the wind in your face would be tough - it would never go very fast, doing what it was meant to do.

 

Interestingly, the other fantasy loco I just completed (see picture near the end of electroliner's recent thread on "Another Neglected Prototype: Shop Switch Engines") - as I completed it I thought about putting a headlight, etc, but the photo of the prototype didn't show even marker lights, etc., so I left them off.

MORE "REST OF THE STORY" - AND AN END TO THE STORY

 

In the spirit of full disclosure I will post "the rest of the story,"  which is not pretty - literally. Even though this was a fantasy loco, the problem with straight-ahead visibility worried me, and it became clear from other posts that the SP 0-6-0T was meant to be a cab-forward:

https://ogrforum.com/t...e-to-see-made?page=1

 

So I modified mine into a cab-forward, moving the wireless tether to the other end and installing a headlight on what is now the front, etc. (and another coupler, not shown here).  It still runs great, but as a cab forward, is much, much uglier than ever.  And it has lost any and all charm it had before.  I don't like it and have no desire to see it on the layout.  It is just an unredeemingly ugly, unpleasant locomotive to look at.  I dislike it greatly. Tt was a fun project, but this goes on a very high shelf.

 

Lee;

Turn it back around, You are right, It's really ugly as a cab forward and they can lean out the windows as needed.

Nice Work Lee! Really cool cab forward!

Bill

Very nice job on the conversion.  

 

BTW, Aren't tank engines supposed to be homely/ugly?

I love it Lee, it's a one-of-a-kind!  You should get lots of interesting comments with that running around the layout.

 

Thanks for all the positive comments, guys, but no - I fully acknowledge tank engines are supposed to be ugly so this fits right in.  But as I said, as a cab forward it is just unredeemably ugly and I'm tired of working on it - not going to spend a day convering it back to cab in the rear, but instead move on to another project.

 

As I said, onto the highest shelf.  Here it is as it will be forever: way, way in the back corner, where I won't notice it much.