I’m looking at my #8602 4-4-2, to see if it can be made to look a bit more consistent with my other locos.
It’s a nice runner, but too toylike relative to the other locos.
I’m looking at the following options;
1) replace the leading truck with a pony truck, and a larger diameter solid wheelset. This would be in character with various Lionel PW models and improve the appearance by covering the gap under the pilot, without creating cylinder/wheel clearance issues
2) replace the rear truck with an outside frame one. I have an incomplete #2026 which could be used as a donor.
3) fit part of the valve gear motion from the #2026 (note that only the eccentric crank and related parts would be used)
does anyone have experience of any of these changes?