PRR H3a #931 build

[Lemosteam]

Some time ago, @Ed Kapuscinski requested a Athearn/roundhouse kit to upgrade the looks of the venerable 2-8-0 locomotive so he could create an N Scale version of the locomotive at RRMPA. The kit includes a belpaire overlay, new cab with separate window panes, a stack, and a new lower tender shell. To design the lowered tender shell the old motor was replaced by a Bachmann K4 motor and a revised angled motor cradle was also designed. The motor position changed so I had to create a new longer coupler for the motor end to use the OEM driveshaft.



Here she is, PRR H3a #931 in all her glory and warts.

[peteski]

Wow!  That looks *SO MUCH* better than the donor loco.  The loco looks better but that much smaller tender makes it look like a scale model, not some out-of-proportion toy.

[Dave V]

I want that inside me. 

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I sent this thread to my dad, the REAL H3 lover with the text "Dad. Dad. Holy crap."

Looks incredible John!

[chicken45]

That’s great and all, but if it’s going to be associated with Ed, it needs visible brush strokes hastily painted on.

[peteski]

I want that inside me. 

I didn't know you were thank of of a guy!
Have you been sex deprived lately? 

[mmagliaro]

I like it, John.  I have a question.  The tender trucks look shifted backward under the shell.  Is that how the stock Athearn engine is?  The shell is a big improvement, like Peteski said, over the one on the Athearn model that sticks way up in the air.

[Lemosteam]

I like it, John.  I have a question.  The tender trucks look shifted backward under the shell.  Is that how the stock Athearn engine is?  The shell is a big improvement, like Peteski said, over the one on the Athearn model that sticks way up in the air.

@mmagliaro , yes, the tender frame is stock, no mods except a threaded hole for the electrical pickup.

BTW, I HATE those trucks because of the way they assemble, even though they perform well.

[Dave V]

Have you been sex deprived lately? 

Since you asked... No. Not at all.   

But, my comment was a reference to this:

[EdKap2]

John, your engine is absolutely amazing.
 I have THREE. 

[peteski]

Since you asked... No. Not at all.   

But, my comment was a reference to this:

Ah, that explains it, I'm not really big into movies.  Went way over my head, but it seemed like a sexual reference (I do have dirty mind). 

[towl1996]

My rendition of @Lemosteam's excellent kit. I put a DZ126T in the tender.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

My rendition of @Lemosteam's excellent kit. I put a DZ126T in the tender.

Oooh! Please talk about how. I want to do the exact same thing and am glad to hear it's possible.

[towl1996]

Sorry about the crooked pic, I don't know what happened.

The motor is from Bachmann sitting in Lemosteam's craddle. I didn't have to touch the inside of the shell. I just trimmed the wrapper on the decoder and the metal on the tender frame by eye until it fit. The truck wires and decoder wires were soldered to an old pc board, which was super glued in place. I didn't mess with the headlight.

[peteski]

Sorry about the crooked pic, I don't know what happened.

Most likely reason is explained in https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=53677.0