SP MT-4

[Cajonpassfan]

Wouldn't the bachmann light 2-10-2 mech be right for an F-1 class like the ones that were all over TX and LA?

I would think the CC 2-10-2 would be a good starting point for a big F-5 that were used west of El Paso

The Bachmann 2-10-2 is a good representation of  57" drivered engine; all the espee F classes had the "next generation" freight standard 63" drivers (there was one F2 with 57" drivers, but only lasted a couple of years; too slow). So I'm afraid the answer is no, in my opinion.

Jason has an "extension" casting for the Kato  2-8-2  mech which would make a perfect start for an F class mech...

Jason, fabulous job on the MT casting, you're an artist extraordinaire....
Regards, Otto K.

[Mike Madonna]

Mike,

Thanks for the offer, I'll keep it in mind.  I'm in pretty good shape on the MT project with the Robert Church book.  Has some excellent line drawings in it.  Once this is all done I'd love to tackle a 2-10-2 using Jason's cast frame sections.  For your Key MTs, the modifications to make the bachmann 160-C-2 ride on the good spectrum 6-wheel trucks is pretty easy.  Replace all the railing with brass wire and strip it and repaint with good paint, I bet it would look nice behind your Key MTs and have excellent pickup.  You could also wait a little bit until we get these tenders done and use one of them.  I'm making all three tenders work on stock spectrum 6-wheel trucks.

Phillip

Otto, your opinion has merit. The "decks" rode on "63s". In addition, I feel that the CC "heavy" 2-10-2 has too long a wheelbase for an SP F class.

Phillip, you definitely have the right book regarding the SP MTs! As for the F class, indeed keep the offer in mind. As a modeler of the SP in the early 50's, the 2-10-2 is almost a "must have", in my humble opinion. I look forward to the tenders as they will allow us to more accurately model the MTs as they appeared... and all wheel pickup is a big plus!

[Norway2112]

So here are some photos of the tenders I'm working on for this project. The first two shots are of the 120-C-3, which is an old rivarossi shell that has had the bottom frame and coal bunker cut out and shortened from the front. Much to my surprise the distance from the back of the oil tank to the end sill of the tender is almost exactly where it should be according to blueprints of the tenders. The tender frame is from the Spectrum long vandy that has had slightly over 1/2" removed from the center. As you can see I still have a lot of work to do but the hard part is over, now its on to the water deck, hatches, foot board and oil tank details. Two of these tenders have survived behind P-8 pacifics 2467 and 2472.



The 3rd photo shows the 120-C-8 which appeared behind some MT class engines as well as the P-Class pacifics, survivor 2479 has this tender behind it. As you can see I haven't done as much to it, but all it will require is changing the water hatches, headlight and building an oil bunker to slide into the coal box and minor rework of the face where the coal doors are, they will be covered with tool boxes per the blueprints. This tender started out as the Spectrum vandy that comes behind the H4 2-6-6-2 and has been upgraded with the 6-wheel trucks from the Spectrum long vandy.


The fourth photo shows the more familiar 160-C-2 tender that is most commonly associated with the MT-4s. Luckily for us bachmann did a decent job on this tender so the only modifications required is to clean up the railings and ladders, then trim the bolsters and frame to accept the 6-wheel trucks from the Spectrum long vandy so that it will have all wheel pickup. I plan to clean up the end sill and smooth out the seams prior to sending it to Jason for casting. Only one of these tenders has survived and it is behind SP 4-10-2 5021.


All tenders will be refitted with brass wire for handrails and photo-etched ladders.

[Mike Madonna]

Hey Phillip,

Did the pictures post?

Thanks!

[superturbine]

1st one yes.... Thanks

[Norway2112]

They all appear on mine on both my home and work computers.....anyone else not see them? 

Mike, send me an email at pajohn15@gmail.com, I'd like to discuss a few 2-10-2 things I have been curious and you seem like the man to ask.

[GaryHinshaw]

Nice work, '2112.

Hey Phillip,

Did the pictures post?

Thanks!

I had to log into Trainboard to see them here. 

[Norway2112]

Nice work, '2112.

I had to log into Trainboard to see them here.

It should be fixed now, hosting the photos somewhere else.

[Mike Madonna]

It should be fixed now, hosting the photos somewhere else.

Phillip, pics are as clear as day and progress looks good, thanks! I'll try to email you this evening, if not, Sunday for sure. 

[superturbine]

Progress of spoked driver conversion-

Shown is a GS4 spare parts engine I bought and have converted the drivers to spoked drivers for the MT4 conversion.  Of note: the 3rd driver casting has flawsand will be easy to replace. I wanted to prove the concept.


Video of the engine running.  Yes its a parts engine with sound, the engine was not in he best of shape.

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[Norway2112]

So we finally have an update. Progress has been somewhat slow due to life in general....dont ya just hate when work gets in the way of play!

Anyhow, I finally have whittled away at the Spectrum J-Class mechanism enough to do a test fit. I wanted to keep the stock motor and mount setup if at all possible, and I think I succeeded. This was a dry fit, so we wont know for sure until I can run it on the track. Below are some photos of the stock mechanism, the modified mechanism and then the test fit of the boiler shell and how the tender lines up. When compared to my Key Imports brass MT-4, the height of the boiler is dead on both front and back. The smaller drivers of the J-Class don't stand out as much as I was expected. One of the final steps will be to file the rods to a more appropriate shape so they're not so "J-Class looking."

Sorry for the poor quality photos, I took them on my phone.

Stock Spectrum J-Class:


Modified Spectrum J-Class mechanism:


Test fit of boiler on mechanism:


Test fit boiler on mechanism for alignment with tender:


160-C-2 tender:

[superturbine]

Lookin really good my friend!!

[JMaurer1]

Put me down for (at least) one of all of the tenders and (at least) one of the MT boilers. Incredible work!

BTW, does anyone have plans for the smaller whaleback tenders that were used behind the 2-8-0s and the like?

[Norway2112]

BTW, does anyone have plans for the smaller whaleback tenders that were used behind the 2-8-0s and the like?

Give it time my friend....give it time.  We're toying with the idea of an AC-9 conversion kit for the IM cab forward.  How would that sound?

[JMaurer1]

What I would rather have than an AC-9 is an AC-4 flat face...

You can take as long as you need as long as you just hurry up already (lol)