A Stainz by any other name

[Tim Brien]

Just a design exercise and not intended to be permanent. I had a few loose parts laying around and thought of something different to the usual Stainz. Cab from a LGB 2017D variant. Basically a direct swap with a little minor mod required. Firebox moulding requires slight narrowing and a notch either side to clear the windows on the new cab. Holes at rear 'almost' align and could be persuaded to assist body retention. Screws may be needed at front end of cab to secure. I did not add all the trim as this was only an exercise to see if parts would go together.

Ideally cab would be painted black and a tender used. I feel a reasonably attractive variant if one was sick of the usual Stainz.

 

[Tim Brien]

I decided to progress this locomotive. Tender was a 30th Anniversary sound model (chuff only) from 1998 with direct decoder interface. I stripped out the original drive and sound and will fit a matching clamshell type drive block as in the loco itself. Tender drive will have red drive wheels fitted. Loco and tender will be painted black.

The deeper firebox moulding from the donor #2017 loco was fitted and also a hook fitted to closer couple the loco to the tender. The walkway moulding will disguise the connecting cables.

A Massoth 'XLS' will handle the motor and sound. I modified the existing speaker mount to enable the deeper Massoth 57mm 3 watt speaker for added bass. Decoder will mount in the tender with suitable connecting leads to the loco drive, smoke and headlight control.

 

[themole]

Food for thought, Tim.

 

[whatlep]

Nice one Tim!

 

[jameshilton]

I always thought that LGB should have done the same and put the disc wheels on some of those 0-4-0 tender engines as another variant. Which funnel are you going to go for Tim? I think I prefer the initial one - closer to some of the photos that Alyn has shared

 

[Tim Brien]

Well, past the point of no return now! I have always liked the locomotives with a canopy over the tender deck. I chopped up a cab and modified the roof section to fit to the tender body. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder (maybe not so in this case).

James,
I also prefer the tapered smokestack as in the first photographs, but alas, I believe that these were only released mid-1970's and not in a smoking version. I have to decide if I want the smoke option.

 

[Dtsteam]

What a great idea ! Well, I like it anyway. Maybe a bit of scabby rolled up tarpaulin on the roof and and something to represent a fall plate will tie them togther. Post 3 - last pic - second engine seems to have something between the loco and tender roof.

 

[Tim Brien]

David,
I have built a few 'articulateds' now and like a solid piece to span the join between the two separate roof pieces. The span piece is rigidly connected to the trailing roof and swivels under the cab overhang. This way there is generally a solid look to the cab and tender roof. The red piece is the span piece and is cut from a LGB boxcar roof moulding. This is the same curvature as most LGB loco cab roof mouldings.

 

[themole]

I like the tender. Tim, how about removing the coal, and fabricate a brass cage and fill with bagasse. Alyn

 

[Tim Brien]

Alyn,
I did have to consult Wikpedia as 'bagasse' (a biofuel derived from sugar cane production) is not a term that I am familiar with. I am aware though that sugar refineries in our northern state of Queensland do use the refuse from sugar cane production to power their refineries. Must be just as good in steam locomotives, although I feel that it would coke up the boiler firetubes on a regular basis.

 

[stevedenver]

great photos tim-all in asia or indonesia i presume
and i rather like your tender canopy-looks very Indian / indonesian

what color-perhaps caramel? burgundy? black with striping?


clever idea that really is harmonious with the stock loco i think
it might need a bit of alteration to accomodate R1 i fear

 

[Tim Brien]

Steve,
actually Alyn is the supplier of the excellent photographs. He seems to have an endless supply of the unusual. The loco is good down to around seven or eight foot diameter. More clearance required to attain R1 status. The 'stock' loco is actually a #2017 cab on a Stainz drive.

 

[Tim Brien]

Tender showing alterations. Lip on canopy extends under the cab roof overhang.

 

[Tim Brien]

Inspired by Alyn's excellent plantation loco photographs, I decided to go this way with bags of fuel rather than the overly large original coal bunker moulding. I thought that I had found the perfect bags of fuel to supply my loco with until I looked at the eBay seller's shipping costs. He wants $49.95 to ship a package weighing just a few ounces. The bags plus postage would set me back around $100.00.

I think that the wife will need to reactivate the sewing machine. The brass railing is just a few pieces that were laying around. I will use a similar method on the tender bunker.

 

[jameshilton]

Tim, great to see the per chimney back on, and I think it will make a great plantation engine. What colour are you gong for?

 

[Tim Brien]

James,
alas, there is only one colour for a steam locomotive for me and it is plain old boring black. I like the colours in Alyn's photographs, but cannot get past a simple black colour.

 

[Madman]

Tender showing alterations. Lip on canopy extends under the cab roof overhang.

Tim, a very nice idea and great work, but how does the tender roof overhang like curves?

 

[Tim Brien]

Dan,
I 'designed' the loco to do a minimum eight foot diameter curves. This is to minimise the gap in the roof overhang. More gap would allow smaller diameter curves. Look at the 'lip' on the tender canopy overhang. This is to bridge the join giving the appearance of a solid roof.

 

[Tim Brien]

Dan,
overhead view of both roof mouldings. Obviously, the greater the angle at the roof interface, the smaller the diameter curve that could be attained.

 

[funandtrains]

Having a few of these loco in various states of disrepair I domlike the idea of building a plantation loco.