Model Train Journal

This is my bash, prior to painting. I did very few build photos of this model, so I thought some build details would be more apparent, if I showed it like this.

I started with the Lionel Redwood Valley Express engine, because it was the cheapest Lionel General available. (Please, don't make changes to collectible Lionel pieces.) The tender tank is from a battery-operated O gauge train. The engine boiler is brass.



These are the headlight and smokestack which came with the Redwood Valley Express engine:

Nice creativity and craftsmanship Roy.

Thank you, Neil.

Very nice, Roy!

George

Wow, nice job. Did you make the steam and sand domes?

Thanks, George and Chuck.

chuck wrote:Did you make the steam and sand domes?

No, I just altered them a bit. I didn't like the octagonal bases, so I replaced them with K&S tube. Similarly, I adjusted the height and diameter of the dome barrels. The plastic that the boiler furniture parts is made of is extremely brittle. As I was drilling the bell bracket, it just shattered. I rebuilt the bell in brass, in the same style as the stock part. The bell swings.

Really nice work.
Are you going to try to modify the drivers or possibly use paint to make them less "solid". That's always been my biggest beef with the model (or any of the PW stuff with spoke drivers that are actually solid.

chuck wrote:Are you going to try to modify the drivers or possibly use paint to make them less "solid".

I wasn't planning anything more than painting the spaces black. Given the drivers half-plastic, half-diecast construction, it looks like it would be quite time-consuming to open up their spokes. I haven't tried it yet, anyway. It seems likely to be easier to scratch build new drivers, but that's beyond the scope of what I was trying to do.

P.S. I have a couple of cheapie Lionel mechanisms with similar drivers, with red plastic spoke inserts. To my surprise, I found that there are four spoke spaces on the die cast wheels. The openings on the gear side are different than those on the non-gear side. These wheels would be much easier to convert to fully-spoked, than the General drivers.

Roy wrote: It seems likely to be easier to scratch build new drivers...........

While I've seen how folks do scratch together drivers, it's not commonly done. Suggest that you look into getting drivers from Slaters. Brit profile, but nice and you can add the counterweights yourself.

Rufus T. Firefly wrote:While I've seen how folks do scratch together drivers, it's not commonly done. Suggest that you look into getting drivers from Slaters.

Thanks so much for the tip, Rufus. The thing is, I like making things, and modifying things.

With regard to my General, I wanted to show that you can make a nice 1/4" to the foot scale model of an American 4-4-0 just using what you get on the General. I re-used the original motor and gears, drivers, cab, etc.

It would be very nice if Lionel would do likewise, and offer a scale 4-4-0 at a popular price. They could continue to make the General for those who would have them.

Roy wrote: and offer a scale 4-4-0 at a popular price.

Define reasonable. Van Pelt economics can't apply here

Scale and accurate, and also in 2-rail; they will sell.

Back in 2011 Lionel did make the "The Lincoln Funeral Train" with a scale engine.

Lionel Railroader Club Exclusive "The Lincoln Funeral Train"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cMA_5aN7b8

Roy wrote: and offer a scale 4-4-0 at a popular price.

Rufus T. Firefly wrote:Define reasonable. Van Pelt economics can't apply here

Scale and accurate, and also in 2-rail; they will sell.

Made the same as the General; i.e., plastic injection-molded body.

Rufus T. Firefly wrote:

Roy wrote: and offer a scale 4-4-0 at a popular price.

Define reasonable. Van Pelt economics can't apply here

Scale and accurate, and also in 2-rail; they will sell.

"Reasonable" does seem to be the heart of the matter doesn't it?

The SMR locomotives were jewels, true works of art, but eeeyyyowww the prices were out of my galaxy.

George

HONDO74 wrote:Back in 2011 Lionel did make the "The Lincoln Funeral Train" with a scale engine.

Thanks, Hondo. I'm not drawn to the lines of that engine, plus - it was a more expensive, special-order-only item.