Has anyone tried kitbashing one of the Williams hoppers into an On30 one?

Just curious what the results were if so.

Is this a doable kitbash?

I realize that Bachmann has the On30 hoppers available, this effort would be a one-off just to have something different in the mix for operations.

I model in On30.  The On30 modelers have long been clamoring for an On30 Heisler.  Bachmann obviously has much of the research and design done for a Heisler in any scale as they have produce on in large scale.

There has been speculation among On30 modelers is that the reason we have not seen an On30 Heisler is that Bachmann has had problems with the operating ability of its geared locomotives, which has proven true in certain situations for the On30 geared locomotives.

Would appreciate it if any large scale Heisler owners would comment on the operating characteristics of their large scale Heisler.

An operational standard gauge Heisler - but it looks like it would make a great On30 model!

http://www.gearedsteam.com/heisler/images/silver_creek_n_stephenson_2.jpg

http://www.gearedsteam.com/heisler/images/wh_eccles_lbr_3.jpg

http://www.gearedsteam.com/heisler/images/oregon_lbr_100.jpg

http://www.gearedsteam.com/heisler/images/tionesta_valley_rwy_19.jpg

Just pouring some gas on the fire!

For those who would like to see a possible candidate for Bachmann to consider if an On30 Garratt is ever in the offing, the most recent issue of the Gazette of has some excellent photos of the famous NG-16 2-6-2+2-6-2 Garratts.

Built for service in South Africa in 1958, these are two foot gauge locomotives, but they are handsome specimens of this type of locomotive.

Thank goodness there is a NG-16 on a private railroad in Texas.  That is all the excuse I would need to obtain one for my fictional railroad.  Well, likely two.  One to leave in more or less original appearance and then one to "Americanize."

There are only two more locomotives I want to see Bachmann produce. The ever requested Heisler and a Garratt, either an NG-16 or the huge beast on the Puffing Billy.

Hopefully the statement about 1:45 was a teaser of what lies in the future.

It is a model of a REAL 30 inch gauge locomotive.  Most of us think of giant locomotives when you mention articulated steam power, but a lot of articulated locomotives on industrial lines or logging lines were an attempt to spread out axle loadings on light trackage.

Picture this locomotive as a 2-8-2 and all of a sudden it does not look quite as "small."

By the way, most of the 2-6-6-2 that have been bashed by adding a cab to a HO 2-6-6-2 have been of this locomotive.

Mr. Bachmann,

You always post photos of the new upcoming products.  No hurry as we all know you are busy, but when you get a chance to take photos of the awesome new 2-6-6-2, would you please be so kind as to take an up close photo of how both couplers are mounted among the different photos you take of this wonderful locomotive.

Thank you.

Where, when and what new On30 products were announced?  In reading the Lawndale boxcar thread Matt stated that some new products were announced?!

Would someone help this poor ill informed On30 modeler?

I still think it is a Wiseman/OMI Shay.

Keith had a bunch of these in On3 and would convert them on request by the purchaser to On30.

These locomotives were different from the On30 ones he produced. In fact, the On30 shays that Keith produced were brass shells that were replacements for the stock Bachmann body - Keith utilized the Bachmann chasis as the drive system for his On30 shays.

I really think this is one of his Mich/Cal Shays - No. 5 I think.

Looks like a Wiseman/OMI shay - I think Mich/Cal No. 5.

Sweet locomotives when Keith is done with them.

The so called "MacArthur's" that wound up on the White Pass are interesting locomotives.  Huge numbers of these were built during WW II for use around the globe as part of the lend lease program.

One is in use at Dollywood and another at Tweetsie.  I believe one or two remain in Skagway.

These were pretty small by 2-8-2 standards - I think they could only pull as much as a C-19.

These would make a great model - and of course being an inside frame locomotive they could be regauged to On3 hopefully increasing the number of sales for Bachmann.

Not being too familiar at all with European narrow gauge the prototypes (have recently become very interested in Garratt locomotives), how much narrow gauge modeling is done in Europe?  Is there a market for more narrow gauge models?

Or, if there is a large narrow gauge modeling fraternity, what scale do they work in?

Given the propensity of many On30ers to "bash" everything - perhaps a better suggestion for a Garratt - if Bachmann were to produce one - is which, if any, particular Garratt can be converted into other Garratts the easiest.

I want a NG-16.  How hard would it be to bash a NG-11 into a NG-16 or something close enough to pass from arm's length while pulling a train?

Can a NG-11 be easily bashed into other Garratt's?

Would a NG-16 make a better starting point to bash other Garratts with a similar wheel arrangement?

How difficult would it be to use a NG-11 as a starting point for an aftermarket kit manufactuer to create the other desired Garratts?

Just a thought.  This might be a way for many modelers to get what they each want without too much trouble.

Nick,

Just curious, what is the drawback to being associated with SAR?  Is this sort of like "anything but Colorado" thinking?

The NG-16s are my personal favorite and for a kind of "off brand" locomotive type, it would seem that Bachmann, should they take the plunge, would want to produce the best known of the type to generate maximum sales.

Not to mention, three (possibly four) of these are in service on the rebuilt Welsh Highlands Railway, there is one in the U.S., and I think a couple of others elsewhere.

I would also go for the G-Class on the Puffing Billy which is even bigger.

Given Mr. Riley's penchant for picking real 30 inch prototypes and/or prototypes that may have been a different gauge but certainly could have been manufactured in 30 inch gauge, I would think there are two Garratts that fit this bill and are well known amongst fans of narrow gauge Garratts.

The first would be the G-class Garratt (I think that is what it is classified as) on the Puffing Billy Railway.  This locomotive is a 2-6-0+0-6-2 and is was built to run on 30 inch gauged track.

The other is a smaller locomotive and probably better known and would be my personal first choice. This is the NG-16 class 2-6-2+2-6-2 Garratts that were built for service in South Africa.  One of these now resides in Texas and three others are on the rebuilt Welsh Highlands Railway and if all three are not in service right now, they are in a cycle of being restored/rebuilt and then going back into operating service.  While these locomotives are 2 foot gauge locomotives, they certainly could have been built as 30 inch gauge locomotives and I think (personal opinion) are the most handsome narrow gauge Garratts built.

Narrow gauge Garratts ran all over the world - just not in the United States.  So the question is, how well does On30/O 16.5 mm sell globally and not just in the United States? One can only dream and hope.

My roster will see the addition of a second OF 4-4-0, a Heisler IF Bachmann ever produces one and that will be it.  Unless Bachmann produces a Garratt.  Without a Garratt, the Kentwood & Southern will have 9 steam locomotives - all but one Bachmann - and two diesels.  Probably too much power - even I have reached the point where I want to stop spending money on more motive power and obtaining other things for the railroad.  Not the news Mr. Riley wants to hear I am sure.

So, after the second OF 4-4-0, only a Heisler and a Garratt will probably be added, if and when they are produced.

By the way, Garratts would have been great on southern swamp loggers I think.  Light axle loadings but lots of power for their size! They had the ability to make sharper turns than longer wheelbased motive power would have be able too and eliminate double heading to boot.  Just a thought.