Most of you were preparing to see me build a Booth Kelly 2-6-6-0 mallet from 2 lokeys. Well, I can tell you that a Life-Like 0-6-0 is not the right loco mech to start with. Nothing wrong with it mind you, the frame just doesn't lend itself to the severe modification necessary to make it articulate AND retain both motors. I also would prefer the busier looking Walshearts vale gear found on modern steam. There is a bright side though as I've always wanted to make as small a "teakettle" steamer as I could in a relatively painless and low tech way. Teakettle steam, with its full size bells and headlights has always fascinated me, looking more toy than workhorse.
I'm off to a good start here by removing all obvious N scale details, i.e. 'stack, bell, sand and steam domes, headlight, hand rails, cab super-structure and steps. As the picture shows, I've fashioned a new shotgun stack from 1/8" brass tube and widened the running boards to a scale 12" with my ever faithful styrene signage.
I'm off to a good start here by removing all obvious N scale details, i.e. 'stack, bell, sand and steam domes, headlight, hand rails, cab super-structure and steps. As the picture shows, I've fashioned a new shotgun stack from 1/8" brass tube and widened the running boards to a scale 12" with my ever faithful styrene signage.