| Author |
 Topic  |
|
Frank Palmer
Crew Chief
USA
558 Posts |
 Posted - 08/05/2012 : 10:52:29 AM
|
My latest Fn3 project started out life as an LGB Chloe (Ward Kimball’s Grizzly Flats RR loco). I traded a friend for it because it had that certain narrow gauge charm and certainly not because of the gaudy red plastic and gold trim. I painted it black, weathered it and ran it for some time until I decided to go Porter.
My first conversion turned it into a 5-Ton Porter look-a-like. Well that was years ago and the SC has long since stopped using track power. So it sat, and sat, and sat. Now it’s into its second rebirth along with a conversion to AirWire and battery power.
It still has that Porter appeal but my original Porter cab is gone and a more open brass and wood one replaces it. Cab roll-up curtains have been installed for those cold mornings. I wanted to stretch it out some so the water tank was lengthened a bit. The front and rear pilots have been extended and a small hand crank winch added to the front. A custom formed lead block and solder has been crammed into almost every nook and cranny of the water tank and boiler to give it additional tractive effort. The old engineer has retired and his replacement hired. All of the track connections were removed and the motor was wired with a plug to connect to the “electronics” tender. All that remains of the original Chloe is the frame and running gear, headlight, smoke box and fire box.
The addition of a tender is required because I need something to haul the electronics gear and batteries around. The frame and wheel set are from a Bachmann side-dump ore car.
Well I’m about two weeks into the conversion. I’m taking the Airwire and Phoenix pc boards from my Climax conversion, http://www.railroad-line.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=36614 ,and making them into a dual purpose module so it can be used for both locomotives. This will save me hundreds of $$ and hours of begging and groveling with my wife. Besides I can convert this into positive points, “hon, see how much I $aved, isn’t that smart of me?”
I had more room in the water tank trail car on the Climax so I have to do some remodeling to make the set-up more compact for it to fit into the small Porter tender. Getting two-for-one is great on cutting costs but this wasn’t in my original plans and it’s creating some extra problems requiring more time for re-engineering.
Ward Kimblall's Chloe and LGB's Chloe
My Phase 1 Porter conversion
The Phase 2 Porter & Tender
|
Frank |
|
|
Frank Palmer
Crew Chief
USA
558 Posts |
Posted - 08/05/2012 : 10:59:25 AM
|
| Next I have to finish the pc board conversion and wiring, continue working on the conversion and finally the weathering. |
Frank |
Edited by - Frank Palmer on 08/05/2012 11:00:08 AM |
 |
|
|
BigLars
Fireman
USA
7360 Posts |
Posted - 08/14/2012 : 7:59:50 PM
|
Frank,
Neat Porter and tender. I hope to see it running one day on the Sundance. |
|
|
|
brownbr
Crew Chief
USA
698 Posts |
Posted - 08/14/2012 : 8:26:58 PM
|
| Very nice. I really like the tender. I can see one just like that for my layout. |
Bryan |
|
|
|
quarryman
Fireman
USA
1071 Posts |
Posted - 08/15/2012 : 07:08:58 AM
|
Frank-
Great job on the Porter and new tender. I think the saddletank and new cab are vast improvements over the originals.
Mark Chase
Richmond VA |
Visit my Piedmont & East Blue Ridge Railroad
http://www.eastblueridge.com |
|
|
|
Frank Palmer
Crew Chief
USA
558 Posts |
Posted - 08/26/2012 : 10:00:41 AM
|
| Mark and Bryan thanks for the comments, and BigLars I hope to see you there some day. Make sure you let us know when you’re going to be in the area. |
Frank |
|
|
|
TRAINS1941
Fireman
USA
4888 Posts |
Posted - 08/26/2012 : 10:22:54 AM
|
Frank
As usual excellent work.
Jerry |
Jerry
How old would you be if you didn't know how old you are. |
|
|
|
Frank Palmer
Crew Chief
USA
558 Posts |
Posted - 08/28/2012 : 7:12:04 PM
|
| Thanks Jerry, currently detailing the engine and tender. Photos in a couple of days. |
Frank |
|
|
|
Frank Palmer
Crew Chief
USA
558 Posts |
Posted - 08/31/2012 : 09:11:53 AM
|
Back to the upgrade.
I finally got back to the rebuild and have started to add detail items. I used sculpture wire mesh purchased from Michael’s to form an irregularly shaped base for the coal load. I did this to conserve room and make sure it would fit over all my electronics. By using wire mesh I was able to form and contour it over the various parts and not have a bulky platform to add the coal onto. After the wire was A/C’d in place I covered it with paper towel strips soaked in a white glue 50/50 mixture, a kind of paper mache. I made this several layers thick and set aside to dry overnight.
Next I needed some way to get access to the on/off switch on for the battery system. I went through my parts box and found an old tank I made some time ago from PVC pipe wrapped with .005 Evergreen sheet plastic impregnated with rivets from a pounce wheel. All I had to do was cut a little of the ends to fit it into the back of the tender. I added end panels, cut it down to conform to the wire screen coal base and epoxyed it in place. I added chains to hold it in place. Next will be an opening lid. I also added a cut down barrel just for kicks. On the side I added a water valve and hose.
On the locomotive I installed an air pump on the side of the water tank, an air tank under the cab and the necessary piping, and a couple of tool boxes.
|
Frank |
Edited by - Frank Palmer on 08/31/2012 09:14:58 AM |
|
|
|
Frank Palmer
Crew Chief
USA
558 Posts |
Posted - 08/31/2012 : 09:16:03 AM
|
I'll have to add the pictures later. for some reason I'm having a picture posting glich. OK, note to self, do not include "()" in picture names.
 |
Frank |
Edited by - Frank Palmer on 08/31/2012 09:41:44 AM |
|
|
|
Frank Palmer
Crew Chief
USA
558 Posts |
Posted - 08/31/2012 : 09:37:22 AM
|
 |
Frank |
|
|
|
Frank Palmer
Crew Chief
USA
558 Posts |
Posted - 08/31/2012 : 09:39:47 AM
|
The speaker is really small as far as large scale operations go. It’s a QSI high bass speaker with box. The size is all of 1.10” square. A cut-down PVC elbow was added to give it better sound carrying.
Now back to some more weathering. |
Frank |
Edited by - Frank Palmer on 08/31/2012 09:44:20 AM |
|
|
|
elminero67
Engine Wiper
USA
386 Posts |
Posted - 08/31/2012 : 10:57:26 AM
|
| Great save-I give credit to anyone who can rescue on of those gaudy red and gold plastic toys into a good looking and plausable loco! |
|
|
|
Frank Palmer
Crew Chief
USA
558 Posts |
Posted - 08/31/2012 : 7:25:39 PM
|
| Thanks Duane, some of those LGB products are like scraping your finger nails down the blackboard. Darn now I've just dated myself with that blackboard comment. |
Frank |
|
|
|
Frank Palmer
Crew Chief
USA
558 Posts |
Posted - 09/02/2012 : 3:17:25 PM
|
I added steps on the fireman's side of the saddle tank and some tools to the tender. And now I’m down to the final shots after completing the weathering to the details.
This hatch gives me access to the on/off switch for the AirWire system. |
Frank |
Edited by - Frank Palmer on 09/02/2012 3:19:38 PM |
|
|
|
k27rgs
Fireman
Australia
4257 Posts |
|
|
Topic |
|
Going Porter
