The National Narrow Gauge Convention in Hickory NC has come and gone.I didn't attend, no good reason just other things came along.
I never got my Saltillo modules done, so I guess it really doesn't matter anyway.
Another Atlas Pacific has joined the ever-growing standard gauge fleet, and three little Z scale Mikados arrived last week to begin their transformation. I
have RLW parts for the pilots and cylinders and I have Bachmann 0-6-0 shells, but I could really use one more.
I'm trying a little something different with tenders this time around, I have an RLW K36 tender that I am going to put together as a temporary stand-in until I am able to afford the EBT Mikado kits. I think it will do OK, if I like it I will get two more.
And now I'm saving my nickels and dimes and writing letters to Santa for three Republic Locomotive Works EBT Mikado kits.I would say something about benchwork, but alas I have made absolutely no progress. I have this convertible Mustang you see, and the days have been warm and sunny...
Top picture, from left to right; scratchbuilt tender Bachmann shell, completed locomotive; K37 tender, Bachmann shell, newly started locomotive; RLW EBT Mikado kit, completed locomotive. The next two pictures show the tenders in the same order. The K37 tender needs to have its upper flange repaired, I broke it off when I was examining it.
I have two other Mikados to transform besides the one pictured, so that will bring me up to a grand total of five Mikados, one Mogul and an American. I have enough rolling stock for a rock train, two TOC coal trains (one for the Mogul and one for the American) and a passenger train. I really need one more bobber and one more eight-wheeled EBT caboose, and then I need to start acquiring and building coal hoppers. I also need to add a good number of boxcars and flatcars to the mix as well. As it is I will end up having more locomotives than trains.
I also need to dig into the new Atlas and find out why it all of a sudden just stopped running. I think I have enough rolling stock to keep most of my standard gauge locos gainfully employed, and I'm hoping the new Atlas will double-head with the Model Power Pacific.
I really need to get started on benchwork now. Winter is coming, so progress should be made sometime soon (I hope).
