Porter 0-4-0 in HOn3 or HOn30!

[nalmeida]

Does anyone know where I can get this loco? It can be in kit or ready to run and it can be HOn3 or HOn30. Help apreciated.

[Just_a_fan]

Railway Recollections makes a kit in HOn30 for a Porter 0-6-0 in saddle tank and a side tank versions. I've never built one, but it looks like it fits the Bachmann N scale 0-6-0 mechanism. It might even work with Bachmann's 0-4-0 mechanism.

http://www.railway-recollections.com/

[nalmeida]

Thanks Jeff, I'm aware of the Railways Recolections offer but unfortunately their product isn't very good in terms of detail and as you rigtly told it's a 0-6-0 although if I don't have any other option I might have a try at it.

[Martin_Fischer]

quote:

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Originally posted by nalmeida

Does anyone know where I can get this loco? It can be in kit or ready to run and it can be HOn3 or HOn30. Help apreciated.

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Nelson,

on another forum I suggested to start with a Backwoods Miniatures Sn3 kit. For a S scale model, this engine is very small. So it can be converted to a larger HO scale engine. I once heard a rumour that Sierra West used to sell these as HOn3 versions in the past.

http://www.backwoodsminiatures.com/

In case you're interested I could contact a friend and ask him to take direct measurements.

Regards

Martin

[NickO]

Hi Nelson ,

Here is the story as I know it . Back in 2000 Sierra West offerred an HOn3 Porter in 3 levels of finish . The job fell to Keith Wiseman to build them . He was unable to build them very quickly and in the end the offer fizzled out . I had one on order and waited two years and in the end I had some other kits in lieu . I later found out that Brett obtained the kits from Backwoods Miniatures and had them built in the States . In the end I bought my kit direct from Backwoods and had Paul Doherty of Rickety Rails build it for me . However , it was not a kit he enjoyed building and I couldn't say whether he would build any more . I also ended up paying a lot less than I was going to .

So there is your answer give Pete McParlin a call and see if he is still producing the kit .

Here are a couple of shots of mine , one with the Bachmann On30 version to compare it with .

NickO

[rrkreitler]

Nelson,

You might try watching eBay. Every so often onw of the Joe Works kits comes up for sale. I have no idea how well they run. I have heard both good and bad things about them. I have not checked lately but 6 months ago I was checking fairly regularly and there seemd to be one or two show up every two or three weeks.

[Martin_Fischer]

quote:

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Originally posted by rrkreitler

Nelson,

You might try watching eBay. Every so often onw of the Joe Works kits comes up for sale. I have no idea how well they run. I have heard both good and bad things about them. I have not checked lately but 6 months ago I was checking fairly regularly and there seemd to be one or two show up every two or three weeks.

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I have a Joe Works Porter that ran nice after some fiddling. But then their detail level is far from the Backwoods engine. So I disassembled it and never finished the detailing project

Regards,

Martin

[nalmeida]

Thanks a lot for your help guys, I'll keep an eye on ebay. Nick, thanks for the insight on Brett's Porter, I'll give a call to Pete, he's a great guy so I might get lucky.

[Martin_Fischer]

quote:

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Originally posted by NickO


Here are a couple of shots of mine , one with the Bachmann On30 version to compare it with .

NickO

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Nick,

is that a HOn3 version or standard gauge? Do you happen to have a photo that shows the HO scale porter next to some narrow gauge rolling stock etc. for size comparison?

I'd like to find how such a conversion would turn out before ordering stuff from Pete.

Regards

Martin

[acousticco]

Nelson,

The Bachmann Docksider loco might make a good starting point, even though the wheelbase is a little short.

A gentleman from the UK (whom I've never dealt with) offers a remotoring kit for a b'mann docksider (N-scale 0-4-0). here's his site http://www.geocities.com/nigellawton009/VeeTipper.html

Also, there was an article in the NG&SLG a while back about regauging the b'mann docksider to HOn3 gauge as well. I'll try to have a look for it some time next week (I'm very busy these days).

Hope this helps,

Cody

[Martin_Fischer]

quote:

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Originally posted by acousticco

Nelson,

The Bachmann Docksider loco might make a good starting point, even though the wheelbase is a little short.

A gentleman from the UK (whom I've never dealt with) offers a remotoring kit for a b'mann docksider (N-scale 0-4-0). here's his site http://www.geocities.com/nigellawton009/VeeTipper.html

Also, there was an article in the NG&SLG a while back about regauging the b'mann docksider to HOn3 gauge as well. I'll try to have a look for it some time next week (I'm very busy these days).

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This was the article in question:

N + "Enginuity" = HOn3

Narrow Gauge & Short Line Gazette, January/February 2000 page 38

Re-gauging Bachmann N scale mechanisms

It's relatively easy to do that conversion by pulling out the wheels and bending the wipers.

The quality of the Bachmann Docksiders varies a lot, so I'd be reluctant to recommend that conversion.

Another option for a 0-4-0 drive is Backwoods Miniatures. They offer a standalone drive for the Bagnall 0-4-0 that can be converted to HOn3 with a ittle metal working skill. One of my projects in progress (for much too long ) is a 0-4-0 based on this drive and a resin superstructure from a Canadian company, (sorry, I can't remember the name :erm: ).

Regards

Martin

[NickO]

Martin ,

Here is a rather bad shot of my Porter with a Sierra West HOn3 Blacksmith's car and an HOn3 2 Truck Shay , and ,yes, the Porter is HOn3 as well .

Hope this helps to make your mind up ,

NickO

I'll post the photo in a minute as I can't be bothered to re-type this message in the correct box !

[NickO]

[Martin_Fischer]

quote:

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Originally posted by NickO


Here is a rather bad shot of my Porter with a Sierra West HOn3 Blacksmith's car and an HOn3 2 Truck Shay , and ,yes, the Porter is HOn3 as well .

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Nick,

thanks for the photo. My personal impression is that this looks like a rather big but still in scale engine.

Maybe it's time to send an order out.

Regards

Martin

[NickO]

Martin ,

I'm inclined to agree with you , but as it was so much hassle to get hold of , and the chances of finding something that looks 100% right are slim , I'll stick with what I've got . Besides , I'm not really the sort that "plays Train" , I'd be happy with a Thomas the Tank Engine as long as it ran and was weathered properly !

NickO