Kitbashed motor cars As modeled in HO scale/Phil Holden W
hen I decided I needed some form of passenger equipment for my HO scale logging lay-
out I knew it had to have a “home built” look. A gas mechanical railbus seemed right since they were once com- mon on the rails of logging companies. The project moved from idea to reality when I stumbled on a used Bachmann doodlebug at a train show. I realized this model had some serious kitbash- ing potential, and the plan was put into high gear. I
had some Roundhouse 50-foot
“Overland” combine cars on hand which were perfect for such a conver- sion. Once the dimensions of the car- body were determined (going strictly by “looks”), I placed a piece of rigid foam insulation inside the body to sup- port it while it was cut apart using a razor saw. This mainly involved remov- ing the end and platform from the bag- gage end, as well as shortening the car. The next step was to add a new front using styrene car siding that matched the Roundhouse car. A pair of Grandt Line plastic windows were rescued from my parts stash and openings were cut in the end wall for them. The roof was also cut down to size and the joints filled with Squadron putty and sanded smooth. I also trimmed off the duckbill overhangs to produce a stan- dard clerestory roof. The doodlebug chassis was a bit more of a challenge since the metal frame had to be cut and the rear truck relocated. Some filing was needed to provide clearances and get things to fit. The shortened doodlebug chassis was tucked inside the bottom recess of the combine body, and, because I did want to conceal the original doodlebug
PHOTOS BY THE AUTHOR
Since they cost less to operate than a steam train, gas mechanical cars became popular around WWI and after. Shortlines and mining and logging outfits often built their own.
frame, I cut the molded pieces of the Roundhouse sub-frame to go around the trucks. After a bit of trial and error it all came together.
After test-running the unit, it was time for some details. The roof got a muffler and exhaust pipe made from brass rod and styrene tube, along with Roundhouse roof vents from the com- bine kit. There is also a single-bell air
horn and a stove stack on the roof. The carbody details include Grandt
Line windows and caboose doors, a bell and headlight from Precision Scale Company, grab rails, and a radiator scratchbuilt from styrene and a small piece of hosiery material for screen. The underbody has a pilot from Prec- sion Scale Company, Kadee couplers, and an assortment of brake parts,
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JULY 2012
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