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Lets see some ideas for kit bashing railcars!  I don't know how many of us do this but I had an idea to alter the LARGE MTH auto carrier so that I could run it on my layout.  I saw in another post, now since closed to comment, about people wishing for a more small layout friendly version of those super long and large modern auto racks.  So here is mine!  Sorry I do not have a "Before" picture as I jumped right into it right when the box was opened.  

 

 IMG_20150126_174253

We'll start with this one already showing the car has been shortened in length.  I was debating taking out two corrugated sections but started with only one and that seems to fit my 0-48 curves well enough!  You can also see that I bought (since it was cheaper) one of the older MTH cars with the wheelsets on the very ends of the cars.  But the truck on the left end has been taken in a half inch, and the car dropped about a quarter inch.  This made a very nice difference!  The truck on the right end is still stock.

 

 

IMG_20150126_181702

And here is the finished product!  Length down by 2.5 and the truck in and dropped!  It looks a TON better with my other cars now.  Still has a good bit of overhang but clears everything!

 

 

 

IMG_20150126_181759

Another view.  You can see the lines if you really look where I cut and spliced the car on the roof and under carriage, but elsewhere its invisible!  I really wish I had another stock one to show the difference.   I could have saved myself a lot of time by purchasing one of the cars with the trucks already mounted inboard of the ends but this one was cheap and since I was possibly going to ruin a perfectly good car I might as well buy cheap to test with!

 

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Last edited by tackindy
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Well, you asked!  I am a bashaholic.

 

The loco 2921 below doesn't look it, but it the most heavily bashed loco I have.  Early MTH scale 2900 series ATSF steamer body (loco  mounted on a new Legacy ATSF 3751 chassis, with the original MTH pilot and after trucks installed on the Legacy chassis (the majority of the work, with all Legacy boards and connectors, etc moved to the original MTH tender.  The later, bigger, heavier 2900s had the same driver diameter and wheelbase as the 3751, so this is still scale, and it runs incredibly well and sounds even better (the bigger MTh tender makes the sound deeper).  One of my six prime locos now.  

DSCN1519

 

Lionchief plus 4-6-2 modified (new larger/taller cab, a few other changes, only one pilot axle) into a fairly near-scale model of a small 1850 class ATSF 2-6-2.  The LC+ tender is almost exactly a scale model now of the  ATSF "small" coal tender as modified in the late '40s for oil.

DSCN1521

 

Lionchief Hudson modified to a 4-6-2 with a new ATSF style cab (higher, angle front, right window shapes, etc., and other machinery added to a touch look.  .  MTH RK semi-scale 2900 tender just for fun. 

DSCN1527

 

FrankenBEEP.  RMT Bang with long BEEP body, made for two stock ones, attached.

DSCN1528

 

This was a Lionel 0-4-0.  It is now a model of a cab forward 0-4-0 ttank engine that was posted ont eh forum about a year ago.  Interesting if very very ugly.  Ugh!

DSCN1531

 

Used to be a Lionel TMCC T-1, now a model of the never-built Baldwin steam streamliner 6-4-4-4 that ATSF nearly ordered.  

DSCN1543

 

I have cut down a lot of traditional cars to run on my top, all 36" icurve loop, which is "BEEPWorld" - nothing longer than a bEEP allowed on it and these cars were all shortened to meet that criterion.

DSCN1544

DSCN1550

 

Lionel Mogul body mounted on a WBB Baldwin 10-wheeler chassis with a axle under the cab added. 

DSCN1554

 

WLoco was as a BEEP.  Shay side mechaism actually works.  3-axle caboose is, well, different!

DSCN1557

 

I had a spare 3-axle truck with China drive, and some (well, alot) of plastic sheet . . 

DSCN1561

 

more cars shortened to meet the BEEPworld criteria. 

DSCN1564

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Last edited by Lee Willis
Originally Posted by pennsynut:

Continued . . .  The last post I made on this cut my photos short.  Anyway, here is the finished kitbash of a unique reefer.  Tedious and challenging work for my first car kitbash.

Nicely done!  I assumed this was a fantasy kitbash until I saw the photo of the original car.  Reminded me of the K-Line operating milk car with offset doors.

 

Bruce

This is hardly a kitbash, but it is a modified PW LIONEL F3 to resemble the Burlington F2 153.  I had a great photo of the prototype, but can't locate it, so I've included one or two that I found.  Start with the model with the missing "3" on the number board:

 

 

DSC01851

DSC01857

 

From a modeling standpoint, the A unit received a second headlight, brass side number boards, a third porthole, high fan shrouds, and the long stripe not found on prototype newer F units.  The B unit received the third porthole, vents were eliminated, and high fan shrouds added.  Here's the prototype:

 

Burlington F2 image 2

As I said, not really a kitbash, but, for me, a fair representation of the prototype done 20 years ago because of a friendship with the late Rich Sherry; a very fine PW F3 repainter in Chicago.

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  • Burlington F2 image 2

I've done several sets of articulated 5-car 48' intermodal well-car sets- started with 5 MTH husky stacks, cut the car ends off, and fabricated new pieces to make them lowered to the track and articulated in the 5-car set. Also painted these in the TTX scheme. Have many others in Pacer, BNSF, CN, etc.

ttx1

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Last edited by Jeff78rr
Originally Posted by Jeff78rr:

I've done several sets of articulated 5-car 48' intermodal well-car sets- started with 5 MTH husky stacks, cut the car ends off, and fabricated new pieces to make them lowered to the track and articulated in the 5-car set. Also painted these in the TTX scheme. Have many others in Pacer, BNSF, CN, etc.

ttx1

I have thought about doing this as well.  I guess since I've gotten bold enough to hack an mth auto carrier I might as well pick out my two least favorite Husky well cars and get to cutting!  

 

Did you use the original trucks?

Not a real obvious kit bash.......but a really cheap one!!! The body of this box car was free.......a guy I bought some O scale parts from used it as the shipping box!!!! He placed the parts inside and wrapped it in craft paper!! It arrived intact so I had to use it. I made a chassis/frame from sheet plastic with some details..wire corner steps...trucks I had on hand and a brake wheel from the parts box. GREAT box car for free!!!!!

(the B&O box car)

 

BOX2

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Last edited by AMCDave

Too many to post but a few.

 

Williams scale die-cast J1 Hudson, "super" detailed:

 

DSCN0713

 

Weaver brass ATSF Pacific (de-streamstyled Valley Flyer; most in this class looked more like this):

 

DSCN0332

Freelance Garrett:

 

DSCN0269

 

Ex-MTH RK USRA 2-8-8-2 made into a near-scale NYC 0-8-8-0 hump switcher; TMCC,

etc. NYC had about 14 of these:

 

DSCN0065

 

Alabama, Tennessee and Northern Ten-Wheeler (real RR), modified WBB 4-6-0,

with old die-cast tender, ERR DC Commander/Electrocoupler:

 

DSCN0449

 

For the Marxists out there: K-Marx: modern K-line underneath, spliced Marx 666 shells on top, 666 tender, Lionel couplers, etc.

 

DSCN0244

 

 

Etc...

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Last edited by D500

Here are a few shots of an Atlas gondola that I cut down and turned into a spare truck/crane tender car.  It's part of a custom-build Jersey Central wreck train project that I've been slowly working on over time, and was the very first railcar kitbash project I ever attempted!

 

Spare Truck Car-1

CNJ Spare Truck Car-4

CNJ Spare Truck Car-6

CNJ Spare Truck Car-9

Here's the prototype...

CNJ Ashley Service Train-circa 1954 photo

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Last edited by CNJ #1601

I'd have a shorter list of unkit-bashed cars

 

However...here's the one that I'm most proud of simply because I did it in collaboration with the late Ed Reutling, a Seaboard Whalebelly Hopper:

 

 

Model Whale Belly

 

We both had been thinking about these cars, Ed ended up doing a SCL car while mine is SAL, both were published in mags a few years back.

 

Modeling SAL you have to be able to cut and grind if you want something near what they owned.

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  • Model Whale Belly
Originally Posted by Lee Willis:

Well, you asked!  I am a bashaholic.

 

The loco 2921 below doesn't look it, but it the most heavily bashed loco I have.  Early MTH scale 2900 series ATSF steamer body (loco  mounted on a new Legacy ATSF 3751 chassis, with the original MTH pilot and after trucks installed on the Legacy chassis (the majority of the work, with all Legacy boards and connectors, etc moved to the original MTH tender.  The later, bigger, heavier 2900s had the same driver diameter and wheelbase as the 3751, so this is still scale, and it runs incredibly well and sounds even better (the bigger MTh tender makes the sound deeper).  One of my six prime locos now.  

DSCN1519

 

Lionchief plus 4-6-2 modified (new larger/taller cab, a few other changes, only one pilot axle) into a fairly near-scale model of a small 1850 class ATSF 2-6-2.  The LC+ tender is almost exactly a scale model now of the  ATSF "small" coal tender as modified in the late '40s for oil.

DSCN1521

 

Lionchief Hudson modified to a 4-6-2 with a new ATSF style cab (higher, angle front, right window shapes, etc., and other machinery added to a touch look.  .  MTH RK semi-scale 2900 tender just for fun. 

DSCN1527

 

FrankenBEEP.  RMT Bang with long BEEP body, made for two stock ones, attached.

DSCN1528

 

This was a Lionel 0-4-0.  It is now a model of a cab forward 0-4-0 ttank engine that was posted ont eh forum about a year ago.  Interesting if very very ugly.  Ugh!

DSCN1531

 

Used to be a Lionel TMCC T-1, now a model of the never-built Baldwin steam streamliner 6-4-4-4 that ATSF nearly ordered.  

DSCN1543

 

I have cut down a lot of traditional cars to run on my top, all 36" icurve loop, which is "BEEPWorld" - nothing longer than a bEEP allowed on it and these cars were all shortened to meet that criterion.

DSCN1544

DSCN1550

 

Lionel Mogul body mounted on a WBB Baldwin 10-wheeler chassis with a axle under the cab added. 

DSCN1554

 

WLoco was as a BEEP.  Shay side mechaism actually works.  3-axle caboose is, well, different!

DSCN1557

 

I had a spare 3-axle truck with China drive, and some (well, alot) of plastic sheet . . 

DSCN1561

 

more cars shortened to meet the BEEPworld criteria. 

DSCN1564

Love that ATSF nearly ordered 6-4-4-4.

Thanks

Ray

I have enjoyed custom painting locos, but here are a couple Marx that got a bit more than just refinishing.  The tin steamer is shown with a stock example.  I cut off the simulated trucks and added a pilot truck, brass railings and sand pipes, and Robert Grossman decals.  Oops, I see the pilot truck is derailed.    Must shoot another photo for the file.

 

The E7 diesel was a damaged ATSF unit.  I sawed off the simulated lower headlight, added ditch lights (HO engine headlights) and an extended headlight reflector so the ditch lights are illuminated.  When I customize Marx engines, I don't detail extensively, but try to make it as Louis Marx & Co. might have.

IMG_3077

IMG_2934

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Last edited by TrainsRMe

An Alaska RR GP7 that started life like this

lionel arr 1902-2

I painted like this, added the snow plow and winterization hatch

st.maarten 007

 

then along cam a reasonably priced Ocean Exploration GP9 and a swap of body shells gave me an Alaska GP7 with yellow frame and railsounds.  Now I've to figure out how to add the snowplow and paint the trucks silver

camera download 072714 113

 

This 18th century woodside gondola started out life as horse corral car.

camera download 072714 108

 

This Army Corps of Engineers Crane Tender came out of a scrap box with some sort of vibromotor or light fixture on it.  Swapped out trucks, opened up the steps, added wood decking with oil stains, grab irons, tool boxes made from Legos and side boards.

camera download 072714 110

camera download 072714 109

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This is my Marx postwar 898 customized with Marx 999 drive train and trucks and Marx 994 domes plus other custom parts, to create a prewar looking loco to pull my small collection of prewar Lionel cars.

 

Here's my Marx Commodore Vanderbilt with a smoke unit from a Marx 666. Tender is a plastic 8-wheel tender with all rivet detail sanded off and mounted on a four wheel tin frame.

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