This is a post to introduce a new project to rebuild two Shays. The puntastic title is already dated as the project has expanded to being a four shay project. The project is inspired some treasure found on a shelf that I had forgotten about completely.
Sample completed rebuild
Back in 2005 Keith Wiseman commissioned a Korean brass manufacturer to make two new brass bodies to replace the T boiler Shay produced on 0n30 by Bachmann. The kits changed the body from a T boiler to a wagon top boiler body with two different eras of decoration. The 1890 version has fluted domes etc whilst the 1920’s version has more modern style boiler decorations.
Working with Keith I imported a load of them for sale in the UK. I also stashed some for myself with the intention of doing one of each for myself and a couple of each to do for sale. None of that happened and they got stashed in a cupboard only seeing the light of day until a recent sort out.
This series of post will tell the tale of converting Bachmann Shays using the Wiseman Brass bodies with the addition of some regauging works. At the time of writing this paragraph four loco’s are in the scheme but it could increase to a maximum of three of each style with two 1920 era bodies left.
I recall that the whole production with the Korean Manufacturer turned into a bit of a saga stretching over many months. I the end I imported thirty of them and stashed these six for my own use both for my layout and to do some conversions for sale. I just never got round to doing them and they moved to hide at the back of a shelf.
What’s in the box
Each box contains and detailed brass boiler, cab front and backhead, A cab and a new ashpan. Full instructions for the conversion are also provided. The detail is exquisite.
Not included is a donor shay
Upgrades and Plans
Motor |
The Bachmann motors are prone to letting the magic smoke out so whilst the model is this far apart one of our new coreless motors will be fitted. |
Gears |
Prone to splitting the bevel gears will be checked thoroughly and probably be changed for the revised spec Bachmann ones or the NWLS metal ones if I can find some |
Bunker |
The rebuild reuses the original Bachmann bunker and to my mind that leaves it still looking like the Bachmann Shay. I will be having a good peruse of the definitive Shay locomotive book with a view to providing a different pattern bunker |
The full fat spec is for a rebuild of the chassis to ensure the gears are sound, one of our new coreless replacement motors, wiper pickups, DCC sound, keep alive plus a crew, additional details, re-livery and weathering.
Three of the engines also need regauging which will be dealt with as a separate topic
What’s in the brass kit?
Each brass kit contains these main components.
In addition there is a pack of screws, a laser cut wooden floor and a full set of instructions.
The backhead details is rather good too.
That’s all I plan to cover in this first instalment as all the donor shays haven’t arrived yet and there are some current projects in front of these to get completed.
Until then research will look into a new style bunker and gathering the other bits needed to complete them.
15/12/24 – As mentioned above there are still two 1920’s locos with no ones name on them if you wanted to get in on this rebuild and upgrade program.
The next instalment of this saga will look at the trucks of the engines that need their gauge changing.
| This is the first page | Use the link to follow the story as it evolves |
 Coming Soon |
