As it was shown in another forum a scratchbuilt Camelback, I just felt like that was something I had to try!

The one shown was a 0-6-0 type, but I don't have any suitable donors for that....

After looking in the Steam locomotive cyclopedia, I saw a Reading 2-8-0 Camelback.

That meant we were in business!

To give some insight into the project we start by showing the donor for the conversion:

A Bachmann Spectrum 2-8-0 Consolidation with a Soundtraxx decoder (retrofitted). It's a fantastic locomotive in relation to the price. But as I have too many, it would be fun to be able to convert it into a "more appropriate" locomotive ....

Bachmann's locomotive is very similar with an Illinois Central locomotive, but not with a Camelback:

Here is the locomotive on top of the drawing of an IC 2-8-0 locomotive.

Camelback locomotives with a 2-8-0 wheel arrangement is a little bit smaller however, at least the kind I have the drawings of.

It all works but will be convincing with some selective compression, or rather expansion as the donor engine is a bit longer in the wheelbase ....

I started by removing the shell from the locomotive and removed all lose parts! : O

Then I made a new boiler of Plasticard, I made it by rolling plasticard on a metal tube of suitable diameter (22 mm in my case), and then dip it in boiling water for 5 minutes. When it cooled, it retains the shape!

I took the cab from the donor and made a new rear end that fitted the boilers shape. Then I did the fire box in the same principle as the boiler, though I used a bent brass sheet for that form instead. The roof over the fireman is from an extra ALCO RS-3 cab I had in my scrap box.

I glued the stack, domes, bell, air pump, alternator, and tanks in place and suddenly it starts to look like a locomotive!

Here is the finished result:

The coal tender is a bit on the large side though. A may be in order.....

I will post more pics as the build continues.

Source: The M-K & Eastern RR Harbour branch