Project 4 - HOn30 FL 0-6-2T FL Sugar Cane Locomotive
This project is a free lance 0-6-2T steam locomotive that captures the canefield appearance. This locomotive utilises the Bachmann 2-6-2 N gauge chassis. It is straightforward construction, and it is suitable for a first attempt. No major modification is required to chassis, as the locomotive body has been designed to fit the chassis. Read through all the notes, and study the
photos and construction plan. This affordable chassis has proven to be a reliable runner, and tracks well as an 0-6-2T locomotive.Construction
Chassis
- Test run locomotive.
- Remove front truck, tender, and body shell.
- Cut chassis (razor saw) 2 mm in front of cylinders. This small lip that is left can be used to secure chassis to super structure when locomotive completed.
- Remove the projection on the front of the die cast housing. This is best done with a grinder and/or file. Remove projection so that it is flush with the die cast housing.
- The chassis is now ready. Test run.
Locomotive
- Refer to plan. Cut out all pieces from 0.5 mm styrene sheet. Cut strips as indicated below. Sand to smooth, straight edges.
- Glue locating lugs on inside of cab sides.
- Assemble sides of cab to back of cab. Ensure square.
- Fit floor piece, glue underneath the locating lugs.
- Glue on cab front.
- Cut and test fit boiler top into position. Trim if necessary, glue.
- Glue on tank sides and tank tops.
- Glue 4.8 x 2mm strip against rear cab wall for coupler mount into position. Glue 1.5 mm strips on inside of cab. These will provide support and pieces to secure locomotive to chassis.
- Fit boiler front. Cut two styrene circles to fit front of boiler. On of circles is smaller to represent the smoke box door.
- Glue boiler/smoke box support into position (refer to diagram below)
- Fit buffer plates.
- Fit buffer plate supports.
- Shape and fit buffers.
- Assemble bunker, glue onto back of cab.
- Test fit chassis. Some minor filing may be required.
- Fit roof.
- Fit domes.
- Fit funnel.
- Fit hand rails to cab.
- Fit steps.
- Fit couplers. I use MicroTrains N 1025.
- Super detail as required. Paint as required. It was not unusual for these cane locomotives to brightly coloured (visibility).
Notes for FL Steam Locomotive
2 x 4. 8 mm strip
1. against rear cab wall for coupler mount (21 mm)
2. continuation of front of tanks (21 mm) - # 2
3. support for smoke box saddle (21 mm) - # 3
4. smoke box saddle (13 mm) - # 4
5. curved buffers (10 mm)
Expanded view of loco front
2 x 4 mm strip
1. support for cab floor (6.5 mm)
2. behind front buffer plate (7 mm)
1.5 x 1.5 mm strip
1. along inside floor sides (18 mm)
2. support lugs inside cab sides (16.5 mm)
Hand rails
9 mm staples (drill # 70 )
Domes and funnel
I turn these from wood. Any other suitable domes or funnels that you have will do.
The chassis can be secured to the superstructure by three styrene clips. These can be cut from scrap styrene (5 x 7 mm) and one attached to front, to hold the chassis to superstructure. Some scrap styrene strip will need to be glued behind the front coupler to provide support for screw (use MicroTrains coupler screws). Two further clips can be added. One each side of cab to hold chassis. (See photograph).
Hope you enjoy building this locomotive. Happy modelling.
Bob Dow
