I've just finished another Bumble Bee C-16 bash for Phil Shields here in Auz ( He owns my K-27, C-19 #41, and now the new #268 bee)...
This is my 2nd C-16 #268 Bee bash, and is far superior to the similar bash done in 1999. She has better proportions, colours and
detail. The new Bee was bashed for Phil Shield's 'No Hope & Broke RR', here in Auz www.narrowgaugerails.com, and runs with other
bashes I've done for that RR, such as the RGS K-27 #461 and C-19 #42.
The loco is a substatial bash from an Aristocraft C-16, Nappa Valley coal version, infact not one piece of the loco was left in
it's original form!
Reworking these Aristo C-16s into more scale versions of specific D&RGW equipment is always a joy to me. C-16's just 'talk' to
me for some reason, so its loads of fun. Out of the box, the C-16s are crisply molded, well running unit, but just look
awkward with the raised height, boiler running uphill, cab sagging downhill, tiny domes' and lack of pipework. For bashing they
are wonderful.
It started out as a Nappa Valley coal version C-16, all in tuscan red paint scheme. I then;
lowered the superstructure down onto the chassis by another 1/4", brining the cylinder centreline down to the centreline
of the drive wheels.
moved the entire 8 wheel block rearward by about 4mm.
made new alligator crossheads and new crosshead guides.
new pilot deck, wider and squared up
scratch made the pneumatic flanger detail on the pilot deck.
sanded down the C-16 smokebox front to a new pattern and added clamps and hand rail to the door.
uncoupler levers to the front and rear.
hand made marker lights, step and hand rail up to the headlight.
shortenned the stack by about 10mm.
fattenned up both domes, and raised their height by about 20%!
PCS duel air pumps added, with all new pipework to both sides.
raised running boards to both sides
elec conduits added to the cab roof,
cab hand rails and details.
air brakes under the cab, from PSC.
scratch built tender and air tank, made using my normal methods, the old 1880 tender was not used above the chassis.
new trucks from Hartland, replacing the freight trucks on the Nappa tender.
painted the bee colours via using two colours - Tamyia Brilliant Orange, plus a plain yellow top coat to take the bite
out of the orange.
black lines are vinyl strips, decals by Stan Cedarleaf. Job took 8 days including running and playing with it yesterday!!
Regardless of the 1:20.3 side-step, these older 1:24 scale models still have a purpose for the many people running Colorado based
layouts using the host of cheaper 1:24 and 1:22.5 equipment, including the Annies and the J&S coaches etc.
