Posted By vsmith on 01/22/2009 4:35 PM
If you want a Challenge, AMC once made a very well detailed static plastic model kit in 1/24 scale of the real "General" thats preserved in a museum. I have seen this model kitbashed into a working large scale model, using a Kalamazoo drivetrain for the main drivers. I have this kit but so far havent had the gumption to attempt this kind of a conversion. As it is the kit as built is about the same size as Bachmanns 4-4-0 and would require a similar wider radius if built close to prototype. this kit seams to show up on Ebay regularly.
Love the film, especially the cannonball shot over the tender into the cab.
I have three of these "The General" model kits, one assembled and two awaiting disposition.
One of the unassembled ones is from "mpc" with the instructions listing: Copyright 1980 Fundimensions, Division of C9G Products Corp. The box says it is 1:25 scale.
The other two, (one I assembled) are from AMT (Ertl) and do not indicate a scale at all. The box indicates: Copyright 1992 The Ertl Company, Inc. I am sure they are all from the same "molds" (a situation not uncommon amongst plastic model companies). I can't find the instructions for the one I assembled and the other box is still in the factory plastic wrap.
The gauge is 2.3125 inches (2&5/16-in) and since it was a standard gauge loco, the scale calculates out to 1:24.43 so your 1:24 is closer than what it says on the box!
As is, as a model, they won't even roll on track as many of the parts of the Stepnenson's valve gear are all molded as one piece and the side rods are at fixed angles.
There were only two challenging parts to the assembly... 1) putting on the decals, and 2) painting the sign boards on the sides of the boiler ("GENERAL" in a 'frame') and the number plate on the smokebox door.
The decals are large and cover large (long) areas and I found that difficult to handle. I had to substitute some yellow "chart tape" for some of the lining on the tender as the decals just fell apart. (If I had patience, I'd be a doctor!)
I learned how to paint the sign boards AFTER I was almost done. (The next two will be lots easier to do now that I know how!) The "background" of the signs have to be painted red, leaving the molded ("brass plated" plastic) raised letters unpainted.
I tried cutting a paint brush down to just one bristle, 1/8th inch long and still could not get a drop of paint small enough to fit inside the letters (like "R" and "A"). I could not paint a straight line along the edges of the "frame"... it was a miserable job. I got the side signs almost good enough and gave up on them. Then I started to do the number plate on the smokebox. It also has a ring of lettering around the edge and they are even smaller. In frustration, I just painted the whole thing and then laid it face down on a flat paint cloth (rough but no nap) with a small amount of paint thinner on it. I rubbed it on the cloth and that removed the paint on the raised letters just beautifully, leaving the background painted and the letters shiny brass. Unfortunately, I had already glued the side signs on the boiler before I learned this so they are still lousy.
Although there are a couple of models of 4-4-0 locomotives of true American outline, none of them have large drivers like the General does and none are the correct scale for a Standard Gauge locomotive on Gauge 1 track.
