Jeff Saxton's On30 Models

This model began as a Mantua 2-6-2, cut down into an 0-6-0, with new crossheads and cylinders from the HO Kemtron Wabash mogul. The boiler and cab, and many detail parts, are from the Tomy Tokyo Disneyland 2-4-0 plastic kit. The tender has Wabash mogul trucks, and is a cut up Mantue "Dixie Belle" tender.

This model was a PFM -- United Class B Climax until I got ahold of it. The body is based on the photo of Hall & Hall's Climax in "Railroads in the Woods". The trucks are way too small, but ain't she just cute as a bug? The body is styrene with brass detail parts. I named her the "Gold Bug"; as several Climaxes received this name from the popular Edgar Allen Poe story of the time.

This was my first On30" loco. the inspiration was Larry Patch's On30" YSL module in a late 70's RMC -- he had a similar looking loco, and I copied it. The body is styrene, the drive is an early Bachmann plymouth chassis -- the old one, with a five pole can motor -- before they switched to the pancake motors. This one has many plastic detail parts scavenged form my junk box from left over military kits in 1/35th scale. The stack was made from one of those plastic clips that you get with a new pair of socks! I had just turned 18, was out of high school -- and dead broke!

This model is built from styrene on an Athearn SW or S chassis. The carbody is patterned after the GE built electric 30" gauge boxcabs in Best's "Mexican Narrow Gauge" book. I figured a diesel powered version would be a similar carbody -- but other parts of the detail placement was lifted from Grandt's HO boxcab kit.

This model is one of several incarnations. The original drive was ??? I have forgotton -- this one is a NWSL PDT power truck. The rest is styrene sheet and strip, and more leftover tank parts -- the "backhead" was part of the motor block from the Tamiya modern german "Marder" tank.

This model is nearly 100% scratchbuilt from styrene. The truck sideframes are from a Kemtron C-16 -- the rest is bits, sheet, strip, and sweat. I later replicated her in 1/24th scale -- that one worked! The plans and info were taken from a Gazette two part article, and plans in "The Rainbow Route".

This model is an AHM -- Rivarossi chassis, with a scratchbuilt styrene body. The inspiration is West Side Lumber #1, an early loco. My model is about 14 tons...the WSL one was 36 tons. Selective compression; and while the drivers are way too small, she looks the part quite well. The open plantation cab really appealed to me on this one. Brass details, etc. The air pump is an S scale one though -- S Scale Locomotive & Supply was at that time in St. Louis -- my hometown. One note: Only ONE Heisler built ever had a wood cab. If you are making Heisler's -- STEEL cabs, guys. This is one of those pesky adhering to prototype realism rules I have.

This model began as a Bachmann "Plasser" rail detection car. The two main axles and the frame are all that was kept, and one of the driven axles was deleted. The carbody is sheet styrene, made to emulate the Sandy River railbuses. The motor and hood are from the Bandai Opel "Maultier" (german for mule) truck kit. BTW, the Opel Blitz, which is the full wheeled version of the truck, is actually a german made GMC copy. I really hated to part with this one -- but I may recreate her in 1/20.3 someday.

I am guessing this is a very early 60's era brass mechanism, maker unknown. I bought it used, in rough shape. The a scratchbuilt styrene superstructure, brass detail parts and typical construction. The inspiration is any later Shay with cast sideframes and girder frame. My guess is she would weigh around 18 tons.

This model is simply a U.S. Hobbies On3 brass 13 ton Shay that I regauged. I took the trucks apart, then pressed the wheels off in a vice, and using my dad's 1/4" drill , spun the axles while I re-shouldered them with a needle file. The bolsters were re-bent to a narrower profile, the whole mess was then reassembled. Who says you need a lathe or mill? The original open frame motor in these Shays was junk -- mine burned out in about ten minutes. The Sagami can motor I replaced it with was larger than the tender bunker, so I made a new styrene bunker.