Sugar Cane Tank Engine from an LGB Stainz

I converted an LGB Stainz Locomotive into a Tank Engine with an Australian Sugar Cane Loco theme.

This is the inspiration for the conversion, it is loco housed in the Railway Workshops Rail  Museum in Ipswich Queensland Australia.  Link to website

The existing short tank/coal bunkers were extended to closer to front of the loco using styrene to make new tank sides.

Tanks side view ready for painting

The original tank fronts were cut off and then glued them to the end of the extensions but their height wasn't enough so I built it up with styrene.

Tanks front view ready for painting

Tanks top view ready for painting

The small piece at the back of the cab was removed and used to extend the back of the cab to add a coal bunker across the back.

Coal bunker ready for painting.

 The domes were trimmed and new tops were made to remove the European looking controls; 

• the shorter one has a top made from a "Worcestershire" sauce bottle lid;
• the taller one is topped off with an old car radio volume/on-off knob
•  the blow off valves are parts from a Bachmann Big Hauler, 

Domes

The smoke stack was made out two tops from of a "Yakult" probiotic container and an old plastic garden hose joiner this was then glued onto the top of the original LGB smoke stack fitting.

Container showing before and after the top is cut off and the hose joiner

Original container and finished stack

Smoke Stack with mounting

The German grocery store "Aldi" has a probiotic product which comes in a different container which is more rounded at the top and would work just as well.

The water tank filler covers were removed from a 'Newquida' toy loco.

Water Tank Covers

A fair amount of the European style/detail has been left because back in the time prior to WW1 some German locos were imported for use in the cane fields of Australia.

The loco was painted in a scheme similar to what mills painted their locos;  the paints used were "Duplicolour" automotive "Touch Up" spray packs the colours are "Hazard Yellow" and a Red colour.

This loco is Battery Powered and Radio Controlled as are all my other locos it uses;

• A 18V7 Pololu Simple Motor Controller for speed and direction control
• A "HobbyKing" 2.4GHz transmitter/receiver combo for the R/C
• 10 1.2V 2700mA AA batteries, 10 inside the boiler and 2 in a side tank.
• A MylocSound sound card 

Motor Controller and 2.4GHz Receiver

MyLocoSound card

Control and Sound Components fitted 
and Batteries in side tank 

Boiler battery Pack

Front Oblique View

Rear Oblique View

Side View

With "Whole Stick" Wagon

I weathered the loco to make its appearance more representative of a working locomotive and to take the newness off.

I finished up by using crushed coal to fill the coal bunker.

The loco looks really good with a rake of "Whole Stick" wagons behind it, these wagons were specially made for this loco.

I made some removable loads for the wagons.

Empty wagons

Loaded wagons

This was a fun build and is my first attempt of modifying a loco and I am fairly please with the result.

Making use of whatever was at hand for small details added to the fun of the build.