Bachmann tender question

[johnb]

Are the tenders for the 2-8-0 and the 4-6-0 the same? From what I can tell, they are...but are they really?

I am  looking at buying this on Shapeways...
https://www.shapeways.com/product/KGAH8JYGF/n-scale-whaleback-tender-shell-for-bachmann-4-6-0?optionId=61265003&li=shops

Thanks,

John

[NDave]

IIRC, there are some differences in the coal bunker doors at the front (the 4-6-0s had just a plastic filler, while th 2-8-0s has molded dooors)... but the 4-6-0 tender shell DOES fit the 2-8-0 tender chassis.

[NDave]

I take that back... it was the USRA short tender that has molded in coal bunker doors. Externally, the factory tenders for the 4-6-0 and 2-8-0 (the newest "Sound value release from 2018) look nearly identical, except for the speaker ports on the underside of the 2-8-0 tender (and the different PCB inside). There are some minor differences inside the shell, but I just confirmed that the shells are interchangeable.

OTOH, if you are talking about the 2-8-0 with DCC and sound, the DCC sound board and speaker may not fit under the SP whaleback shell.

[SkipGear]

There are 3+ versions of the "Std." USRA tender that Bachmann has used. The major variations are.... The first, version had the sides attached to the floor of the tender and the top and coal bunker lifted out. It was brutally painful to take apart and was of the era when the plan was to put the decoder in the boiler by taking out the removable weight. The second version is the more conventional design where the entire shell/tank and bunker detatches from the floor held on by one of the truck screws if I remember. The final version, was the sound version where the tender shell just snaps onto the floor and the floor has a speaker grille designed into it.

[johnb]

I have the first run of 2-8-0's...

I should be good