This N Scale USRA 0-6-0 started out as a Bachmann 2-6-2. This engine is a very first N Scale steamer I purchased way back in 2009.

To create the 2-6-2, Bachmann basically took their USRA 0-6-0 and slapped on a pair of pilot and trailing wheels. The 2-6-2 prairie was never a popular wheel arrangement and I doubt there's a prototype out there for Bachmann's model. So I removed the wheels (which makes me regret paying the extra $20). On top of that I also decided to get main painted up in Southern Railway' green passenger scheme. Southern never owned an USRA 0-6-0 and even if they did, it wouldn't have been painted green.

I decided I'd lived with my garish, toy-like steamer long enough and that my freelanced Cherokee Foothills Railroad needed a good yard goat and this engine seemed like a good candidate. So I got out my bottle of Floquil "Engine Black" and repainted the boiler, running boards, cab and tender. Next I took Floquil "Graphite" and repainted the smoke box and ash pans. And word to the wise, if you;re going to shake a jar of enamel paint, make sure the top is good and tight or you just might have a mess on your hands (don't ask how I know). I painted the plastic parts of the running gear, cylinders and pilots, Floquil "Grimy Black."

The tender coal load was created with some black sand I bought at Micheal's held in place with fluid matte medium. The number on the tender is a Woodland Scenics dry transfer.

The CFRR logo on the cab turned out to a be a bit problematic. I started out by printing them on Testors white decal paper. Now I've never been a big fan of white decal paper. The ink tends to crack as it drys and shows a lot of little white specs. On top of that, the ink tends to flake off as you put the decal on. I put my decals on and, they looked like crap! I pulled them off and dug out some more WS dry transfers. As it turns out, dry transfer decals don't age well. Mine would only go on partially and bits of them would flake off. So yeah, another non starter.

It was at this point I noticed the mock-up decal I'd printed on plain paper with my laser printer. I always make a mock-up before printing the actual decals to make sure they work. And wouldn't you know it? Said Mock up actually looked better than the damned decal! I started thinking about gluing it onto the cab but decided that would just scream armature hour. But then I had a flash of genius. I grabbed some Avery shipping labels and printed my decals out on that. I cut them out with an Xacto knife, peeled 'em off and stuck 'em on. And it worked ace! Other than really close inspection, you can hardly tell I used a label.

All that remains it weathering.