On18 Locomotive Build | Calico Mountain 14

This week's project takes us back to Calico Mountain for the build of an On18 Saddle Tank Climax locomotive! This freelanced design was inspired by a similar On30 model by David Wingrove (not by Al Judy as stated in the video) and is named in honor of the designer and builder of Knott's Calico Mine Ride, Bud Hurlbut. Join me as I build this little critter from the ground up, starting with a smooth running Kato 11-109 N gauge mechanism. I add a working LED headlight, Porter details from Railway Recollections, a custom cab, graphics, and all the bells and whistles.
Thanks for watching, amigos!
Dave
Kato 11-103: a.co/d/6fIzKrV
Railway Recollections: www.ebay.com/str/railwayrecollections?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=XSJRN_XgSg-&sssrc=3418065&ssuid=fWepkjmJT9O&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY
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Music courtesy KZbin Audio Library, attribution given where available.
"Country Cue 1" courtesy of Audionautix, licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. creativecommons.org/licenses/...
Artist: audionautix.com/
"Horses, Trains" KZbin Audio Library

[@Enterprisingengine93]

you sir are terrific

[@railwaykangaroo6196]

That's one sweet wee lokie you've made there.

[@61tony19]

Really made me smile, great work as always

[@debbiegipson4512]

I am sure Bud is lookin' down from the big depot in the sky, grinning .Always informative and entertaining...thanks!😉

[@bobainsworth5057]

Just beautiful!

[@dalerobertson9394]

Bud was a great man. I worked for him as a ride operator at Castle Amusement Park in Riverside California in the early 90's. Him, his wife and their dog would visit on the weekends. I operated the Antique Car Ride and the Trains. He would always check up on those rides. Prior to working there I was also a ride operator at Knott's Berry Farm and worked on the Calico Mine Ride and the Timber Mountain Log Ride. Awesome build as usual. What a great tribute to a great man. He did and still brings a lot of smiles to a lot of people who enjoy his creations.

[@ThunderMesaStudio]

What great memories

[@sammisworkshops3762]

Really cool model Dave, nice tribute to big AL too, just one thing, it needs a length of chain on it somewhere, Thats an AL Judy trademark LOL.

[@Yamauma-No.10]

I absolutely love these kinds of locos and railroads. These rustic, ‘ Shoddily' kinds of builds. This is why I love logging camps and railways so much.

[@regwirth3004]

Figure was the out rider from the Chuck Wagon Kit.

[@troygust43]

What a beautiful little locomotive. I really appreciate you sharing the build process on this one. One more rolling artwork. And we all know how you love it when a plan comes together! I think we all love it when you have a plan that comes together!

[@fairestofthemalllocomotive4802]

I’m always obsessed with the ON18 stuff you do Dave I wish I had 1/4 of your skills and talent! Looks amazing as always!

[@caesarillion]

I'm thinking of how I can shrink to 3' tall so I can work on my HOn3 like it was On... sigh. Thailand Paul hahahhahah.

[@jimhresco1728]

Excellent build! Structures also. Beautifully done! The only thing that bugs me is that back drop. That bright blue detracts from the scenery and looks like something from a Roadrunner cartoon. A western oil painting color palet would really compliment the layout.

[@ThunderMesaStudio]

Thunder Mesa is in Technicolor. Not everyone appreciates that, but that's ok. Thanks for watching.

[@timothyboles6457]

Great build and video. I need to get back into my On18 project

[@DJE2025]

👍👍Very nice build Dave! The #6 is a awesome loco. 🚂🚂

[@sleepybee6408]

I have a narrow gauge mine train recommendation, a tiny shay train would be cute, I think it’d be a cute idea. Seeing a dinky Shay go up a slightly steep incline would be charming

[@MineMountModels]

Beautiful work.

[@lightman500]

Excellent build, as usual. Your attention to detail is superb. I always learn something new from your videos. I particularly like when you explain the scales and gauges to remind me of the sizes. I should remember them by now, but always nice for the refresh!

[@duanewhite3275]

Very Cool.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Sooooooooo NICE!! Im always .... stunned? ah... anyway some word... You build a COOL THING.. Totally amazing. Spend days. Weeks? MONTHS??!! Then put it on your railroad and it vanishes. One more tree in the forest. Sigh...

[@stevemellin5806]

Great video .

[@loispadgett6306]

That engine looks beautiful well done. Wish I had your skill I would like to build some of those 0n18 steamers and cars. Thanks for sharing this with us. GOD BLESS 🚂💖🚂💖🚂💖🚂💖

[@lynnmccurdythehdmmrc2561]

Howdy Dave, good Video.

[@connorgrewal5885]

Have you every thought about projecting moving water onto your waterfalls? I'm not sure if it's possible, but if it is it could be a great illusion. Also, love all the Calico inclusions. Amazing build as usual!

[@ThunderMesaStudio]

The trick is hiding the projector(s)

[@BotLiquor]

What about hiding the projectors behind the waterfall? It would be difficult, but Disney has proven it to work for some of their animatronics.@@ThunderMesaStudio

[@mynx_uk]

sorry i missed the stream but Drink!

[@richardsweeney197]

Really enjoyed the build!! So what if it's home built? Why wouldn't the people have pride in what they built? Heck yes, good paint and gilded lettering and numbers!

[@davevan8864]

That came out really well. After one of your other On18 videos I picked up a Kato drive chassis. I am not sure my old hands and vision can build to your level but I hope to try. Thanks! PS....very 'Knott's'

[@ThunderMesaStudio]

Thank you

[@ocalicreek]

Really great, but the whole time I was wondering why you gave it number 6 instead of 14, like the video description. Then I realized this was probably video number 14 in the Calico Mountain series...some days are like that.

[@pacificcoastminiatures]

Love this little loco! Ah, you're giving me ideas! I model in n scale, but a small On18 layout sounds like it could be a cool side project. When I go to Japan next spring I'll pick up one of these Kate drive units as they are a bit hard to get in Canada without paying over $50!

[@Ron_Ventura]

What a work of art this is! I know you’re a DC guy, but is there room in there for a (probably non-sound) DCC decoder, or would it have to go in a car?

[@ThunderMesaStudio]

Thanks! You could probably fit a small decoder inside the cab

[@MichaelThornton13]

Hey Dave awesome video!!! If I send you all the parts would you build one for me ?

[@lukebughman9934]

Love the videos Dave! You've inspired me to attempt an Nn18 layout using T-gauge track (1:450) - we'll see how it goes! Just wondering, how does the LED for the headlight handle a PWM signal for the motor power? Does it cause the headlight to dim or brighten with the locomotive speed?

[@caesarillion]

I noticed your Howe Truss underbone design has no verticle members. Any comment there? I'm a big Howe buff. Thanks, Thailand Paul. Agent D&RG Ry

[@crockett11000]

Can you tell us what size and K.. resistor you used on the kato 11-109 for the headlight LED?? These lil motors can run so slow at even 1.5 volts. So the led don't or barely lites up at that volts or speed..

[@peacock5859]

Because of those small scales, do those engines run through the mine?

[@ThunderMesaStudio]

In reality,. battery powered locomotives would be used underground, not steam. But this is based on Knott's Calico Mine Ride so we won't let the truth get in the way of a good story.

[@politicsandtrains]

Are you using DC or DCC?

[@ThunderMesaStudio]

My On18 locomotives are DC.

[@matthewcragg3607]

24:11 Probably my favorite of his and that's saying something because he had so many: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y2rcin1sj6aMpNU

[@sly123size]

🛤🚂 🚃🚃🚃🚃🛤 And also hopefully you can make a steam railcar somday because i see lots of climaxes Locomotives of every type and hopefully you can make it two mine cars long and be one be powered by 0-4-0 locomotive chassie and motor and the other is standard boge wheels from a passenger car or freight car and i don't mind if it's costume i like how your costume climaxes locos came in because they look like came from 18 century through the 19th century you did very excellent work there