This beautiful On30 Shay model was built by Back Shop customer Sam Barbose. The underlying chassis is that of the Model Die Casting HO scale Shay kit. The superstructure parts are from various sources, including The Back Shop, Precision Scale Company and V&T Shops, together with a great deal of work and rework on the part of Sam.

As things turned out, the model was built, then heavily damaged in transit to a show and then completely rebuilt again by a very determined modeler! This model is an outstanding demonstration of making different parts from different vendors work in a cohesive whole.

Many attempts at making the MDC Shay into a one-quarter inch scale model flounder because of two things: the MDC mechanism needs a great deal of work to make it run smoothly and the use of the MDC Shay engine assembly results in an extremely unrealistic-looking model. The mechanical side of matters has been addressed in a fine book by Jeff Johnston (see below), and the issue with engine size is neatly solved by using The Back Shop 8x8" two-cylindered Shay engine kit. This kit is full size O Scale, 1:48. Using this engine results in a far more realistic Shay model, albeit using a HO scale chassis and running gear.

The front view of the model shows the careful attention to detail and arrangement of parts. The model is "busy"-appearing without an over-do on 'clutter.' The selection of colors helps in the contrasts between the parts.

A rear view shows the same attention to detail. The cab interior has all of the proper appliances and piping, logically laid out. The final appearance is that of a prototypical, hard-working Shay locomotive, ready to haul logs, coal or limestone.

Attaching The Back Shop engine assembly to the MDC frame involves some minor 'hacking and filing.' Let's let Sam tell us how he did it:

"To mount your engine to the MDC frame, you must file the frame opening a bit wider and back through nearly 4/5 of the original, 2, MDC engine mounting holes... These are the two holes screws pass through to mount the original, plastic engine. A flat, flush side must be filed on the gear housing to allow your engine mounting/backing plate the proper clearence for the crankshaft to align, and to allow a solid mounting region. The interior webbing inside the interior angle of the backing plate return must be ground away and the backing plate lip must be filed to a 90 degree angle so it may rest on top of the MDC frame and allow proper alignment. I used a generous, but not copious amount of Metal Filling Epoxy (really strong stuff) to cement the lip and the back of the backing plate, to the top of the frame and the gear housing."

The "backing plate" Sam refers to is The Back Shop engine bracket. We are giving some consideration to making a new plate or bracket to eliminate some of the work to adapt the plate to the MDC castings.

The Back Shop p/n 1007, 8x8" Shay engine, two-cylinders, with four pages of illustrated instructions, is $39.95 msrp.

Other Back Shop parts used on this model include,

066 Edna injectors, $5.75/pr
045 Chain hooks, 2.00/4 pcs
116 Whistle, 2.25
079 Try-cocks and funnel, 2.35
347 Throttle arm, 4.40
304 Bell, 3.75
180 tool box, $3 (seen on front right running board)
364 Cab window arm rests, 2.50/2

Sam also used various globe valves and wrapped wire available from The Back Shop, as well as our #383 tool assortment, which includes a ball-peen hammer, open-ended wrench, "monkey" wrench and a blow torch (!), $2.25.

The MDC Shay Handbook, by Jeff Johnson. Almost 100 pages of drawings, photos, hints, help and tips on getting your MDC Shay to run well. Jeff Johnston is a professional technical writer, and his text reads as if you and he are having a conversation. I HIGHLY recommend this book. The book is now sold out at the publishers, but may still be availiable from selected book sellers, eBay and on the used book market. We use and recommend the following used book search engine,

The book was published by Oso Publishing. Click on their website to see their current in-print publications.

Thanks to Sam Barbose for making the photos of his wonderful model available to us.

UPDATE: The December 2006 issue of Finescale Railroader has a three-page write-up on Sam's model, with further discussion about The Back Shop Shay engine assembly.

UPDATE: V&T Shops, formerly of Reno, Nevada, is now owned by Wiseman Model Services, Inc., Kentucky. Contact them for availability of V&T Shops parts as used on this MDC Shay conversion project.