How to make an SW 1500 into an MP 15(or MP15 DC)?

[techguy57]

I can't seem to find anyone who makes a MP15 switcher engine although I see many of them on the nearby UP line. Does anyone make a conversion kit or am I going to have to make the modificatonsto a SW kit from scratch?

[BRAKIE]

Is this what you are looking for?
http://www.all-railroads.com/instock/homp15.htm

You should be able to locate these engines on line or at a hobby shop.Try e bay as well.

[ericsp]

I believe the MP15 is slightly longer than a SW1500, so making an accurate conversion would be rather difficult. If you do not want to buy a Con-Cor locomotive (or cannot wait until they make them again), you could make a locomotive that looks like a MP15 by changing the sideframes on an SW1500 and modifing the hood just ahead of the cab.

[techguy57]

Brakie - thanks for the link. I had no idea Con-cor hade made any models of the MP 15.

ericsp- Yeah that was my line of thinking as well. Thanks for the confirmation

Quick prototype question: The Con-cor model in the picture has the hood sloping toward the cab, but the actual UP engine I see there is no slope. Is this common and is there a reason? (I will post this on the Trains mag forum as well).

Mike

[dehusman]

There are several variations to MP15's. Throw in that UP has merged several roads with MP15's and then leased dozens more that came from all over the country, they have just about every variation possible.

Dave H.

[techguy57]

Thanks Dave. Makes perfect sense, just wanted to make sure I was seeing things right and don't need a trip to the eye doctor.

Mike

[Anonymous]

I have been hearing rumors on the boards about new ones coming next year. but the ConCor versions do show up on ebay from time to time. pricing varies. They tend to be hard to find so a good deal could be hard to find.

[ericsp]

QUOTE: Originally posted by jjwest870

I have been hearing rumors on the boards about new ones coming next year. but the ConCor versions do show up on ebay from time to time. pricing varies. They tend to be hard to find so a good deal could be hard to find.

Have a look at the link above.

[SSW9389]

And then Jim Six said that two model manufacturers that start with the letter A will be making the MP15 and the MP15AC in HO. He said each would be making one model.
And that is about as strong as a rumor can get.

[BRAKIE]

Well J6 usually knows what he is talking about since he gets to look over some of the preproduction locomotives...Jim was among the very few that got to see the P2K GP38-2 and the detail problems this locomotive had.The unit problems was corrected before being release.

[Dough]

Hey, good post. I was wondering how much trouble it would be to make a CSX MP-15AC. I see them pretty often, and I have a few pics of protos that I would like to model. So how much different is the AC from the regular?

[jrbernier]

The MP15AC is quite different - It has a 'mini' version of the 'tunnel motor' radiator section in front and has the AC/DC drive like the road locomotives.

[ericsp]

Who is Jim Six?

[SSW9389]

Eric, Jim Six is a prototype modeler who has been published for more than 20+ years on how to build realistic prototype models. Plug his name into a search engine and see how many hits you get.

QUOTE: Originally posted by ericsp

Who is Jim Six?

[cwclark]

There was once a publication called "Build a Model Railroad with Personality" that is now out of print but if you do happen to come across a copy, there is a section in the book that shows you how to kitbash a SW1500 into an MP15 ...the book was out during the early 80's but i haven't seen a copy of it since...you might find it at a train show booth someday...Chuck