Hi all,
I am currently working on several early-run Proto 2000 E8s, and I have come across the infamous shell gap problem (there is a gap between the chassis-mounted pilot and the shell). A thread on here from a long while back mentioned an article with a fix in a the July 2012 Railroad Model Crafstman by Michael Ferris. I do not have access to this article, can anyone who does help me out here?
Thanks
White River Productions now is the owner for RMC.
They might have a copy or two available, if nothing else.
Ricky W.
HO scale Proto-freelancer.
My Railroad rules:
1: It's my railroad, my rules.
2: It's for having fun and enjoyment.
3: Any objections, consult above rules.
Like Ricky says, if you want the article, you'll need to buy the issue, unless somebody on here has subscribed to the print and digital, prior to, or on, July 2012.
I am a subscriber to both, but I just did it, and I can only see the April edition, nothing further back.
Their web site isn't clear, they seem to tell you you can view past issues with the digital edition, but...nope.
I let them know that their ad was kind of deceiving, but I haven't heard nothing back.
Mike.
My You Tube
According to the article, there are a couple of problems with that locomotive, the first being an unnecessary pad surrounding the truck mounting pins on the bolsters. This causes the locomotive to sit too high. The author of the article milled down the pads, removing them and the mounting pins. The latter were replaced with 2-56 screws.However, the unit still didn't sit level, and the cause was traced to the four fuel tank mounting tabs, which hold the shell onto the chassis. Apparently the two rear tabs are slightly lower than the two front ones, which cause the shell to ride high in the front/low in the back - to solve that issue, he removed the two rear pins using a file.To keep the shell from teetering on the two remaining tabs, he cemented a piece of Evergreen styrene angle to the inside rear of the body shell. It extends across the full width of the shell, with the vertical portion cemented to the rear of the shell and its lower edge even with the bottom of the sides of the body shell. The upper portion of the angle faces towards the front of the loco. When the body is placed on the chassis, the front tabs on the fuel tank click into the shell, while the angle at the rear of the shell simply sits atop the frame.
To mount the trucks, he drilled through the modified frame bolsters, tapping the holes to accept 2-56 screws. He then added strips of .020"x.188" styrene atop the frame bolsters, also tapping them for the same screws - this was to make-up for the material removed from the underside of those bolsters, so that the worm gear cover would still hold the trucks to the bolsters when the unit was re-assembled. He doesn't mention the screws' length, but does note that anyone doing these modifications should check to ensure that the screws aren't so long that they interfere with the gears.
I may be able to scan the entire article for you, but am uncertain if my new(ish) computer will run my old(ish) scanner. I'll try to get around to testing it sometime this weekend, and will let you know if it works or not. (That's the main reason why I've attempted to give you as complete an account of the procedure as possible.)
Oh, and I almost forgot: to the MR Forums, Amtrak!
Wayne
Mike,
Their app gives me access to my subscription time, plus 12/11-12/15 issues.
Maybe that is where you need to access to older issues?
One issue - My app is on my tablet, which requires wifi, which requires my internet and home phone to work.... they are not, so I am posting via cell phone until my internet gets repaired...
Thanks Ricky, I use my desk top here in my office. I'll see what kind of response I get.
I was an on-again off-again subscriber for quite a while. Figured I'd jump in again.
Based on the posted details, I would try the styrene into the shell and removing the two rear tank shell locking nubs first, as that might fix it all anyways.
ricktrains4824Based on the posted details, I would try the styrene into the shell and removing the two rear tank shell locking nubs first, as that might fix it all anyways.
By the looks of the article, that will equalise the heights of the front and rear of the locomotive's body shell, but the entire locomotive will still sit too high. There's a photo in the article showing a comparison between the stock height and the modified one, and the difference is very noticeable, with daylight showing between the top of the trucks and the unmodified frame and body shell. The modified version sits down properly, like its prototype.
Amtrak, if you're still interested in the RMC article, contact me via a PM (Conversation) with your e-mail address.
I've successfully scanned the six page article and will send it to you.
Just a bump-up to hopefully bring this to the attention of the OP.