Broadway Ltd AC6000 shell swaps
I have a number of Broadway AC6000 locos that I am considering swapping shells around on. Has anyone done this, and/or have recommendations? BTW these are all brand new engines I have never run.
I have two early CSX models that have the QSI sound systems installed. I also have two UP models with Paragon 2 sound systems installed. I would like to keep the CSX locos, while upgrading their internals to the paragon 2 . What sort of problems might I encounter?
Brian
My Layout Plan
Interesting new Plan Consideration
Did they change anything on the shells or mounting system?
I would think that them being the same brand and same style locomotive they should be almost identical shells, other than paint and minor details.
Should work no problems, unless they upgraded something on the shells or mounting system when they upgraded the electronics.
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.
ricktrains4824 Did they change anything on the shells or mounting system? I would think that them being the same brand and same style locomotive they should be almost identical shells, other than paint and minor details. Should work no problems, unless they upgraded something on the shells or mounting system when they upgraded the electronics.
I can't speak to this particular loco, but being Broadway Limited, I would not bet on total interchangeablity.
They make a USRA heavy Mikado, a loco they have offered for a long time. I have two of them. While they look the same, and share many common parts, they are not the same.
I needed parts, I bought parts, driver sets specificly.
Turns out these Mikado's have been made by at least three different "vendors" in two different countries.
Both of my Mikado's are different regarding this part, and niether matches the parts they sent me.........the only parts they had on hand.
I ended up using the parts they sent to make useable parts.........
The name of the company says it all - Broadway Limited Imports.
They sell imports made by others, which are limited to what they can get made.
I like, and/or am reasonably happy with the BLI products I own, which include:
2-USRA heavy Mikes
2-N&W Class A 2-6-6-4's
2-Reading T-1 4-8-4's
1-USRA heavy Pacific
But it is unlikely I would purchase much more from this brand for several reasons.
The two Mikado's, admittedly purchased gently used, had problems early on and required complete disassembly and rebuilding as if I was building a Bowser kit. They run good now.
The two Reading T-1's required a small modification to the tenders to run correctly close coupled.
The others have no issues. All but the Reading T-1's have, or will have, their tenders replaced with various Bachmann tenders for the ATLANTIC CENTRAL family look.
The T-1's were bought back in the days when they offered DC locos without sound. The rest had their sound/DCC go away with their tenders, and were purchased at deep discounts.
There are endless stories on this forum of service problems, admittly most resolved, with BLI locos, yet people still rave about them.
To my eyes, most of their diesels seem to lack detail or lack "fineness" in that detail. Sound is more important to them - that's my take.
But I will never own an AC6000 anyway, they did not exist in 1954, sold off the BLI F3's I had........to much work to rewire, too many better choices on the market.
Sheldon
Biggest change might be int he lighting - if any of it is actually mounted to the shell and not all in the chassis. They may well have changed from incandescent to LED between the original QSI ones and the newer Paragon II/III versions. No idea without looking at once, which I don't have because, like Sheldon, such a thing is far too new for my era.
Actually matching up screw holes is probably the easiest part of such a swap - if the holes in the chassis don't match the shell, you can glue small blocks of styrene inside the shell where needed and tap holes to match the chassis.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
One issue is that I foresee is that the underframes will be different colors even if the shells are interchangable, the color of the underframes are going to be very different (up is grey, CSX is black). So if you’ll want an accurate model, you’ll want to change the fuel tank and truck sideframes and relate components.
Good Luck with the project!
Regards, Isaac
I model my railroad and you model yours! I model my way and you model yours!
My issue with the not too sure answer, is I have a AC6000CW from them, but only one, and I've not seen shells from other series to compare them.
I have some from the first run and the only thing i don't like is the way the trucks are the gear tower is off set that cause it to derail going into curves but rerails when they hit the straight.
Russell
railandsail Broadway Ltd AC6000 shell swaps I have a number of Broadway AC6000 locos that I am considering swapping shells around on. Has anyone done this, and/or have recommendations? BTW these are all brand new engines I have never run. I have two early CSX models that have the QSI sound systems installed. I also have two UP models with Paragon 2 sound systems installed. I would like to keep the CSX locos, while upgrading their internals to the paragon 2 . What sort of problems might I encounter?
I'm not familiar with Paragon or that locomotive.
But generally speaking, QSI used two 1 inch speakers, which took up a lot of room under the shell and forced the light pipes into being pretty small.
I would tend to think that if a shell has enough room to fit over the QSI innards, then it will probably fit over anybody else's innards.
You can usually swap out truck sideframes and fuel tanks, but that can damage the truck covers if you're not careful. You can also paint them.
You can take the shells off and see for yourself if they will fit.
I used to do stuff like that, then realized that it was more trouble than its worth.
It's now easier to just buy what I want on ebay, then sell what I don't want on ebay. Buy the 2 you want, then sell the 4 you don't want...if you really don't want them anymore. Might even come out ahead dollar wise.
- Douglas