Howdy-
I know this is a loaded question but here goes... :)
Does anybody know what body shell fits on which chassis?
I presume there is no formal list anywhere, but even just anecdotally-- what body shells (make/model/etc) have you found to fit on which type of chassis (make/model/etc) and was it a direct fit, required a little adjustment, major rework, etc?
If everybody posts when they do something like this, perhaps this thread can become an unofficial list..?
Thanks
John
I have placed a number of shells on other chassis (e.g. Life Like BL2 on Atlas GP35, JnJ GP60 on Atlas GP40, etc) but have not produced any kind of list.
igoldbergI have placed a number of shells on other chassis (e.g. Life Like BL2 on Atlas GP35, JnJ GP60 on Atlas GP40, etc) but have not produced any kind of list.
Do you recall any specific projects that you could say "I put this body on that chassis?"
I read on this forum someplace that Bachmann only has one type of chassis for the "F" units so that the "A" and "B" shells fit on the same chassis.
Which shell fits on which chassis?
The shell that fits on the chassis is the shell that fits on the chassis.
{you said it was a loaded question}
I have not heard of a list, and I am sure manufacturers will be of little help.
A better question for you to ask the guys here is about what chassis you have that you want to fit what shell on? Or what shell you have that you want to know what chassis to get for it to fit?.
And as mentioned, Bachmann may have one chassis (and shell for that matter) at least for all their older Fs. I have 2 different named (older) Bachmann F's that actually have the same Identical shell, even though they are named different models. I am sure the chassis are identical. I would not be surprised if other manufacturers did the same.
-G .
Just my thoughts, ideas, opinions and experiences. Others may vary.
HO and N Scale.
After long and careful thought, they have convinced me. I have come to the conclusion that they are right. The aliens did it.
I've only done a few body/chassis swaps. I do know that a Bachmann train-set F9 chassis will fit into a Tyco Baldwin RF16 shell with a little work. Trim down the chassis mounting tabs, and widen the coupler slot a bit. Supposedly, the Athearn F7 chassis will fit too...but I like the Bachman chassis. They're usually cheap at shows :)
Lets see: We have Great Northern, VIA and Canadian Pacific E8A's and B's made by Rivarossi. They are poor runners so I bought a Proto 2000 E8 and mounted a Rivarossi E8 body and it slid right on. I had to modify the pilot and glue small tabs inside the body to adjust the ride height and am happy with the results. I bought a further 5 Proto 2000 E8's off eB**y and converted the rest, discarding the Proto bodies to the spares box. Additionally we bought some Intermountain Union Pacific F3 bodies off eB**y and mounted them on Athearn chassis's that we bought new. These were a little more trouble as the body weght wouldnt fit, and the body had to be trimmed for the couplers to fit as well. generally once you start hacking at the body, you better finish it so you dont waste a valuable body. Keep the discarded parts for another project or sell/give it to a friend who might need it. As Walthers doesnt stock parts for the E8's I have sold one to another lister who needs grab irons etc, and sold a Rivarossi chassis as well so we came out even in the end.
When they were first released Intermountain F bodies were said to fit Athearn and Stewart drives and I have them with Kato drives. This leads me to believe that these bodies and chassis are interchangable.
Doug
jwhitten I read on this forum someplace that Bachmann only has one type of chassis for the "F" units so that the "A" and "B" shells fit on the same chassis.
I can't think of ANY manufacturers that make separate chassis for A and B units. I think all use the same.
Highliner F-unit shells were originally designed as replacement bodies for Athearn "blue box" F-7s. They're currently being used as the basis of Athearn Genesis F-units. So at least in theory any of them should be able to be swapped.
BAR fanHow good is your memory? In your 2009 response, you indicated that you had successfully put a N scale Life Like BL-2 shell on an Atlas GP35 chassis. Do you recall if any modifications to the shell were required to make this happen? Thank you.
to the forum. Your intial posts are moderated so expect a delay before you see them.
You are in luck that caldreamer is still active in the forum, most of the others are gone. There is never a charge to start a new thread. You will notice the search function in this forum isn't all that useful so it's often more efficient just to start a new thread.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
That is indeed true as far as I know. Case in point, I recently put a Varney F3A shell on a Bachmann chassis that originally had an F9B shell with minimal difficulty. The only modifications needed were mounting brackets in the shell and a headlight on the chassis. Just for the record, the Varney I got for free from a friend, the drive-train was pretty much missing, but the shell was/is in great condition and I really liked the looks of it. The Bachmann F9B was brand new, and I only paid $20 for it. (It was on clearence)