Building a DD35

[ndbprr]

Whatever GP35 engnes you use will come with chassis. It should be fairly easy to tie them together with brass bar stock.

[HAZMAT9]

It seems that dissecting the Espee article I should have enough info to start modeling the DD35.  The only thing that really puzzles me is the chassis.  Did the Espee modeler use two geep frames or something similiar?  Another article somwhere mentions using chassis from an SD-40....anyhow just something else to figure out. 

[HAZMAT9]

There's an article here on making an SP unit (all 3 of which were cabless). The only other road to have them was UP and they did have some A units.

There's an article on the SP units with illustrations here: http://espee.railfan.net/spdd35-m.html

http://www.worldrailfans.info/Articles/US/UPDD35.shtml

Hope this helps.

Amdre

 This was the article that I was referring to in an earlier post, although no contact info.  I can figure most of it out however it doesn't mention if the two geeps that were kitbashed were "high nose" or "wide cab."  Does anyone have a clue?  If I can figure this out I think I can take it from there.  Thanks!

[andrechapelon]

HAZMAT9

Does anyone have any good plans and/or ideas for scratchbuilding a dd35?  I read an article in the Espee web area discussing combining two gp35s although it was vague with little information on where the cuts were made and other items which needed to be scratchbuilt.  I know there's an article that came out some years ago in "Model Craftsman" (Nov '94?) in regards to kitbashing a dd40 to make a dd35, though I want to keep mine intact and rather kitbash two geeps (although if anyone has this article I'd sure like to get a copy!).  Any ideas would be greatly appreciated, many thanks!

There's an article here on making an SP unit (all 3 of which were cabless). The only other road to have them was UP and they did have some A units.

There's an article on the SP units with illustrations here: http://espee.railfan.net/spdd35-m.html

http://www.worldrailfans.info/Articles/US/UPDD35.shtml

Hope this helps.

Amdre

 

[ndbprr]

Why the concern about two GP35 shells? That is exactly what EMD did. The key is going to be a rigid enough frame.

[Darth Santa Fe]

MILW-RODR

Also, using a DD40X body as mentioned won't match, they had a wide cab (that was the predecessor to the American Wide cab). The DD35 had the standard front porch/Spartan cab type set up.

Athearn's DD40 was based on a prototype similar to the DD35, which had a completed design but was never made.

[BerkshireSteam]

 Either way you do it it won't be easy. GP35 shells won't exactly match as the center of the body is fitted with a canted radiator section much like that of the SD45. Also, using a DD40X body as mentioned won't match, they had a wide cab (that was the predecessor to the American Wide cab). The DD35 had the standard front porch/Spartan cab type set up.

check railpictures.net for pictures
GP35 drawings
DD35A

[HAZMAT9]

I know it's been done using two geeps, though the article I've seen on the Espee modeler pages is vague and has no contact info on who did it.  From what I can see, two high nose geeps cut and put together may do it.  I was kind of looking into building it myself as a project....if I can get a couple of old or used geep shells and frames this might work, looking to build it more as a dummy unit.  Steve

[Darth Santa Fe]

I've seen DD35s made from splicing two GP35 shells, and I've also occasionally seen an Athearn DD40 detailed to look like a DD35. Modifying and Athearn would be the cheapest route, but there's still the problem of a wide body.

You can also just get a brass model. The time and money put into making a realistic DD35 will probably add up to near the cost of an already made brass model. There's an older OMI unit on eBay right now, and I've seen plenty of others pop up in the past. The OMI DD35 that's up right now uses their old "tank drive," so it will be a noisier runner than newer runs.

[Forty Niner]

My thinking would be to take 2 shells and splice them together although I have no doubt there will be plenty of "experts" that will dismiss this idea as foolish.

There never seems to be a shortage of people to "condem the darkness" but a lot less to light a candle if you know what I mean............

Just a thought..............

Mark

[HAZMAT9]

Does anyone have any good plans and/or ideas for scratchbuilding a dd35?  I read an article in the Espee web area discussing combining two gp35s although it was vague with little information on where the cuts were made and other items which needed to be scratchbuilt.  I know there's an article that came out some years ago in "Model Craftsman" (Nov '94?) in regards to kitbashing a dd40 to make a dd35, though I want to keep mine intact and rather kitbash two geeps (although if anyone has this article I'd sure like to get a copy!).  Any ideas would be greatly appreciated, many thanks!