NP Z-6 from Athearn UP Challenger

[twhite]

Got a question for you--is it possible to take the new Athearn Challenger and kit-bash it into an NP Z-6? Does anyone out there have any suggestions? I'm talking loco length, boiler length and size, etc. Just wondering if it can be done without everyone pointing and laughing. I'd like to have a representative model of a Z class 4-6-6-4, without having to search the web and spend millions of dollars looking for an old PFM (which I understand, weren't very good runners to begin with). Any help, even "Forget It" would be much appreciated.

[Anonymous]

Twhite
You can make anytbing from anything if you have major resources or are willing to comprimise big time.

The Z6 and Z8 had very large fireboxes to burn their available coal. My books are packed, but I believe they had an additional 20% larger, read longer firebox. No tonly the length of the firebox would have to be overcome, but the domes, Cab, air pums, pilot and most other items on the engine iare just different from the UP challenger. Even the tender is much different, on the Z6, but the Z8 did have the centiped trucks. The Z6 would have to have a tender fabicated from scratch.
If you are very good at kitbashing, anything is possible, but at best most of it would be comprimised.

Cheer up, I believe that BLI or someone out there might just build you a Z8 in the future. They were always popular as PFM, Key and several other Importers have sold as many as they made.

[twhite]

Bangert1:
Thanks for the info, as you can possibly tell, I haven't done much researching on this. I'd just like to have a Z-6 on my roster, since I think next to the Rio Grande L-105, it's the handsomest Challenger ever built by anyone. My initial query was due to the fact that both locos were built by ALCO and I thought there might be enough similarities between them for a conversion. I think I'll just run my L-105's and pray that sometime before I take the Great Leap, that BLI or someone will come up with an NP. Thanks again.

[AggroJones]

Here's a conversion thats not as far fetched.....An SP AC-6 from a BLI AC-4/5. Most of the major componets are there. It just requires some heavy cutting and appliance changes.

[twhite]

Aggrojones: Neat possibility--you're not the first to come up with that suggestion, my LHS has a guy already working on one, at least so I've heard. The prototypes were different--116,000lb. TE for the AC4/5 vs. 124,000lb TE for the 6 and up, and I wonder how--if you're using sound--one would get that cross-compound pump chatter that was so characteristic of the AC-6 and up. But you're right, you could make a VERY passable AC-6 from a 5. Luckily, I already have an AC-6 from Sunset, so I'll just let my AC-5 be. And in the meantime, hope that Genisis or Proto or BLI hears my prayer and comes up with a Z-6 sometime before I make the Great Leap.
Tom

[AggroJones]

I would get crackin' on an AC-6, but that would require buying another AC-5, which will eat up all of my BLI 3800 class money. I'm almost saved up. I'm ready for the release.

[twhite]

3800? Race you to the hobby shop!