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Professional Locomotive Kitbashing Services

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Posted by NWP SWP on Friday, March 3, 2017 11:17 PM

Not to go from ridiculous to ludacris but I may add a double cupola on top of the cab!

Steve

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Posted by dehusman on Friday, March 3, 2017 11:17 PM

Good luck kid, you're gonna need it.

Dave H. Painted side goes up. My website : wnbranch.com

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Posted by NWP SWP on Friday, March 3, 2017 10:55 PM

Two prime movers. What pray tell did the original "Frankendiesel" look like? The center cabs will not have windows on the model. To assist in the models performance in curves the B trucks are mounted on bolsters that pivot from the D truck. The inspiration for this monstrosity is the Illinois Central's #9202 transfer diesel.

Image result for illinois central #9202

Steve

If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough!

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Posted by mbinsewi on Friday, March 3, 2017 10:25 PM

LaughLaughLaugh  Good one kid...Laugh  I don't think that'll handle a 48" curve !  Do something different with all of those center cabs! 

And by the way, the term "Frankendiesel" was taken long before you got here, by a departed member, Jeffery Wimberly, and it was part of how we knew him......yours is not a "Frankendiesel", it's a "Freaking diesel".  Laugh

Remember, all in good fun.  Laugh

Mike.

EDIT:  So, how many prime movers, the 567D3,  16 cylinders, does this monster have?

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Posted by NWP SWP on Friday, March 3, 2017 9:36 PM

BEHOLD FRANKENDIESEL!!!!

Steve

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Posted by dehusman on Friday, March 3, 2017 6:19 PM

Y'all ought to go back and reread the thread.  Start small.  Do a 40 ft car upgrade.  Heck, just put wire grabirons on 1 car.

Next thing, think before you cut.  You want to put trains on a 4x8 sheet of plywood.  How in the heck are you going to get that long of a diesel around a 18" radius curve?  How are you going to join the drive trains?  How are you going to mount the trucks on the frames?  Not saying it can't be done or you can't do it.  Just saying don't start with the biggest thing on the planet.  Start small, get good and then expand upwards.  You might find you hate kitbashing.  Its better to find that out with a $10 car than after you have cut up $300 of engines.

Dave H. Painted side goes up. My website : wnbranch.com

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Posted by NWP SWP on Friday, March 3, 2017 5:59 PM

Gentlemen, I present to you FRANKENDIESEL!!!! It's basically two stretched GP30s with four two axle trucks and two four axle trucks resulting in a locomotive with a monstrous B+D+B-B+D+B wheel arrangement! I am just going to use a bunch of old Athearn locos to do all this.

Steve

If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough!

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Posted by richhotrain on Friday, March 3, 2017 11:48 AM

cascadenorthernrr

I would like to add that a friend of my Dad's who builds houses always says "you can know whats in the book, but experience is everything" so I ask questions here because I can get information based off years of experience.

 

I think that you just reinforced mobilman's primary point. Your father's friend is correct. "Experience is everything". You need to gain some practical experience. What you have done in your threads is ask others to draw plans and research issues for you. What others are encouraging you to do is to try your hand at it yourself and then bring those plans to the forum for critique and to research railroading issues first and then ask questions.

Maimonides famously said, "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime".

Rich

Alton Junction

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Posted by NWP SWP on Friday, March 3, 2017 11:46 AM

Now, to get back on topic Walthers got back to me and said I could get a shell from them for about $25.00 so my project is starting to make headway.

Steve

If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough!

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Posted by NWP SWP on Friday, March 3, 2017 11:41 AM

I would like to add that a friend of my Dad's who builds houses always says "you can know whats in the book, but experience is everything" so I ask questions here because I can get information based off years of experience.

Steve

If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough!

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Posted by NWP SWP on Friday, March 3, 2017 11:32 AM

Well to start I have asked all these questions so I have an idea what I am going to be getting into. I happen to have a HO scale loco (BLI Pennsy T-1) I do not have a layout yet but that's in the planning stage still. Lastly I ask questions here because: (1) I do NOT live near a operating railroad. (2) I do NOT have any railroading in my family. (3) I come here because I am looking for tips and advice from people who are much, much more knowledgable than I about railroading and the modelling thereof and who are either: (a railroader) or (a model railroader)

Steve

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Posted by mobilman44 on Friday, March 3, 2017 5:31 AM

Hi!

It has been difficult for me to keep quiet on this and other of the OP's threads.  At the risk of offending the powers that be (and anyone else), I will temper my comments as best I can and practice the tact and diplomacy I learned growing up on the streets of Chicago.........

To the OP..........

- Don't let yourself be considered an "Armchair Modeler".  That's someone who talks the MR talk, but never actually does anything.  From all your threads and posts, I have not read of you owning any MR equipment, nor actually following through on any of your "proposed projects". 

- There are a lot of good, helpful and knowledgeable folks on this forum, many who have come to your aid and assistance.  As wonderful as that is, it sure does give the appearance that you are "using them" to substitute for your own investigative efforts. 

Many posts by forum members have directed you to threads or websites that would accomodate your questions.  Read between the lines - they are trying to tell you something, without offending you.

- If you are really interested in this wonderful hobby, do something tangible about it!  Buy a couple of car or structure kits and try your hand at them.  Or get a strip of plywood (2x8ft) and put down a simple switching setup.  Just DO something.

I (for one) welcome anyone into the Hobby - especially young people.  But as with anything else (other than politics), "talk is cheap", and "doing" is invaluable.

Good Luck! 

ENJOY  !

 

Mobilman44

 

Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central 

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Posted by Anonymous on Friday, March 3, 2017 5:13 AM

richhotrain

I have a suggestion for the OP.  Before you start buying and cutting up locos, how about buying some track and a power pack and build a small, simple layout. Do youi plan to operate in DC or DCC?

Rich

 

+1

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Posted by richhotrain on Friday, March 3, 2017 4:08 AM

cascadenorthernrr

I think I will get a old Athearn GP30 and make a center cab version with a cupola. That should require quite some cutting. 

I have a suggestion for the OP.  Before you start buying and cutting up locos, how about buying some track and a power pack and build a small, simple layout. Do you plan to operate in DC or DCC?

Rich

Alton Junction

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Posted by NWP SWP on Thursday, March 2, 2017 10:58 PM

I will do it.

Steve

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Posted by tstage on Thursday, March 2, 2017 10:43 PM

https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling

Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.

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Posted by NWP SWP on Thursday, March 2, 2017 8:56 PM

I think I will get a old Athearn GP30 and make a center cab version with a cupola. That should require quite some cutting.

Steve

If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough!

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Posted by tstage on Thursday, March 2, 2017 8:04 PM

Dave is absolutely correct, Steven.  As mentioned by him and others: Hone your skills on simple kits and projects BEFORE you start spending googobs of $$$ (that you either have or don't have) on some sort of dream.  There's nothing wrong with dreaming.  However, sometimes you have to "reel" yourself in and get "real".

Question for you, Steven: Have you put together any kits - albeit rolling stock, structures, etc?  If you have then detailing (i.e. adding something to your model that didn't come with it) is your next step.  Kitbashing would be the logical step after that.

Enjoy the "journey" while you press on to your "destination".  You'll enjoy the ride and find the experience more rewarding that way. Big Smile

Tom

https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling

Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.

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Posted by dehusman on Thursday, March 2, 2017 7:39 PM

cascadenorthernrr

Well I was considering buying the AIO Zeus 3D printer/scanner that way I could scan the shell of the locomotive and make a copy of it.

 
Before you invest several thousand dollars in scanners and printers, etc.  Why don't you actually try doing a simple kitbash to try your skills and actually practice doing something.  Its really easy to talk about wanting to do all sorts of projects and its another thing to actually do them.  Try doing a simple project on a car or a building.  Take an Athearn bluebox car and upgrade it with separate grab irons, detailed roofwalk, replace and detail the door guides, replace the brake gear and rigging.

Dave H. Painted side goes up. My website : wnbranch.com

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Posted by NWP SWP on Thursday, March 2, 2017 3:25 PM

Well I was considering buying the AIO Zeus 3D printer/scanner that way I could scan the shell of the locomotive and make a copy of it.

Steve

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Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, March 2, 2017 3:14 PM

cascadenorthernrr

Yes the price could pose a problem. So a system like AIO Zeus 3D printer/scanner would not have the resolution for HO scale? I found this on shapeways, it doesn't look too bad.

HO scale 1:87 CSX SD40-3 Wabtec Cab 3d printed Cab in primer by Campbell.

 

Well, I guess its catching up.  The Micro Mark printer may or may not be able to do that.  A lot depends on your printing material.  I know a guy who does detail parts in different scales via a shapeways store.

Large components get expensive quickly.

 

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Posted by NWP SWP on Wednesday, March 1, 2017 9:15 PM

Ok thanks.

Steve

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Posted by NWP SWP on Wednesday, March 1, 2017 9:11 PM

Yes the price could pose a problem. So a system like AIO Zeus 3D printer/scanner would not have the resolution for HO scale? I found this on shapeways, it doesn't look too bad.

HO scale 1:87 CSX SD40-3 Wabtec Cab 3d printed Cab in primer by Campbell.

Steve

If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough!

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Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, March 1, 2017 9:09 PM

cascadenorthernrr
 
BMMECNYC

 Also from a practical modeling standpoint, are you planning on powering those road slugs?  If so where would you put the motor?  Are you planning on DC or DCC operation?  Do you have the capability of removing metal on the locomotive chasis to reduce the hood height? 

 

 

 

I was thinking about that point. Could I do a slug like those of NS? I included pictures of them below.

Image result for norfolk southern road slug

 

You can do whatever you want.  All of these are really good projects.  Make a list and prioritize your modeling.  There are a lot of things out there to model.  NS does a lot of building.  Check out their SD90 conversions (SD70Acu is what I think they are calling them).  KATO makes SD9043s (I own 2) and have had 2 years of trouble free operation, once I corrected my own stupidity. 

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Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, March 1, 2017 9:06 PM

cascadenorthernrr

Ok I was looking in a Micro-Mark catalog, and I saw a 3D printer and a 3D scanner would this be a good way to kitbash the Bs, slugs, and other custom projects I plan to do? Could I scan the shell of the loco copy the sections I need and assemble them into the selected project?

 

From what Ive seen from Shapeways and other 3D printing, the resolution just isnt there yet for HO scale models.   Im assuming you looked at the price tag as well? 

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Posted by NWP SWP on Wednesday, March 1, 2017 9:05 PM

Here's another possible project.

Image result for sd70ace with elephant ears

Steve

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Posted by NWP SWP on Wednesday, March 1, 2017 5:35 PM

BMMECNYC

 Also from a practical modeling standpoint, are you planning on powering those road slugs?  If so where would you put the motor?  Are you planning on DC or DCC operation?  Do you have the capability of removing metal on the locomotive chasis to reduce the hood height? 

 

I was thinking about that point. Could I do a slug like those of NS? I included pictures of them below.

Image result for norfolk southern road slug

Steve

If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough!

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Posted by NWP SWP on Wednesday, March 1, 2017 5:22 PM

Ok I was looking in a Micro-Mark catalog, and I saw a 3D printer and a 3D scanner would this be a good way to kitbash the Bs, slugs, and other custom projects I plan to do? Could I scan the shell of the loco copy the sections I need and assemble them into the selected project?

Steve

If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough!

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Posted by NWP SWP on Tuesday, February 28, 2017 7:12 PM

WOW COOL!!!

Steve

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Posted by csxns on Tuesday, February 28, 2017 6:43 PM

Check out that centercab in the browse our galleries.

Russell

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