brass aem-7 project

[Budliner]

still not sure what it is that
I need...



here you can see that the Single arm pantograph needs to be soldered its held on with an alligator clip
here you can see the part thats missing.. its next on the list

[AntonioFP45]

Budliner,

Here's a couple of close up shots showing the two different ends of the AEM 7. You've probably seen a few already as there are loads of photos of these:

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=141916
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=140463

Those are basically sheet metal valance panels or "beauty covers". Looks like something that can be fabricated using the photos on railpictures.net as a reference.

Just my opinion, but to help get you started look at the first photo above:

1. The "wedge" or part that angles in downward, plus the triangular shaped end sections on the sides can be fabricated from one piece of brass. Note the grab irons on the wedge in both photos.

2. The narrow vertical section on the front above the wedge, that tucks in below the cab can be fabricated separately from a thin strip.

3. The two sections can be then glued (or carefully soldered) together to form the one piece.

Note:
Another option to brass or steel. Thin, transparent Lexan is available at some home stores. Easy to cut with a dremel cutting wheel. Also easy to shape.

Unknown to some, Lexan will also gently bend when heated with a heat gun or a hot blow dryer. Rounded corners are formed by bending the material when hot around a solid rounded object, like a bolt or tv antenna.

[AntonioFP45]

Budliner,

Just thought of something interesting. That shape looked so familiar. Then it hit me like a brick! LEGOS!

My son is a Lego nut and a number of his pieces have that same basic shape, just the wedge is longer.

http://www.lego.com/

When you get there, go to click on Exclusives & Accesories.
Click on Bricks & Pieces by shape.
Then click on Roof Tiles.

One other thing, also on one of his vehicles, the windshield is almost an exact match! However I don't see that piece on the lego website. It came in a Lego submarine kit I bought him some years back.

[Budliner]

wow it does look like that Steep Sloped brick
thanks for adding
I have been looking for brass parts to add and nothing seems to look good
I must have the only aem-7 that need's add on's

thanks for taking time .. this is turning in to be my favorite unit



Ken

[Budliner]

I guess I got the (steam) knocked out of me
I got snipered for a 4-8-2 road 666 last week
man it still stings
well that brass steamer sold for 63 bucks I bid sixty two
oh well not the first and sure not the last
here is a shot of the aem

[Budliner]

hey whats that security guard up too......

[Budliner]

guess I could add some air horn's

 

 

whats a NATHAN AIR HORN ?

 

 

ken

[AntonioFP45]

Budliner,

There are/were a number of locomotive/ship horn manufacturers (Prime, Wabco, Air Chime, etc) but the two most popular with railroads are Leslie and Nathan.  Leslie horns were dominant on railroads for years, but Nathan is now on top of the "food chain".   Leslie horns tend to be long and slender.  Nathans are shorter in length and have a "stubby" look to them

Here's Matt Donelly's website on horns.  Very good info with sound samples included:

http://atsf.railfan.net/airhorns

In a nutshell, Amtrak's standard horn is the Nathan K5LA which was developed about 25 years ago.  Still very popular, it  replaced the Nathan P5 series on the F40s and the SL4T's on the SDP40fs.     

Suggestion:  If you wish to put sound in it, you can use a Lok Sound decoder. For the prime mover sound there are several Europeon electric locomotive options to choose from which would come close to the AEM 7.   Basically,  modern electric locomotives sound like oversized refrigerators.  For the horn options, just upload the Nathan K5.

Hope this helps.

 

[Budliner]

Budliner,

There are/were a number of locomotive/ship horn manufacturers (Prime, Wabco, Air Chime, etc) but the two most popular with railroads are Leslie and Nathan.  

 

thanks Antoniofp45

you have more time on this little locomotive than I do

lol

 

K

[Budliner]

I'v been looking and looking

and the only info on the brass AEM-7 was this quote

Though a model of the AEM-7 was offered in brass in the early 1990s, it was a rare sight on model railroads for a long time

then atlas came out with the plastic (yuck) I have 3

and I was trying to get a photo of the brass model

oh well the only one that shows  up is mine

if anyone comes across this elusive model please post here

Ken

[Budliner]

hello AntonioFP45

and all of you that added info to this aem-7 project

sorry I have not put more time in it lately, with all this great info I get here on trains its hard to stay away from it

 

thanks again

[Budliner]

looking to add horns but these dont look the same

 

what type??

 

 

Ken

[AntonioFP45]

Hello amigo!

I'm glad you're still moving forward with your brass AEM-7. 

Re: Horns.  Piece of cake in this case. The majority of Amtrak AEM-7s use the Nathan K5LA horn with all of the bells (trumpets) facing forward, just as on most of Amtrak's F40PHs.

The picture you posted above is one with bells #3 and #4 reversed which according to the Walthers Catalog, is the type used by CSX and other freight railroads.

Good news is that Details West offers the K5 with forward facing bells: 

Part #232-252. I saw one at my LHS.  Price is around $3.00.  It's a one piece brass casting so it's ready to be painted and glued in.

Hope this helps

[Budliner]

Antonio

as always great info, and part numbers too

this is great I'd like to see some of your projects, you have some great modeling skills

thanks

k

p s let me see if I can fix some of these photos and post some others

[AntonioFP45]

Very glad to be helpful......

I'm a step closer.  I was pricing digital cameras and am deciding between a Canon model and a Sony in the low $200 range.  I want to make sure that I get something that takes crisp, clear "close-up" shots. 

Any progress with that pilot piece on the front end?  

[Budliner]

I found some great parts to add to the AEM at Arrow Hobby

I sent an email a few days ago to see if these parts are all brass never got a return

http://ppw-aline.com/details_west.htm

106	Rotary Beacon: Roof Mount, All Locos Ea.	$1.25	ea.	4	$5.00	increase   decrease   remove
236	Mu Cable W/Double Ended Receptacle Pr.	$2.15	ea.	2	$4.30	increase   decrease   remove
252	Air Horn: K5, All Forward, Amtrak, NS, CSX 1 Ea.	$3.75	ea.	2	$7.50	increase   decrease   remove
295	Mu Hoses: Approx. 36" Length Pre 1980 Locos, 4 Hose Cluster 4 Ea.	$3.75	ea.	1	$3.75	increase   decrease   remove
318	Air Cooling Coils, F-Units 1 Set	$2.50	ea.	1	$2.50	increase   decrease   remov

 

no luck with the pilot yet

 

K

[Anonymous]

Lookin good! Keep us posted!

[AntonioFP45]

Budliner,

Try my LHS.  Happy Hobo Trains. They stock a high amount of detailing parts.  The store's owner is a prototype modeler. 

(I don't have the e-mail handy).....but Kevin and Dick work to help their customers.  

Tel: [phone].   Tell either one of them that I told you to call.  Ask for the email address as well. 

[Budliner]

sorry I need to bump this up as I use it to look for parts

I picked up air horns but they dont look like the right ones

5 chime foward

K

[csmith9474]

Below is a great link for Amtrak modelers (one of which I am not). Scroll down to "The Electrics" and you will see several links for AEM7 pics. Hope this helps....

http://www.hebners.net/amtrak/

[Budliner]

wow thats awsome thanks

 

___________________________.___._/////
______________________________.|_...^.|
______________________________(|.o.O.|)
_._________________________oOO__(_)___OOo_____________
_____________^TMĸ.. |_____|_____|_____|______|_____|_____|
_______^TMĸ._______|_____|_____|_____|______|_____|_____|
^TMĸ.______________|_____|_____|_BUDLINER__|_____|_____|

 

K

[AntonioFP45]

sorry I need to bump this up as I us it to look for parts

I picked up air horns but they dont look like the right ones

5 chime foward

K

Hi Budliner,

I was at Happy Hobo Trains a few days ago.  I happened to look at the detailing parts rack, and the K5LA horn cluster that you need is still on the rack along with a smattring of other detailing parts.   Like I suggested before, give him a call.  The horn is the same unit used for the Amtrak F40.

If you can't find the horn, just zip an e-mail to my box wth your address or P.O box and I'll pick one up for you on my next trip to the "Hobo" and mail it to you.    

[Budliner]

thank you antonio

that was very nice of you to offer

I did look online and did not see a website for them

I did see a phone number

I guess I can find something to put these two 5 chime brass air horns I got onto

ya I will send that info to you

I found a great deal on some tix solder and flux Micro Mart has them for $16 and I got them for $9.99 it was a music box repair shop online cant wait to start adding details to these locomotives

thanks again

and happy hollidays

Ken

 

[AntonioFP45]

Update: 12/7/2007  - (Don't forget our troops that were in Pearl Harbor)

Hello Budliner, I sent you an e-mail. 

[Budliner]

got it thanks antonioFP45

[Budliner]

check out the size

the big one is cal scale and the small one is details W

is this how the horns are?