I am kitbash some athearn blue box SW7s ( if i can find some) and create my own HO scale center cab diesel locomotive. I got the idea from Model Railroader article i believe from 1982 or 1982 which shows how to make HOn3 scale center cab steel mill diesel locomotive. If i do build the engine my way, the differences will be it will be HO scale, will have steam heater torpedo tubes on top of one the hoods, all weather windows on the cab (an athearn S-12 cab) which i have. Has anyone built a locomotive from that article in HO or HOn3 scales?
Had no luck finding that article in MR between 81 and 83. I do have a HOn3 loco I bought from jeepcaptain, a ebay seller of such things from time to time. Here's a couple of pics.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
How about Oct 1980, "A Trio of Narrow Gage Diesels"
George In Midcoast Maine, 'bout halfway up the Rockland branch
Mike that is a very interesting looking Rio Grande kitbashed centercab diesel locomotive. Do you know how it was made with what parts? I am still going to do kitbash of athearn blue box locomotives, but for switcher part will use either SW1000 or SW1500. Will mate long hood of athearn blue box GP7 onto frame of SW1000 or SW1500. That way wont have to drill holes for handrail stanchions.
Mike, your loco puts me in mind of a Whitcomb 65 ton centre cab. A nicely-done find.
Wayne
I like that, Mike. I can't place what the cab is from. Any ideas what he used?
Chuck - Modeling in HO scale and anything narrow gauge
I like that article,I plan to build some standard gauge centercabs following those directions.
G PaineHow about Oct 1980, "A Trio of Narrow Gage Diesels"
George has it right, presuming there wasn't another NG diesel artoicle being talked about. The loco I acquired clearly was patterned after the first centercab in the article. The frame is from an Athearn SW1500. Note that it must be one of the old style ones in order for this conversion to work. I believe the newer style gearboxes are too wide to allow it to be narrowgauged.
The two hoods are also cut from SW1500 shells. The cab is from the Athearn Baldwin switcher.
Wayne,
I agree, it's a conversion that looks right. It's also heavy and powerful, although my Kato NW2Ms will give it a run on all those points, plus it runs like a Kato, instead of a Blue Box Athearn.