richard carr
Western Thunderer
That's nice Mick, I just need to build a bridge now.
7mm Richards P48 US Thread
- Thread starter richard carr
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richard carr
Western Thunderer
Well maybe but it's my railway!
I do have a truss bridge but it isn't anywhere near big enough this needs to span over 6 feet
I do have a truss bridge but it isn't anywhere near big enough this needs to span over 6 feet
richard carr
Western Thunderer
I've been away on holiday for a week so not a lot has got done, but yesterday I did start to build the locomotive storage spurs.
There is going to be 4 spurs at this end of the layout.
Building these did make me realise that I have run out or I'm about to run out of virtually everything for track building, so until new supplies arrive from Right O Way not that much more is going to get done.
There is going to be 4 spurs at this end of the layout.
Building these did make me realise that I have run out or I'm about to run out of virtually everything for track building, so until new supplies arrive from Right O Way not that much more is going to get done.
richard carr
Western Thunderer
I've managed to get a fair bit done this week. The first thing was to test the 1 metre radius curve, the big question, will the hoppers with protocraft couplers and my coupler boxes go around it. Yes they will surprisingly easily
So using the track templates provided by Oz7mm, I formed the curve and fixed it firmly down.
Above are 2 of the hoppers and a GP35 that has the protocraft couplers too and it all pushes nicely around the curve.
So now I know that works, I think there might be room to fit a turning Y too.
Richard
So using the track templates provided by Oz7mm, I formed the curve and fixed it firmly down.
Above are 2 of the hoppers and a GP35 that has the protocraft couplers too and it all pushes nicely around the curve.
So now I know that works, I think there might be room to fit a turning Y too.
Richard
Attachments
richard carr
Western Thunderer
I have also been finishing off the locomotive storage spurs, the first 2 are now operational including the switches from the control panel.
And a look back the other way
And a look back the other way
richard carr
Western Thunderer
I got back from the recent trip yesterday, there were a few things I managed to bring back with me. The most important thing was a large quantity of track parts so layout building can continue.
I did manage to bring back a few more bits of rolling stock.
The first one is this Atlas Santa Fe livered SD40. Having now done a fair bit of reading up on the differences between SD40s and the SD 40 dash 2, it's not just the electrical equipment that is different. SD40s were originally built with HD trucks. The earliest ones from about 1965 had 2 brake cylinders mounted low down on each side. This is what the Atlas model comes with.
This one is from 2006 and comes with factory fitted QSi DCC sound. These trucks were prone to damaging the brakes in minor derailments so they soon changed to mounting the brake cylinders further up on the side frames. Dash 2 SD40s have HT-C trucks and apparently, these are not interchangeable on the real thing, although they look similar, so there aren't any truly updated SD40s into SD40-2s, unlike many other classes such as the GP38 where lots of original GP38s were updated into dash 2 versions
I also brought this GP35 back.
This is an Atlas Chicago and Eastern Illinois GP35 factory fitted with QSi DCC sound. So yesterday was spent converting these 2 to P48.
Starting with the SD40, fortunately North West Shortline do replacement wheel sets, however 2 sets they sent have the wrong size gears on them so they need to go back, but I did have 1 correct set.
I did a quick narrowing of the trucks, by just cutting back the length of the lugs, that moves them in by about 2mm each side, it probably wants a bit more
I did manage to bring back a few more bits of rolling stock.
The first one is this Atlas Santa Fe livered SD40. Having now done a fair bit of reading up on the differences between SD40s and the SD 40 dash 2, it's not just the electrical equipment that is different. SD40s were originally built with HD trucks. The earliest ones from about 1965 had 2 brake cylinders mounted low down on each side. This is what the Atlas model comes with.
This one is from 2006 and comes with factory fitted QSi DCC sound. These trucks were prone to damaging the brakes in minor derailments so they soon changed to mounting the brake cylinders further up on the side frames. Dash 2 SD40s have HT-C trucks and apparently, these are not interchangeable on the real thing, although they look similar, so there aren't any truly updated SD40s into SD40-2s, unlike many other classes such as the GP38 where lots of original GP38s were updated into dash 2 versions
I also brought this GP35 back.
This is an Atlas Chicago and Eastern Illinois GP35 factory fitted with QSi DCC sound. So yesterday was spent converting these 2 to P48.
Starting with the SD40, fortunately North West Shortline do replacement wheel sets, however 2 sets they sent have the wrong size gears on them so they need to go back, but I did have 1 correct set.
I did a quick narrowing of the trucks, by just cutting back the length of the lugs, that moves them in by about 2mm each side, it probably wants a bit more
Attachments
richard carr
Western Thunderer
With the GP35 I decided to be abit more aggressive and cut down the lugs on the sideframes and the truck chassis.
So this is before being narrowed
This
is after narrowing
I'm not sure that shows up that well in photos, so this is front narrowed rear truck hasn't been narrowed
The left truck is a Santa Fe GP35 that hasn't been narrowed and the right truck is the CEI GP35 that has been.
and here is an Atlas Mopac U23B, these were only produced as "Trainman" locos so were made to be cheap, so it wasn't available with DCC sound just 2 rail DC.
Atlas are doing a run of GP15s for delivery next year, they will all have PS3 in them except that they are doing a run of 2 rail DC for $300 each (depending who you order from)
You can pre order them now.
So this is before being narrowed
This
is after narrowingI'm not sure that shows up that well in photos, so this is front narrowed rear truck hasn't been narrowed
The left truck is a Santa Fe GP35 that hasn't been narrowed and the right truck is the CEI GP35 that has been.
and here is an Atlas Mopac U23B, these were only produced as "Trainman" locos so were made to be cheap, so it wasn't available with DCC sound just 2 rail DC.
Atlas are doing a run of GP15s for delivery next year, they will all have PS3 in them except that they are doing a run of 2 rail DC for $300 each (depending who you order from)
You can pre order them now.
Stephen
Western Thunderer
I need to take inspiration from your narrowing of the trucks and have a go at that on one of my F3 units for starters.
Getting that slightly deeper relief from the loco frames, and edging the brakes nearer the wheels does make a noticeable difference in my opinion.
Cheers,
Stephen
Getting that slightly deeper relief from the loco frames, and edging the brakes nearer the wheels does make a noticeable difference in my opinion.
Cheers,
Stephen
JasonD
Western Thunderer
The HT-C trucks on nearly all SD40-2/SD45-2 had a longer wheelbase and 2 x third frame hole, because all the traction motors were mounted pointing the same way, rather than one pair mounted facing each other (as on the Flexicoils only under Conrail's order). The SD40-2 had longer deck, etc adding up to being 3ft longer than the older SD40. I think this was so the SD45-2 could share the same frame assembly with the SD40-2 hence its longer porches.
Memory time: O-scale Meet in Jan Lorenzen's (Locomotive Workshop) Yard in the late '70s, in the bathroom of my motel room just down the road there was a small window that when I heard a train I hurriedly finished, I opened it to let me see three Conrail GP15s and a branch freight just outside.
Jason
Memory time: O-scale Meet in Jan Lorenzen's (Locomotive Workshop) Yard in the late '70s, in the bathroom of my motel room just down the road there was a small window that when I heard a train I hurriedly finished, I opened it to let me see three Conrail GP15s and a branch freight just outside.
Jason
Jordan
Mid-Western Thunderer
Beat me to it - SD40-2 is 3ft longer than the SD40. I had to change my numbering plan for my undecorated SD40 when I found out. I also bodged the brake cylinders by adding "missing" ones to the corners of each truck, but I didn't do any other mods like removing the existing brake air piping.
Jordan
Mid-Western Thunderer
Ditto. A job I keep looking at - and putting off!!
Yorkshire Dave
Western Thunderer
I sure if Atlas produced a CF7 (with cab variants) instead of re-running the GP15 they would sell like hot cakes and be a staple catalogue item for years.
Yorkshire Dave
Western Thunderer
It does make the difference...
These are the narrowed trucks on my Dash-8 40B.
And before
And here's the trucks - after and before.
Jordan
Mid-Western Thunderer
Oh yes please!!
Unfortunately I don't think they will - I have a sneaking feeling it's us Brits who like them.
When I asked about CF7s over on the OGR Forum, people either a) had never heard of them, or b) were still livid that good-looking-but-life-expired F-Units had been chopped about & rebuilt into something rather less than good-looking.
Many American modellers still seem wedded to the Transition Era, as well, which affects demand - or lack of - for model types.
soo4513
Western Thunderer
The late Ed Rutling made a resin cab and short hood for a CF7 look alike based around a red caboose gp9
Jordan
Mid-Western Thunderer
richard carr
Western Thunderer
A bit more work has been started on the layout. So after proving that a 1 metre radius curve works, there is plenty of room to add a turning triangle. It is going to go something like this.
It will need to cross the S7 layout but it looks like that should be OK, the class 25 easily passes underneath the bridge.
I just need to do the final design for the bridge and cut it out. One the jobs for my trip to Singapore this week.
It will need to cross the S7 layout but it looks like that should be OK, the class 25 easily passes underneath the bridge.
I just need to do the final design for the bridge and cut it out. One the jobs for my trip to Singapore this week.
Yorkshire Dave
Western Thunderer
A bit more work has been started on the layout. So after proving that a 1 metre radius curve works, there is plenty of room to add a turning triangle. It is going to go something like this.
It will need to cross the S7 layout but it looks like that should be OK, the class 25 easily passes underneath the bridge.
Ouch - no OHLE or excess height cars on the S7 layout then!