Z Scale EMD SW-1 and GE 70 Ton Switchers coming...

[pray59]

Great news for Z Scalers! Lajos Thek of Zthek has posted that they are releasing EMD SW-1 and GE 70 Ton Switcher kits.

First is the SW-1 which should be ready by May, with the 70 ton ready by later this summer.

The kit will be consist of an assembled, sandblasted brass shell, a constant lighting circuit and the necessary
hardware (floating wheels, fasteners, etc...) and should cost around $120.00

You have to provide a Marklin 88051 BR89 locomotive, which comes in the Vacation Fun Set, and requires some modifications to the mechanism.

Here are some quotes from the Yahoo forum where he gave the details of the project:
I'll post photos of the
actual locomotive when it will be
released. The concept drawings can
be viewed on the Zthek web site
http://www.zthek.com "New and future
products". The quality of details
will be similar to the brass ET194
electric freight railcar (same web
site). The unpainted kit version
has no laquer or any other coating
on it. The shell will be fully
assembled and sandblasted. The shell
will snap fit over the chassis,
utilizing the same spring loaded
pin the Marklin 88051 has. The light
circuit will slide between the two
contacts holding the small ceramic
capacitor. The chassis modification
requires some more advanced modeling
skills. At the time of release I'll
have good stock of the kits, no
"pre-order" necessary.

> does this mean the customer will have
> to purchase the little Marklin diesel
> switcher, and will have to make all
> the necessary conversion?
>

Almost. The locomotive chassis need to
be modified is the 88051 0-6-0 steam
locomotive. Obviously I'll establish
a conversion / exchange service for
customers, who want to receive the kit
in more advanced stage. Also, complete,
ready to run locomotives will be available
in a later date.

It (the 88051 locomotive) is still being manufactured and available. However, if it is for a kit-bashing project, you can get hold on the same basic locomotive cheaper by buying a "Fun" starter set no. 81521. A free bonus, in addition to a lower price, compared to plain 88051 in this case is a track oval and a beer car included in the set.
http://www.zthek.com/41ced930.jpg

Zthek's Switcher Link (http://www.zthek.com/id16.htm)

-Robert

[ 15. January 2005, 17:42: Message edited by: pray59 ]

[JoeS]

I read about this on the yahoo board as well. I am following it just to see what it turns out like. Sounds interesting. If it looks close enough to scale and can run at slow speeds without stalling, it would become tempting.

[pray59]

I have one of these locomotives that I converted to DCC, and it runs very well. If I had to say how well, I would say better than the Mikado, but not as good as the Pacific. With the brass shell, it will loose some weight, but I'm sure ther will be plenty of space to fill with weight.

People are talking of using Tungsten Powder mixed with a very small amount of white glue and tucked into every available space to increase the weight.

I'm going to try that method. I have an idea that I can fill the unused portion of the shell with that Tungsten "clay" mix wraped in Saran Wrap, and the locomotive in saran wrap, then mount it on the body, letting the excess squish out of the shell like a water balloon , and when the glue hardens, I can unwrap everything to have a weight slug the correct size tof the left over space to weight the locomotive down.

Maybe I should use 2 part epoxy instead of white glue though. :confused:

[BoxcabE50]

N scalers have dreamed of these for years. And many times we have been told they're not practical, or some other excuse. Now here they are in a Z adaptation! graemlins/headscratch.gif

:D

Boxcab E50

[E-8]

Sounds complicated. :confused:

Charlie

[Alan]

Who would have thought that such small locos would be available in Z! The scale is progressing nicely smile.gif