I am thinking about Kitbashing a loco to build a gas turbine. Im not sure what loco to use as a starting point. Any ideas? What ever I decide to use I need to add 2 extra trucks on the underframe. I was thinking about an E9 unit & stretching the frame & then adding 2 non powerd trucks on the bottom behind the front power truck & 1 in front of rear power truck. I do expect to do alot of cutting to the shell & underframe. Please point me in the right direction to do this. Also, im not sure how long the Gas turbines were.Thx.
Hi, I think you may be getting confused with the 2 different types of Gas-turbine that U.P. used. The 4 truck ones (B-B-B-B) are a single unit plus,later, tender. These have been made by Con-cor and are due to be re-released soon with finer detail. The one in the photo is the much larger later class. The turbine itself is in the 2nd unit, carried on 2 six-wheel trucks, the front unit has all the controls plus a 600hp (or was it 850hp - can't remember) diesel used for starting the turbine and moving the loco when in the loco yard. This also rode on six-wheel trucks. Overland made a fine brass model of this. The whole project, if you were to kitbash would be difficult, but rewarding. Hope this helps.
Actually I believe you both have things turned a little ascewed... the photo attachment in the starting link are the third generation GE GTEL A- and B-unit with tender. The earliest unit, known as UP 50 but never actually owned by the road (ALCO-GE owned test unit) was a "Janis" unit with cabs on both ends. This unit tested a number of the principles that would be developed into a healthy group of turbines of three variations. A good overview of the test unit and the three subsequent orders, as well as the coal turbine locomotive can be found on Wikipedia... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Union_Pacific_GTELs
I will admit, i do not know much about the gas turbines, so i am trying to school myself. I didnt know the B-unit had the turbine in it, I didnt know that there were 2 different types of units used. I dont mean to get things "ascewed" I did look up the brass model in HO scale that verland made, very nice! I all ready have the tender made & I might not like the model comming out by Con-Cor. I like ti kitbash & I like a challange as well. Im thinking if I can find an A & B unit of some sort I can use these as a starting point before a major modification kitbash. I like the A unit that has only 2 trucks instead of 4, so mine will have only 2 trucks under it. So again with my question; Who makes a good running A & B unit for a low cost in N-scale?
Might I also suggest trying to see if you can find the following book: Turbines Westward Thos R. Lee 1975 ISBN #0-916244-01-6 Library of Congress Catalog Card #75-20985 Published by: T. Lee Publications PO Box 412 Clay Center, KS 67432 See also: Union Pacific's Turbine Era A.J. Wolff 2001 ISBN #1-881411-30-3
Any EMD parts would lead you up a blind alley. The turbines were GE projects so you would start with Alco parts. PA+B would be your starting donors. You'd have a lot less work getting the nose curves correct. Try hunting down dead ConCor Turbines for details. The old ones came in many paint jobs several were fantasy.
That's a great Wikipedia article. I wish there were more photos to be found of the coal turbine - I have been mulling over a kitbash of one for a year now (in HO). Assuming you could source a PA-2 and the GN electric, it sounds doable, although the configuration of all the tanks and plumbing/intakes/exhaust on the roof remains a mystery.
"I wish there were more photos to be found of the coal turbine - I have been mulling over a kitbash of one for a year now (in HO)." Some help, maybe? http://s132.photobucket.com/albums/...ilroad/UP 3-Unit Coal Turbine 80 CustomBrass/ http://www.brasstrains.com/classic/...OMI-Overland-UP-Union-Pacific-Coal-Turbine-80
Ah, seems we have a rivet counter. I was trying to keep things simple : First type (Double cab,single cab and Veranda) and Second type (3-unit). This simply separates the two different types of running gear which, I understand, was what the thread was asking. An Alco PA set as stated would be a good start, although slightly short. Perhaps using a Lifelike E6 chassis combined with the nose from a PA and the PA trucks for the control unit?
UP Gas Turbine kitbash brucead, The best start point for kit bashing the 8500 hp gas turbine would be an E unit. The truck wheelbase is very close. The turbines were 14'6" total wheelbase while the E units were 14'3". Close. The truck side frames are totally different and would need to be kitbashed. My thoughts would be to base the A and B units on one of the Life Like E6, E7 or E8 locos. The older plastic chassis versions lend them selves to shortening to match the turbine units. A lot of work but you are only hacking up older low cost Life Like units. The other good point is that these have nice running qualities. Now where could you find an N scale drawing? PM me. Gary
Thank you Re; Gas Turbine Kitbash. I am currently watching a Life like used Alco PA on Ebay, so far it is $20.00 the nose seems a tad long so it looks like I will need to give it a slight nose job to start with. You all gave me good ides & a good place to start & helped me in what to look for. I thought the same thing about the "Rivet Counter guy" I dont rivet count when I build. If I can get somthing close enough to resemble the afect im after, then mission acomplished. So far I have had high marks in my scratch building or kitbashing. I am picky & I try to capture all the detail I can. I curently have many projects on my work bench, so for now I am gathering info & start buying the equipment needed for this large project. I do want to be as close as I can. Plus there are all kinds of details to build or track down. So for now I need to get an Alco PA+B unit & look for pics. I saw the Turbine on disply in IL online #18 I think so I think I will make mine like that one. Any more ideas can be sent my way......Rivet counters....dont bother. Thank you
Very nice Pics river_eagle. I hope you dont mind but I copied them into a folder for me to use when I start my build. Im all ready thinking about how to build & what to use. Im actually thinking the nose will be the most work on the A unit. I have a large styrene plast pile & scraps as well. I am currently watching an Atlas F8A+B unit on ebay for $16.00.
Ya gotta love the BigBlows! ConCors new issue of the Veranda will be out soon.....separate tankers will be available. D
to supersteam. I actually built, molded & resin casted a modern version of the water cars that U.P. currently use on their steam opperations for 3985 & 844. It wouldnt take much to cast a few of these with my all ready made molds (check out my albums for pics) & modify it to go with a gas turbine. Im sure con-cor's will be nice but I think it would be pricy & hard to get my hands on them as it will be out of my buget. I like to kit bash as well. Who knows, if im able to get a con-cor set then I will have 2, mine & theirs.
Thx bobthebear on the water car kudos....6 months of work, well worth it in the end. I made them to run behind my 3985 challenger. A modification should be easy to go with a turbine. By the way I won the ebay auction on the Atlas E8A+B for $35.00 + $6.00 S&H both are powerd They should be her in 1 week after I pay for them tomorrow....So I have my starting point. I project to start this build by 10/1/11 & I plan to take all winter to do it. So now its time gather styrene, grill vents, couplers decals & what ever else I may need. Attached here are the units I will use as my starting point for my Gas Turbine Kit Bash.
