I goofed around with the same model a couple years ago. I don't know how exact your planning to get, but a couple things stand out that are easy enough to fix. The louver sets on the hood sides should only have 7 louvers, not eight. And it looks like the cab side windows are sitting way too high. I'll be curious to see how this renders at Shapeways. I've held off all my loco projects due to the poor quality. Jason
"Jerry, what would you put under the H20?" I'd stretch an Atlas VO1000 chassis the additional 1½ feet using some of the same brass stock that Ron Bearden used on some of his stretched chassis.
Oh, you're right, it's only 1-6" longer at 27' o.c. (I was thinking of the H15/16 with 30' spacing). Thanks, Otto
I just bought 2 VO1000s for the conversion I have two here that I just dug out , If you are going to do the H12-44 I'll need to stock up . 4-6 of each would be cool .... I should have ordered more decals..
Thanks guys, it's always good to hear that there's interest in what I'm up to! I'll add the H20-44 to my list (and flattery certainly doesn't hurt haha). My main concern is them mechanism though, it doesn't sound like there are any particularly obvious candidates... Thanks for the kind words about my design work as well; I happen to agree that the H-10-44 is a particularly nice looking locomotive. Hmm good point on the louvers, I must have miscounted: as you said though, it's an easy fix. As for the windows, when I added them I traced them straight off of an equipment diagram (that's usually how I go about placing things, tracing and spot checking the results against the listed dimensions). I double checked my source photos and you are right, they seem a bit high (although interestingly it looks to me like there might have been a bit of variability between different individual locomotives (which strikes me as odd). Either way, we're talking about an offset of at most 2 scale inches (I think the lighting on the render makes them look higher than they actually are). That's the eventual plan! I'm planning to wait until the H-10-44 is mostly finished before I start that one though (so that I have the critical dimensions surrounding the mechanism locked down). Still plenty of work to do
Thanks guys, it's always good to hear that there's interest in what I'm up to! Interest ?? Women don't excite me as much as a H-10-44 these days....
The H20-44 had 27' truck centers, so no, no obvious mechanisms. (Interestingly enough, the FT and the FA are very close, but of course, they have full width bodies, and mechanisms). I wonder whether cutting down the Atlas (or Bachmann) H15/16-44 frame by 3 scale feet is a possibility? One would have the right trucks and sideframes.... Regards, Otto
re: equipment diagrams, while the measurements are good, the drawing have no scale. I think I used three different diagrams to try and do mine, and there were still things that were way off. In this case, even if it's a couple inches, they may look further off because of it's relative position to the rest of the cab, namely the tops of the windows should be lower than or at least in line with, the extension off the rear of the cab. This was the engine I was drawing. You can see what I'm talking about. http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=837421 Not a huge deal, just something that stood out to me. Jason
Hmm yea that sounds a bit involved - if I were to go ahead and try a project like this it would be rather far in the future I'm afraid; my experience with shortening/seriously modifying mechanisms is rather limited unfortunately... Yea, mine's two scale inches above (counting the recessed area). I'll play around with it...
It is indeed a beautiful sight. I need one, and one only. Ya' know, you really threw me for a loop with this. I just got some decals printed for PCY cabooses and I was going to ad the artwork for PCY #1, but I figured, "Naw, no one is going to make an H10-44 anytime soon. Why bother." Now where am I going to get some "1"'s in this font? (Image thanks to George Elwood's website.) By the way, are you going to do the little cast metal FM Logo on the front door? Would that even show up at FUD resolutions? FS
Well ALCO fans, I'm back (and I come wielding more pictures)! If you watch the time-stamps you'll notice that Shapeways was a week late with this one - it was worth the wait. Everything came through nice and smooth this time around (as always excuse my crummy paint job). The shell rides snugly and level, the couplers sit at an acceptable height, the metal fuel tank casting has a plastic cover and the handrails are included on a separate sprue (which did not snap in transit). At this point, I'm just about ready to call the S-4 good to go; I'll spend the next few days cleaning up the file and adding my final spattering of details. As for the 'Blunt' switcher trucks that I ordered at the same time: I don't have any pictures yet (and I certainly have changes to make to them) but I now have little doubt that 3D printing can be used to make truck frames that work reliably/smoothly/quietly. I'm happy to report that those will be available here in the near future. For anyone new to this thread - everything is designed to fit the mechanism from a Life-Like SW9/1200.
Bummer with the decals! I'll handle the FM logo in the same way I handle steam locomotive builder's plates - I'll render the plate but ignore the lettering. It's a tad annoying though - the FM lettering is just large and "blocky" enough to make me believe that it could almost come through in relief - ahh well....
Looks like the pasco southern purchasing department is getting ready to get some alco s4's looking good there
Looking forward to more pics.. I ahve Lifelike frame ready to go.. Really hanging out to try one when your done. Nice work!
