I just repowered one of my Bachmann Spectrum C40-8W's using a mechanism from a Kato C30-7. From the left-overs, I made a dummy (unpowered) C30-7, to be used as a mid-train helper. Here is the repowered C40 Which left this shell So I decided to use the discarded chassis from the C40 to make the C30 into a dummy unit, for mid-train helper service. The frames were dismantled and all gears removed from the trucks. The center section of the frames was cut away, leaving just the ends which hold the trucks in place. A piece of styrene sheet was cut and the frames were bolted onto it using the original screws to hold the halves together Pieces of styrene were cemented onto the spacer to hold the fuel tank in place. The result - a dummy C30-7 from the remains of the two locomotives. Now they both need detailing and weathering. [ 21 May 2001: Message edited by: Alan ]
Alan Great work, this is a modification I would love to try. Could you post photo's of your modification to the -8, if you have them.
Alan WOW 8=) On ATSF 802 unit there are photos of both sides posted on the WWW to help you with detailing. One here http://nietzsche.mit.edu/~auro/trains/photos/biel/ATSF/GE/C40-8W/802.HTM and the other here http://nietzsche.mit.edu/~auro/trains/photos/biel/ATSF/GE/C40-8W/802B.HTM Super models -- we still see UP GE 2400-series U boats slugging it out (with 3-4 other UP beasts)on long freights rolling thru Tucson AZ USA here on the former SP Sunset Line from Los Angeles CA to New Orleans LA. Understand these are being renumbered into the 400-series (from 2400-series). There is a photo of UP 411 (ex-2411) at this URL http://www.widowcreek.com/wcrr/unionpacific/locomotives/C30-7/pix/up411.htm and the "other side" of sister unit UP2421 here http://gelwood.railfan.net/other/up/up2421ads.jpg and if you really want to superdetail one, check out this shot of UP2409 with her engine compartment doors open at the Pocatello Idaho shops here http://gelwood.railfan.net/other/up/up2409.jpg Never have figured why Kato has not rerun their C30-7/U30C models for a long time now. Saw my first FURX leased unit here last week. We are used to seeing CSX run-thru power and they are leased to CSX. Have not received your FURX N decal set yet. eNjoy Don B
Hey! Dan is back How ya been, Dan Door stops, indeed! Don, you are a mine of information Thanks for the links. I will most likely repaint the C40 into one of the ones we saw during our last trip over to Ca. I will put BNSF on the sides, I think, to make it a bit different. I am surprised that Kato did not do so with the third run of the C44's. I really like the C30's, and will add as many details as I can, even though it is a dummy unit I have a Santa Fe one to do, which is great, as they have plenty of roof detail Mick, I will see what I can do with the C40 conversion pics.
The repowering of the C40 was not difficult. The pillars under the shell have to be cut away, see below The top of thr frames had to be filed away to clear the drop portion of the body, I think the comparison shot of the modified, and an original chassis shows this Two photos show the extension of the contacts, by cutting, and soldering a strip of brass across the gap
Alan Yes, a relatively simple conversion. Now I have to convince myself to acquire a Spectrum, Shock Horror. Seriously, looks great.
Funny thing Alan, I just did the same conversion with the same engines. I too converted a warbonnet with a frame pulled from a UP C30-7 that I won off of e-bay. I thought about making the donor a dummy but the frame wouldn't fit, now I know how to do it. I will probablly repaint the UP unit into Santa Fe yellow & blue though. I too filed the frame a bit as I was afraid to go too deep on the underside of the Bachmann shell. Great work! Where do you find the time? Brian
Yeah, Brian, time is the big enemy! But this conversion only took an hour or two, it will probably be ages before I get around to the detailing
Well let's see if I can dump this message be fore I post it. Having done 3 of these swaps Imfeel like an old pro at it. The CW swap is easy ,but the C swap is even easier.The only changes to the C-30 frame is to turn the trucks around,and extend the pick up strips.The only body changes to the C are nipping off the 3 mounting posts on the body and Gluing spacers at both ends of the body to keep it from sliding back and forth on the shorter KATO frame. You will need the Micro-Trains pilot conversion kit to finish this job. The #s are #1168 for the CW and #1164 for the C. Much thanks to Jim Reising for supplying the urge to do this swap. <marquee>North American Rail Alliance</marquee>
