Ok, this is ambitious for me, but I'd like to bash a pair of C415's. BN inherited 2 from SP&S, #100, 101. BN # 4010/4011. I would like any pics you can find *I have scoured the net and the BN photo archives* especially of any roof/hood top details/ and trucks details. Alco made very few of these, 26 I think is the official total. There are 3 cab versions(hi-med-low cab), and 2 truck styles(Hi-Adhesion, standard). The SP&S versions featured the mid-height cab, and HI-Ad trucks. Any detail pics you can find would be greatly appreciated. Also any tech drawings, measurements will be helpful to make an accurate model. I have no idea how to build the hoods, whether try to get Atlas/Kato RS-series shells, or ConCor Century shells, and make a custom cab, photo-etch stanchtions on the handrails, and brass wire railings. All detail will be freestanding. The biggest thing will be making a mech work. Whther I get an Atlas mech from a RS-series loco/Geep, or LL SW9 mech to work, and DCC. That's another thing. I want the truck centers to be as correct as possible. Ideas?? TIA.
Oh, I'd love to have one too! They were frequent visitors to the Oregon Electric back in the late 60s, so they are on my must have list some day. What about using part of the shell from the IHC model? Granted it aint worth $40 you have to pay to get it.... but it's reasonably close to start with. As for pics I have looked through my books before but all of them show the units from low angles. What about using GE FB trucks as starts for the Hi Ad? Dunno, just a guess. If you take pics or whatever please post them, I'd love to know how your project goes.
Those locomotives are so different, they cry out to be modeled, but don't make 'em run too well.......the real ones didn't
This should help: http://www.northeast.railfan.net/images/tr_bn4010.jpg Here are more results from google: http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=alco+c415 Russ
Russ, I appreciate the links, sadly I have found those, and many others There are lots of Alco pages out there, but very few that have C415's... The FB-2 GE trucks? Same as those on the BXX-7? They look much similar, but the sideframe on the Alco droops much less than the GE... Possibilities? The Kato P42 trucks are also close, but have more details cast on, and that would have to be shaved off. The Atlas truck would be shaved down, and the holes filled in, the springs and hangers would have to made somehow... The hood is another thing. What shells would be best to bash tegether for all the details? The cab will be a lot of fun, with compound angles, and triangular windows on the windshield!
I agree on the RS-11 shell. You can find 'em pretty cheap on ebay from time to time or you can swap for one. For the FB2 trucks, you can see if you can get some from Atlas' replacement parts department. Their current Dash8 40-B's come equipped with FB-2 trucks. Getting them to work with the SW-9 mechanism (the one that I would personally use) is a different story. I really wouldn't know how to go about that other than grafting them on somehow. Russ
The simplest method is to purchase entire Atlas FB-2 trucks, (geared), and then use them in the SW-9 frame by buying or modifying the universal gear connections. The trick is finding a frame that is the same as or close to the C-415. Without drawings or dimensions I wouldn't know which unit is the best frame to start from.
I have a source of cheap atlas shells back home, and I was thinking of taking the LL SW chassis, with trucks, and sand downt he sideframes. I was then going to get a few sets of atlas spare truckframes, and shave the sideframe off, filing int he FB-2 holes, and adding spring details. I was going to laminate it, rather than to sweat messing up a reliable SW9 mech. I also looked a LL Geep20 mechs... They may work well, and be closer to proto truck centers. The cab is likely to be an EMD bash, with modified roofline and windows. The shells will be the challenge. Stanchtions will be JnJ, I think, with brass wire railings. As for Alan's comment--I am going to make this thing look as good as a late Atlas, and runlike a New LifeLike! At least if I am going thru all this trouble!
switching out the trucks wouldn't mess with the mechanism much at all, if any. I have done it a couple times, it's only a matter of using the right length of uniersal gear. Whichever way you guy please take pictures and show your progress, as it will help me when I take the plunge and do one.
I am also making a few of these and recommend the Kato RS 3 mech. The proto base was 28' the Kato is 30'. The best way is to use a mech from a hallmark brass F7 (29') but may be impractical. I bought Don Erdmanns masters and have finally made my first mold. I am now ready to cast the shell once my resin comes in. I have posted pictures of the original master on nscalekitbashing on yahoo groups. I have since redone the ends.
John, YOU are the one that is doing this 'bash? You inspired me to do one also. You said the RS-3 mech is closest: how about a Geep 7/9 or a GP20? What about those? *I already have those in my fleet!*
The Chinese GP chassis is 31', 3 feet too long. The other problem is the hood hight. Since the GPs had a higher long and short hood than the RS3s or C415s, the shell won't sit down on the mech. Unless you use the old Atlas Kato GP mech.
John, You certainly have done your homework!!! Since the none of the geep mechs will work, how about a LL SW9 mech? Is it too short?
The wheelbase of the SW9/1200 is 4 feet too short. Of course, mine is 2 feet too long. I guess it is whatever compromise you can live with. I am working to shorten the RS3 chassis to the right length, but it is not a priority. The shell that I am going to cast meets all dimensions that I could locate. The only thing I can't get a measurement for is the end to end from long to short hoods. I also have not figured a good way to cast the cab. The original one that Don provided is for SP. The ones I have for SP&S I made from styrene. It is a tedious process. I hope to figure a way to cast them too.
