Milwaukee had a few also ... I'm beginning to notice that nearly each RR had its own set of unique AS616s as far as details go( number boards etc).. Milwaukee had at least two varietys along with cabless B units , I don't know if anyone else had B units. Should be a challange to build one... Randy
I just finished hunting high and low for A HO Scale Bowser Exec. Line AS616 in Southern Pacific; but much to my surprise I was able to find one. A Discontinued model I was grateful to find one and DCC & Sound
I don't recall if I voted on this back in June... but... If I did it was probably to get one or two to paint in SP Tiger Stripes and/or Black Widow. Because it is a model that is not necessarily a big fan favorite... it does seem to reflect as so in the poll. Another possibility is that many are looking for ready-to-run versions of this model and don't find that assembling and painting this model to be a fun 'modeling' endeavour. I have to admit... I'd rather get RTR models even if they cost over $100 each. If these were to be printed by Shapeways or another similar outfit... I think $30.00 is the most I'd want to pay. Then.. there is the challenge of getting an appropriate chassis... with correct truck spacing. That could cost another $75.00... and still you have to assemble, paint and detail. In all likelyhood... the poll shows who are the most likely to be 'modelers' that model the roads which have AS616 on their rosters... versus those RTR types which probably don't run the railroads that had AS616 rostered. I bought FM H10-44s and Kraus Maffei ML4000's from designers on Shapeways because D&RGW rostered both of those locomotives... I'd be reluctant to buy locomotives which I really don't have-to-have specially with as much work reeded to finish the model. Of course... if anyone is doing a Baldwin VO-660... I'd buy some.
Well disappointed the vendor didn't have up to date site so he had none to sell and to add insult to injury Pay Pal is involved so money is tied up for a couple of days waiting for the refund. Well at least the vendor was quick but site should be up to date. Live and learn
I hope to be able to offer some shells for sale at some point. I still need to work on the AS-616 handrails, as well as an AS-616 version of the shell. (The one shown is actually closer to a DRS-6-6-1500). I was able to visit Clare at Sylvan Scale Models recently, and I learned a lot about two part molds and resin casting. I am also re-shrinking the whole thing using Hydroshrink instead of using Naphtha/RTV molds, to try to get rid of the distortion.
I wish you best wishes in building this model shell. It's another one of those models that's never been done and could sell like hot cakes. The SHell in the photo looks great. What Frames works under it? Humm CF7 comes to mind recently
I'm going to use Atlas GP-35 chassis with Atlas 6 wheel trucks under mine. Since I posted the photo I've made some improvements to the gaps between the pieces, but I'm still not happy with it.
Put me down for at least two (a cow and a calf). I model the NWP in Nor Cal and that's where the SP sent the AS-616's to test them. I've been trying to convince Atlas to make an AS-616 for years now (and with only a few changes, a DRS-6-6-1500). It's one of (if not the largest) fleet of locomotives not yet availible in N scale with over 200 engines (plus another 80+ if you include the DRS-6-6-1500). C&O, Pennsy, and SP all had at least 10 of them. C&NO, Milw, and UP also had some in their fleet. I started to try and scratch one using Atlas VO-1000 shells for the doors but quickly knew I would never finish it, let alone make two.
I'm bumping this as there is still a lot of interest in this model and the DRS 6-6-1500. A lot of chatter on the wire right now. So Rasputen how far did you get with redoing the cab?
Although I had the Baldwin DRS6-6-1500 shell almost complete, I didn't realize that the hood is too short in proportion to the length and width. I found this out when I tried to make an Atlas mechanism fit under the shell. In the mean time, some of the molds I made off of the HO model became unusable, so I get to basically start over from scratch. I need to double check the HO scale model I started with and see if its proportions are correct before I try it again. When I saw some of the Shapeways shells, I thought that people would just go buy those, so my enthusiasm has waned somewhat. It does still occupy part of my workbench...
I bought one of the others on shapeways, but as bremer said, they aren't SP. As a result, I haven't done anything with it. Plus, I want an a and b unit as well.
Yes, the Locomotive Shell one however I would pay the person $15- 25 for the Locomotive Shell , Loco Truck Frames ! I then would manufacture my own Chassis if that was my Last Resort.. if ATLAS, KATO etc aren't eager enough to assist this who want a specific BLW , BLH Series of Locomotives. Tom
I would buy an AS-16 (B&O and WM had them). I doubt that we will see that one, though. No "first tier" road ran them. The closest is B&O, which is a First/Second tier. Other than that, Erie, Katy, MoPac (two subsidiaries), Nickel Plate, PRSL, Soo, Reading, WM. PRSL's were passenger power. WM's were not and I doubt that B&O's were. I do not know about the others.
