Oh, I didn't realize the proto had diffs in cab windows from S2 to S4. Have to look through my books. Kudos to Bmann if it's done right!
Didn't Life-Like make a small engine like this, too? SW900 or so? Maybe not an Alco? Seems like I remember that.
It my have been an option of the individual railroad or a change made during the production of either model but so far all the photos I've been able to pull up on the net show S2's with square cornered windows and S4's with the rounded versions. So, as you say, we may have to award points to Bachmann, I wouldn't have known there were different windows either until you pointed it out. And give each of them some of our money if our road rostered both models.
I didn't know of different window corners either, but some research this afternoon proved that S-4's indeed had rounded corners on cab end windows. Yes, I will spread my limited $ around. Wait for roads I want though. Learn something new everyday!
Hi All, With all the recent posts on the Arnold S2 I thought I would post a photo of one of mine: I have installed Micro Trains couplers, NWSL wheelsets, a horn, and a rectangular stack as per the prototype, as well as custom painting it for the CB&Q. The two cars behind it are Kaslo Shops whalebelly cement car kits built and painted by a great modeler friend of mine (thanks Steve!). Mark H.
Well it sounds like a tantalizing hope. I'm sure there will be some happy Canadians who have been waiting for decent end cab S-series switchers for years. I already have one of the old Arnold S2s which I am quite happy with (because it's painted for Milwaukee). I'm just curious where the tooling for something like this would have come from as I am assuming it is entirely new production for Atlas. At the moment, though, I would rather they go back and finish up promised re-releases of prior production (like their shay) so I could at least be able to get the replacement parts I need for that.
"Bachmann is making a S4 not an S2, and all the S4's I can find photos of have rounded windows." As I mentioned on page 5 of the "Printing an ALCO thread" the change from the old style windows to the new sealed window was made in October 1950 and apparently the same was true of the cab itself being changed from a riveted construction to a welded one.
Arnold did the s-2 with die-cast long hood because the engine is so small the only way to give it some weight
Intrestingly enough, when Atlas first produced the H.O. version of the S2 it also had a cast metal long hood, and it pulled like a tractor.
The HO version NEVER had a cast metal long hood. The chassis was die cast, the gear cases were die cast, and and additional piece of die cast weight was located on the chassis above the motor. It was also geared lower so it could pull a ton.
Thank you for the response Paul. I am looking forward to the run. I also really aprreciate your focus on the CB&Q again. My VO's are on order and about to do the same with the U25. I also appreciate the price line being held more firmly!! I will be waiting for the S-2 in the Q!
Paul, will the new S2 have trucks that would swap out with other models such as the VO100, LL SW1200 or the Blomberg B/M/ AAR-B? Just thinking about future kitbash options.
Paul is (obviously) correct. After checking out my unit, it has a plastic body shell over a massive metal chassis. I remember when I selected this project that my father advised me to find an "older" unit to custom paint because they had more metal and pulled better. I also custom painted an Arnold N scale S2 as well, and I'm sure that the memories merged in my tiny little brain, thus creating my confusion. Sorry. I remain, your faithful servant,
