Hi guys. I'm wanting to make a slug like the one pictured in the photo that is attached. http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=348793&nseq=2 Any suggestions on where to start? Thanks! Resp, Nikki
I did a little googling, and it appears those are called MT-6 I searched MT-6 on Trainboard and didn't get much, a couple HO threads is all. You may want to try some other terms and see what you get. Even if it's the wrong scale, the how-to will be useful, should you find anything. Chopping the shell looks straight-forward enough; you'll probably need to cut two to make one. Cutting the frame to fit in that cut-down shell doesn't sound like fun to me....
The MT-4 and MT-6 slugs are unlike any other slugs built in that they retained the notched hood ends of the RS11s and RSD12s that they were rebuilt from. Only Conrail rebuilt slugs like these, with the various units receiving EMD trucks later on to replace the ALCO trucks. The slug in your picture appears to be a cut down early GP (GP7/9/16/18), with the original air tanks being retained sitting crosswise on the frame. The best way to create such a model would be to get yourself two early GP shells, it really wouldn't matter much which one and cut down the hoods to approximately the same height as the prototype, using a section of hood from the second shell to fill in for the cab area. Details for the most part would have to be sanded off of the sides and ends but the access doors could be made using some of the etched brass engine doors produced by one of the detail etchers (can't remember who off hand but I know the doors are nice). Photos can be found at the url below... CSXT 1020 - 1068 http://rrpicturearchives.net/locoList.aspx?id=CSX&Page=12
The slug is not an MT-6, first off because it has four wheel trucks, which would make it an MT-4, and second, because both the MT-4 and MT-6 have the original notched hood ends that were on the RS11s and RSD12s that they were rebuilt from. Purely a Conrail creation, most units later had their ALCO trucks replaced by EMD trucks of the same kind... four-wheel Blomberg or Flexicoil six-wheel trucks for easier maintenance. The slug is a cut down early GP (GP7/GP9/GP18) and includes the crosswise air tanks still mounted on the frame that the engine originally had. The best approach would be to take two shells, one to become the slug and the other for parts, and cut down the hoods to approximately the same level as the prototype. You will have to sand off the details of the hoods since the slug will have few doors and the like, but there are a couple of doors that will need to be added and this can be done using some of the etched brass EMD doors that I have seen advertised, I just don't remember who it is that makes them. A good reference can be found at the RR Picture Archives. The link below will take you to a page with links to shots of some of the CSXT four-axle slugs, CSXT 1020 - 1068. http://rrpicturearchives.net/locoList.aspx?id=CSX&Page=12
Yes, they are generally just referred to as "yard slugs" on CSX (as opposed to road slugs, which have cabs). I photographed one today in Hamlet. Do you really need / want to have one? The reason I ask is because you will just end up with a "dummy" loco, as the hoods are too low to accomodate a working motor assembly. However, if you want o make a road slug set, you can have a GP40-2 paired with a slug in a GP30/35/38/39 body and still have a working mechanism. Harold
