Right On!. I spent all that money for a custom-painted loco with the wrong cab number! This is not to say the rest of the job is perfect, but I didn't know any better at the time. I picked the 5003 because it was offered in the EB scheme. Live and learn.
Mokei imports offers the Tomix EF15 every once in a while for around $50. It is a 1-C+C-1, but only the two closely-spaced axles in each truck are powered, so you have what you need for a very short wheelbase "B" truck if you remove the idler axle and discard that part of the articulated underframes and sideframes. The drive is just as good as the Kato EF15 I own, but the detail on the shell is not as fine as it is on the Kato model of the same loco. The Kato EF-15 is uncommon and quite expensive if you can find one, so I'd think the Tomix would be a better starting point for a bash. The Box Cab carbody is not CMStP&P, but it does follow typical heavy electric practices. I bet you could make a very presentable Pelican stand-in from one of those EF-15s fairly easily. I have a Tomix EF-15 I bought the last time Mokei had them available, (3 years ago, according to my roster) I intended to letter it Pennsy to represent the FF-2's after GN sold the Y-1s to PRR in 1956. I'll post a photo later today, and that will be 2 of my 4 juicers.
Check Father Nature for Milwaukee shells. I think they have a couple that fit the kato/sekisui EF-57/58 (2-C+C-2) chassis. The Kato EF-57/58 etc are quite common by comparison to the EF15s, usually going for around $100 for a nice one. Brooklyn has them in stock off and on. The Arnold GG1 is not a great runner, but you can buy operable GG1s needing a little help for $40-$50 at swap meets. That would probably give you a pair of pans and running C+C chassis, anyway. Hope this helps. [ April 24, 2005, 01:39 PM: Message edited by: LongTrain ]
I think you might have a reasonable "stand-in" for a Milwaukee Westernhouse "quill" with a nice paint job on the Kato EF-57. Here's a link to the loco I mean: http://millennium.fortunecity.com/rover/96/electric/quill/quill.jpg BLW link for illustration of models, which are out of stock, naturally: http://www.buynscale.com/Kato%20JNR%20Electrics.htm
