At the bottom of their HOn30 page, is shown a "Freelance Diesel Body", to fit the Life Like N Scale SW (9/1200?) chassis. I find this item to be intriguing, but have never seen or heard it mentioned. Anyone had experience with this particular offering? I know their freight cars are good.
I don't have any experience with this myself but it is kind of cool - something the SR&RL might be using if it were still running today. The off-center cab makes it look a little like a European or Japanese diesel-hydraulic. Andy Tetsu Uma
My delusion is maybe a pair of these. I think they'd look cool, with a steam engine bell on the long hood, much like M&St.L RS1 units.
That doesn't sound delusional to me but then, I like model railroading, too. The steam locomotive bell would be a nice touch and I'd add an air-powered whistle, too. (Imagine that with a sound decoder.) If you want to relate it to a prototype, for years the Washington and Old Dominion pretty much ran their entire road with a pair of GE 70 tonners MUed back-to-back. I checked Hobby Search in Japan and there isn't anything diesel in HOe with a B-B wheel arrangement. Andy Tetsu Uma
Their ad concerning this shell is not truly specific, and I have not paid close enough attention: Are the LLSW9/1200 and SW8/900 the very same chassis? If so, that makes shopping, (on my devastated budget), a bit easier. I would want a consistent appearance, and hopefully match speeds closely. I guess that more than wanting twins to operate together, I want to create the impression of perhaps a slightly more healthy operation, and a small fleet of rostered engines. But then I also keep having a mental picture of the Soo Line ALCo "Dolly Sisters" diesels.
Didn't the "Dolly Sisters" get their name because they were always on shop dollies being fixed? I'd go with the "healthy operation" idea.
Could be. Right now I don't recall the story behind that nickname, and my only really good Soo Line source passed away a year ago. A gentleman who actually hooped orders to Soo steamer 1003, when it was in service, back during the 1940's.
As for the donor chassis, is there that much difference (if any) between the LL SW9/1200 and the SW8/900? I've only got the SW9/1200 but I would be glad to give you measurements if you need them. Hmmmm, I wonder how a Kato NW2 chassis would fit . . . .
I never purchased any of the SW8/900 units. Had no use for them. I am guessing they are essentially twins to the SW9/1200 chassis, which I do have some, but cannot state for certain. I was also wondering about the Kato units. Have only one and never bothered to remove the shell. The Life Like should still be a bit less expensive than Kato.
I don't think my older SW9/1200s are DCC friendly. The Kato chassis would make DCC easier and the Kato unit runs smoother and quieter IMHO. I've found new CB&Q NW2s for crazy low money (<$50) on eBay on occasion. When I get a chance, I'll compare the wheelbases.
Here's a picture of the new LL SW9/SW1200 next to a ruler so you can see the wheelbase. You can compare the numbers with an NW2. If not, I'll pull out an NW2 (guess what railroad it will be) and do a head-to-head comparison on wheelbases.
When measuring the prototypes, I do know that SW9/1200 and NW2 are exactly the same: 44' 5" between the coupler knuckle pockets. I guess my primary curiosity is whether or not models are reproduced with the same scale fidelity, especially between different manufacturers. This is working it's way up the forthcoming project ladder. After I finish my paint booth, and some further F&C kits, save up to buy some NWSL (ouch $) wheel sets, then, I hope....
I'll put the SW9/1200 next to the Kato NW2 next time. It's good to know if something is going to work or not before you put it on the list. Just from that picture, it's got to be darn close to 44' 5" in scale. Since you are only using the chassis anyway with this kit, I don't know that there would be that big a difference. What probably would matter more if you were going to substitute a Kato NW2 mech for the LL SW9/1200 mech is what the internal structure of the new shell looks like and if there would be any areas where there would be interference.
Yes. This is exactly what I am thinking. Manufacturer specs we should use the LL SW9/1200 cgassis. I am fairly certain a SW8/900 is the same, but have never played with this model. But as Kato is a different manufacturer, have they built to the same dimensions as LL? Truck spacings? Length over all? And will it fit inside the MBM shell? If the first two questions are yes, then I'd be willing to chance it on the shell fit.
I was at the train show in Timonium yesterday and one of the vendors had the Mount Blue diesel kits in On30. However they didn't have (or seem to know the existence of) the HOn30 kit. Now having seen these kits up close, there really isn't that much to them. They are laser cut wood and are flat-packed and are almost like a building kit - for a building you mount on a chassis. I can't see any reason why you couldn't use a Kato mech in place of an LL mech. I checked the prototype measurements and the truck spacing is 30.0' on both the NW2 and the SW9.
I still have this on my future projects list. Right now it is on hold. I am having troubles with my hands, and surgery might be necessary. I could be forced out of all model railroading smaller than O scale.
Sorry to hear that and I hope you get better soon. My old neighbor had decades of fun with a very large O/O27 layout and the Atlas prototype style O looks REALLY good. However, I think you'll get to the Mount Blue kit shortly. As Red Green says, "I'm pulling for you. We're all in this together." Andy Tetsu Uma
