I have a number of older Atlas SD-35s and GP-30s and Kato PAs that I want different body shells for so that they look at home on my anthracite-region railroad. I'm thinking CNJ for the 35s, D&H for the PAs, and whatever on the 30s. Is there a reseller of N Scale body shells on the Internet with pricing that doesn't require a home equity loan to procure a shell? I see listings on eBay that I find completely ridiculous in cost. Manufacturers are most often stocked out, except for undecorated shells. Thank you for any ideas. I've painted quite a few locomotives over the years, but I'm looking to save some time. If I return to painting, it's okay ….. but I might need some mixing guidance because most of the old brands and railroad colors I used are no longer made.
Since Kato did produce D&H PAs, your best bet may be to buy used Kato units and sell whatever units you already have. Not ideal, but likely cheaper/easier than buying shells and painting/decaling. The same may be true of the others, but I'm not as familiar with who has released what.
That's an idea Norseman. I think my first step will be to build a list of what I'm looking for and then figure my options. Painting my SD-35s in CNJ would be an easy start if I can figure out how to mix Deep Sea Green. I've done nose stripes before on my LV units and it went well.
MRH put out a guide to acrylic paint along with a mixing guide. Here is the URL: https://www.testors.com/~/media/Dig...lic-painting-guide-post-Floquil-Portrait.ashx As for shells the SD35 and the GP30 are Atlas products you might want to check with them.
I don't know of any place other than train shows or the 'bay. I usually just type shell into the search bar under the N scale category. It's a bit hit or miss but decorated shells do pop up. I usually wade through this search over morning coffee a couple times a week. Some are over priced and some are reasonable. You might be able to find a CNJ SD35 as Atlas did a run of those. I bought one used at a show for a CR 6051 ex-CNJ paint out SD35 for my railroad. Another thing you might consider is that the Atlas GP30 and 35 shells are interchangeable on the mechanisms. Unless you just want GP30's. Atlas ran both of these locomotives decorated for the PRR, Reading railroad and Penn Central. And the GP35 in Erie-Lackawana. All that being typed, I'll look to see if I still have a RDG GP30 shell in my stash. I sold some decorated shells at our train show last spring and can't remember what was left.
Thanks y'all. Good information here. I hadn't thought about different body shells fitting the same mechanism. That opens up more opportunities.
