Imperial Hobby Productions will be offering cast resin shells for the EMD F59PHI next month. Here are pictures of the preproduction sample: ========= http://ihphobby.tripod.com/images/f59phi1.jpg http://ihphobby.tripod.com/images/f59phi2.jpg http://ihphobby.tripod.com/images/f59phi3.jpg ========= Here's the link to their N scale main menu: http://ihphobby.tripod.com/nmenupage.html ========= eNjoy
That's great news and an even better looking shell. I couldn't find it on the site, any idea what type of chassis will fit under it? Brian
Well, you beat me to it Don! I was just going to post about this shell. I would have never expected an F59PHI shell to be available in N scale, at least at this time, but here it is! I am guessing with out checking it out that this shell might work on a GP40-2 mechanism. The shell in the pictures looks great! This is very good news for all of you who model Southern California. Amtrak uses these units on their "Surfliner" train sets that run between San Luis Obispo and San Diego. For those of you who haven't seen the paint scheme these cars wear, please do a search and check it out, they are beautiful. Also, Metrolink uses this locomotive and I think Microscale has a Metrolink decal sheet out, but then again, we still don't have the correct Metrolink cars. Great news though, I'm going to get one for sure!
Craig, I don't know if you looked around their website, but they offer these cars in HO. I emailed Mike to ask if there were any plans to produce them in N scale. He said that at the moment, there are no plans to. However, I'm sure that if enough people emailed or called asking about it, he would change his mind (hint, hint ). Dwight
Oh man! Those shells look great! I think I could do a MetroLink or Surfliner on my layout. Hopefully someone will come out with decals for the Amtrak schemes...they would be tough to custom paint! I don't know if that MetroLink set from Microscale is correct for these particular units Russ
Funny, I stopped by L.A. Union Station over the weekend, and there was a Surfliner sitting there. I've never been big on passenger stuff, but I was thinking it would kind of be nice to have a set like that. Without the brass prices of course. I think I still like the Amtrak CA Gold & Blue scheme the best though. I hate to say it, but some of the third party shell offerings out there are a little on the funky side... But these look like they will be pretty darn good. FYI... I happen to notice also, that one of the Metrolink trains had a new car on it, which was rivetless on the sides... Totally smooth body panels. That was a new one for me. Dave D. Los Angeles, CA -Rail Radio Online - Home of the "TrainTenna" Rail Radio Monitoring Antenna- http://eje.railfan.net/railradioonline ---------------------------------------------------------- -The Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Photo Archive & E-Mail List- http://eje.railfan.net ---------------------------------------------------------- -The Ashley, Drew & Northern Railfan Page- http://eje.railfan.net/adn ---------------------------------------------------------- -Southern California Trains- http://eje.railfan.net/socal ----------------------------------------------------------
