Hello all. This is my first post here... and to be honest, can't say I'll end up a regular as this is more of a sidetrip into your world by a guy with a passing interest in the rails and a lifelong affliction with diecast cars. But I have questions that I felt only the real gurus of model railroading can possibly help with and this seemed like the right place. I'm looking to recreate a specific locomotive in the largest scale feasible (meaning modification of an existing replica, not a scratchbuilt 100% custom). I'm seeking info on and sources for the model itself, as well as leads and recommendations on who to contact to have the custom work done. Subject: a 1942 Alco S1 Switcher, ST&E livery, unit #505. See this 1975 photo for the exact look I want. Pale yellow, faded red stripe, all equipment and markings precisely as shown. http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=313716&nseq=0 Scale: G (1:29) is the largest I've found of a similar Alco S4, but there are significant detail differences, most obviously the trucks (tho this is a difference I'd concede to living with) but also the side door vent sizes and shapes, cab windows, smokestack shape, etc. I've found the S1 made by Atlas and another maker in HO... much smaller, so less desirable, but even that I'd live with if bigger can't be found and reworked to suit. The final product need not run as it's for a static display in a cabinet. That's all for now. Any and all ideas and suggestions welcomed and appreciated. Thanks for the read.
MTH makes an O scale S2, which is very similar to the S1, including the Blunt trucks. It's kind of toylike, but has the advantage of being roughly twice as large as the HO versions. Scale is about 1:48, versus about 1:30 for G scale, and 1:87 for HO scale.
