That's funny, I was thinking that a GG-1 might look close enough. Thieu, maybe you can score a Kato GG-1 chassis with a broken shell on the cheap?
I've been thinking about this type of loco for years. I have modern ones run past my window daily. I realize these are meant for high speed passenger service but they are boxy:
You know, they are quite boxy. And according to Wikipedia, boxcabs should not have "heavily styled ends". They sure don't seem heavily styled to me. Got my vote, but I'll defer to MC for his opinion before making a final judgement. I'd sure like to see 910 in N-scale though!
I'd love to see an AEM-6 done by Kato or Atlas in N Scale. In theory I could start with a European mech and modify / paint etc. They are based on a Swedish design hence the "Meatball" nickname.
I no longer need drawings. Years ago I drew it up in CAD and e-mailed it away. Well that person still had the file so "game on".
Hot dog, Chris, looks like we got a weiner! Can't wait to see what everyone comes out with. :thumbs_up:
@Grey One: Build that sucker! It's a spicy meatball! @Thieu and Jerry: Someone is selling an Arnold/Rivarossi GG1 on eBay RIGHT NOW (ends in a little over 5 hours) for about 60 bucks, brand new in box! Search for N scale Arnold/Rivarossi "PRR" GG1 and DO IT!
I lack the time, resources and skill. How about, for the twenties and thirties boxcabs, shown in the first post, splicing some Atlas RS-1 cabs together? You'd get a reasonable looking roof contour, and the end roof overhang. Throw a Kato mechanism underneath, and all you have left is the details. Haven't done the measurements. As an aside. During the thirties, Alco-GE had a standardized line of boxcabs. Sixty and 100 ton versions, if I recall. Really miss my copy of "Dawn of the Diesel Age". Frank
Thanks for checking in, Frank! The RS1 cab has a pretty curvy roof, but that overhang does look good. The original GE/Alco/IR boxcabs had a flatter roof (not flat, just flatter) but later models did have curved roofs. And from looking at it, it'd probably take at least three cabs to do the job. Could get expensive if you had to cannibalize an RS1 each time (though you could build a nice fleet of yard slugs... hey, there's our next TB challenge!).
Ahh, I see it now. Hard to see the pilot truck under all of that metal. That'd sure be interesting to try and build. Maybe use modified HO scale wheels (ground thinner and on narrower axles or something) with some sort of busy looking truck outers, modified to look more like the prototype. Man, scratchbashing is sure fun!
Any other options? A cheaper one, preferrably? OK, the Bachmanns are not expensive, but I have to order everything from the US, so ordering just 1 engine is not very economical. WOuld be nice to have an option that is available around here.
I will be using the Kato 11-104 mech, which I know is not the best mechanism around but I do need a four-wheel mech about this size and this looks to be the best option - plus, it's already on my workbench, so I don't have to go looking. Adam
Thieu, you can order the Kato chassis directly from Japan on eBay. They're only about $20 (USD) plus shipping.
That looks like it'll work out quite nicely. And you should have enough room for some weight inside the box to give it a little more traction.
Beleive it or not, for it's size, it actually pulls pretty good, the big issue with them is more pickup issues. I personally love all those Kato shorty B chassis. I am probally going to freelance some kind of boxcab logging mess using the same thing!
Ya know, Roco made a German Class 112 engine that looks like a pretty good starter. Here's the prototype: Trucks and undercarriage are similar (three springs in the middle of the trucks) and the sides are a good start. Roofline can be flattened easily enough and you can put on some finer corrugated siding to look more like the AEM7. The nose would need most of the work, though the Roco Class 1044 model might work, at least for the upper half of the nose.
