Sometimes I get lucky; yesterday, I purchased a Kato SD40 in a box labeled undec. I took it home and the horrible custom paint job promptly stripped off revealing the original undec shell. Needless to say, I am very happy and the best part is - it cost me $20!
I know what you mean, i just got a new Atlas B23-7 with a Digitrax decoder installed for $40. the decoder alone is $27.
Guess I need to watch more closely! Sounds like there are some REAL bargains available right now! Boxcab E50
WOW! you guys are lucky. I just bought two Atlas Amtrak 8-32BHW (PH IV #506 and Pepsi scheme) for $80.00 including shipping and I thought I was fortunate.
I've gotten great deals where the price of the loco was the cost of the decoder. Those are the deals you always remember. Stay cool and run steam.....
About two years ago people were dumping the un-numbered CR B23-7 from the first run. I managed to get 8 of them. I never once paid over $30 for any of them. My other super grab was getting two GT GP40-2s for $50 for the pair. I just got a new SD50 shipped for $57. Not that bad. I wish i had gotten one of those "We Support Our Troops" versions though.
Well to add to this thread 1 SD-7 in GN paint for $20, 1 GN double door box (plug and sliding) and 4 Aurora Postage Stamp 43 foot flats all five for $20 at the show last weekend.
When Life Like headquarters was blowing out UP GP-20's for $16.00 last spring, I bought two. I'm relatively new to N scale and had I known what great engines they are, I'd of bought five. They were sold out when I fell in love with them.
Daniel: What part of these excellent engines (and weathering!) is Life Like? The fuel tanks look like they are GP9s. The shells look like Atlas GP9/GP9/GP7. Did you use the GP20 shells or the mechanisms? Excellent work there!
Its the incredible $25 Atlas.... LL mechinism, Atlas shell and cast LL GP18 fueltank. The Atlas and LL parts are interchangable, which is why that Mass Central has painted mullions, the entire cab can be swaped with the GP20.
Okay, but how did you get the fuel/air tanks on the LL mechanism? Are the mechanism halves Atlas or did you cut the tank area to make the fuel/air tanks fit? Sorry about pressing you on this. My efforts to create a GP9 from a LL GP20 have been difficult because of this tank cutting requirement. Thanks for your help on this.
There were two runs of the LL GP20. The first run was the one with a solid tank lenth frame. The second run featured the tank area with a cut out about a third the way in on the rear of the frame at the tank. The internal structure of the LL GP20 fueltanks changed a bit as well. The reason why they did this was to allow a redesigned GP18 to ride on the same mechinism. That also means the LL GP18 tanks mount on the phase 2 GP20s
Daniel: Thanks very much. I did not know this. Obviously I have the type of GP20 frame that I have to cut. It's not too bad, but still a hassle. Thanks again.
Ahh yes...we fondly remember our super deals! I bought a rare train book for $15 that I traded for a $350 brass Northern a year later...that was suh-weet!
Interesting stuff, Daniel. I still have a dozen or so left of the GP-20s, so I'll have to look at the possibilities.
