Post by rudilfan on Jun 25, 2013 10:28:52 GMT -5
I am working on designing the best possible kitbash HO FL9.
There are a number of challenges to doing this.
1. Front Truck - 9ft wheelbase Flexicoil.
To my knowledge this has never been commercially available (please prove me wrong). So far it the best solution I can think of is to cut'n'shut Athearn MP15/SW1500 Flexicoil 8ft wheelbase truck sides, does anyone have a better idea (hopes).
2. EMD General Arrangement Drawings
Does anyone know where I can get copies of the two side elevation General Arrangement Drawings of the FL9?. I have found various drawings online, but these look like Corel Draw files, whilst they look good and appear to be accurate I do not know how accurate they are.
3. What do you think is the best F body to base a kitbash on?
One of the major differences between the "F9" and anything before it is the location of the bodyside portholes and the orientation and number of ventilation grills in front and between them. The FL9 is an FP9 until the end of the rear side door. A 4ft section of F carbody is inserted there and then the reminder of the FP9 body. The easy choice is either a Rapido GMD FP9 (which will require a lot of roof surgery to de-Canadianize it), or the Intermountain FP9 body. The other option would be to do so a number of cut'n'shuts on a Stewart, Genesis or Highliner F9a Body. So the $64,000 question is which do you think is the best F9/FP9 to base all of this plastic surgery on?
4. F Unit Scratch Builds
Does anyone know of any articles on scratch building HO F Units? I think their was a seres of articles in Model Railroad Craftsman about building a C&NW GP35 + F7B Slug + GP35 lash up where the F7B was scratch built, but may be mistaken. There are a number of good F-Unit Cabs to Choose from, but Life would be easier, I think, if I could build the FL9 complete from the Cab back it would be easier (famous last words).
There are a number of challenges to doing this.
1. Front Truck - 9ft wheelbase Flexicoil.
To my knowledge this has never been commercially available (please prove me wrong). So far it the best solution I can think of is to cut'n'shut Athearn MP15/SW1500 Flexicoil 8ft wheelbase truck sides, does anyone have a better idea (hopes).
2. EMD General Arrangement Drawings
Does anyone know where I can get copies of the two side elevation General Arrangement Drawings of the FL9?. I have found various drawings online, but these look like Corel Draw files, whilst they look good and appear to be accurate I do not know how accurate they are.
3. What do you think is the best F body to base a kitbash on?
One of the major differences between the "F9" and anything before it is the location of the bodyside portholes and the orientation and number of ventilation grills in front and between them. The FL9 is an FP9 until the end of the rear side door. A 4ft section of F carbody is inserted there and then the reminder of the FP9 body. The easy choice is either a Rapido GMD FP9 (which will require a lot of roof surgery to de-Canadianize it), or the Intermountain FP9 body. The other option would be to do so a number of cut'n'shuts on a Stewart, Genesis or Highliner F9a Body. So the $64,000 question is which do you think is the best F9/FP9 to base all of this plastic surgery on?
4. F Unit Scratch Builds
Does anyone know of any articles on scratch building HO F Units? I think their was a seres of articles in Model Railroad Craftsman about building a C&NW GP35 + F7B Slug + GP35 lash up where the F7B was scratch built, but may be mistaken. There are a number of good F-Unit Cabs to Choose from, but Life would be easier, I think, if I could build the FL9 complete from the Cab back it would be easier (famous last words).
