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Post by iomalley on Apr 13, 2015 9:58:43 GMT -5
So gentlemen, I have an idea and wanted to float it by all of you first: As some of you know, I work for a notable resin kit manufacturer and we have a good resin caster on staff. I was toying with fixing the glaring errors in the Atlas Roco one piece truck, most notably the journals. The Atlas roco truck looks like a truck would without a locomotive on top of it, with the springs fully extended and the journal box slid right to the bottom of the pedestal jaws. So by relocating it to the midpoint, reducing the amount of spring showing, and lopping off the brake cylinders (so you could add athearn cyls separately) what would be the appetite to produce a limited number of these sideframe units (as a one piece 2x sideframes with the bottom cover plate) that would snap onto the Atlas roco truck? I would have Barry cast them up in black resin, so that would make it easy for the end user. I have 2 units in my collection, the Velvetine CR GP9, and a NW HH GP38 that could benefit from them. This would also allow me to 'rescue' other projects, by replacing the sideframes with some detail approaching Bachmann in look. What do you guys think? This is just an exercise in improving the look of Atlas Roco trucks to help those of us into "Rabbit Rescues". I always mull over GP38s at shows for $20 or less thinking that I'd be further ahead with one of them as a starting point than forking out $80+ for a Chinese Atlas one. Also, I know alot of you CDN guys have pretty sweet looking ONR, CP and CN FP9s that were built 20+ years ago that could really do with a nicer truck so that your friends need to take a second look to see they're not Intermountains or Rapidos!
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Post by diagnosis on Apr 13, 2015 17:09:14 GMT -5
This is a great idea. I have a couple of FP7's that could do with an upgrade, as well as a future project involving an Intermountain shell on an Atlas Roco chassis, and an easy upgrade to the trucks would be a welcome addition!
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dtinut
Chairman
Modeling the DT&I of the 60's & 70's
Posts: 661
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Post by dtinut on Apr 13, 2015 19:10:30 GMT -5
Sounds like a great idea. Better looking trucks always help. Use an Athearn as starting point for master? Any idea of cost?
I have around 10 of the old Atlas models....
Brian
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dtinut
Chairman
Modeling the DT&I of the 60's & 70's
Posts: 661
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Post by dtinut on Apr 13, 2015 19:16:28 GMT -5
The CR unit is pretty sweet from the picks - has all the nice stuff on it. Must have been quite a model for its day.
Nice job on the repaint. Brian
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Post by iomalley on Apr 13, 2015 21:39:14 GMT -5
We can talk about it next Saturday Brian!
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Post by iomalley on Apr 19, 2015 19:48:18 GMT -5
I'm stoked to do this project! The sideframes are taped on in this example of a $20 Concor GP38, but it gives you an idea how it kicks it up a notch! Alas, it'll probably be a 3 piece 'kit' but everything will be indexed for a foolproof install. I can't wait to bring affordable models back into the Craftsman's stable!!! This will be trade fodder, as I can't sell them.
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Post by T on Apr 20, 2015 9:19:18 GMT -5
Sometimes those Velvetine Rabbits , the junk which nobody wants are probably the best runners after some TLC or repair with either a new motor and the paint scheme being kept as is... not to forget that it's becoming your favorite locomotive.
Tom
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Post by iomalley on Jun 9, 2015 10:54:52 GMT -5
Update! My resin casting friend said he can most likely cast the hybrid Athean/Roco sideframes as a one piece clip to fit the roco gearcase. He's going to do a test shot this week to see if all the surface detail survives. He has to gate the crap out of it to get the resin to flow to the outer extremities of things like the leaf springs. Keep your fingers X'ed! They'll be cast in black as well!
On a side note, to avoid plagarism, I can only trade them. So if you'd like a set, LMK and we can talk.
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dtinut
Chairman
Modeling the DT&I of the 60's & 70's
Posts: 661
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Post by dtinut on Jun 9, 2015 14:39:28 GMT -5
Yes - please!
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Jun 10, 2015 20:11:00 GMT -5
ditto i'm interested
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Post by iomalley on Jun 11, 2015 14:56:04 GMT -5
So get this...my next installment of the "Velvetine Rabbit Story" is an F7A and F7B being mailed to a friend of mine. It comes from the same Ebay vendor as the GP9 and RS10 in this thread, and is built by the same modeler. (from a collection for sale by this same ebay vendor) So the vendor had an F7A built with all the details to match what looks like a BN late model F7, ex GN, in the same dreadful home road, but get this...its a cut down Atlas Roco FP7 into an F7! He had a matching B unit in an auction as well, also built from a cut down FP7. Of course, given the excellent kitbashing work of the RS10 and GP9 I had to have them! This was the only way in the 80's to get a proper F7 with the right roof curvature. Alot of work, but what was the alternative? There's also a Model Power FA1 converted to a FA2, that will probably die in my bash box, but I can use the drive for the shark project. So I went to buy them, and the seller had me blocked. WTF? I tried again...blocked. Huh. I figure that when I asked for a $20 refund due to the damage that was caused by elastic-banding the GP9 and RS10 units together in a box stuffed with shopping bags, that I had the nerve. I left him positive feedback, was very cordial, M'eh, some people eh? Anyway, a call to a model RR buddy in town, and a quick paypal transfer, it was all mine! I think they'll both be BN, just have to confirm if its a single or dual headlight version. (doesn't matter with BN they had a healthy mix)
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Post by iomalley on Jun 16, 2015 6:51:20 GMT -5
Success! Just got confirmation that the one piece frames are castable. Now to make 25 pair. He had to add some material to the area void around the brake shoes so that excess material will have to be removed by the end user. There's also bubbles forming along the top but it should stay out of sight on the end product. I'll let everyone know when they are ready. If these are well received, I may run another batch with the box and slope style, old skool journals.
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dtinut
Chairman
Modeling the DT&I of the 60's & 70's
Posts: 661
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Post by dtinut on Jun 16, 2015 23:39:25 GMT -5
Sean,
The trucks look pretty good, I wonder how well they stand up to being mounted onto a truck, and being taken off. If you have a bum one, maybe you can do a durability test, and see how many times it can be "mounted" and "un-mounted" from the truck gear box. I would hope they could withstand about 5 times w/o worries, as you'll need to clean these up a bit to get them so no wheel rubs and such, and then paint and weather.
Looking forward to being able to upgrade a couple of the old beasts I have... Brian
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Post by iomalley on Jun 17, 2015 13:36:43 GMT -5
Yep, we already entertained 2 characteristics of the resin he used, flexibility and zero shrinkage. I'll for sure test them.
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Post by iomalley on Jun 18, 2015 19:54:52 GMT -5
The next batch of Rabbits arrived! (another bang up packing job! Elastic-banded together with tight newspaper wrap!....sheesh) The F7 is a dead ringer to the details of a BN F unit. All it needs is a proper horn, and that rooftop piping...oh and BN green! Another impressive kitbash of a FP7 into an F7. Probably circa late 70s early 80s. The B unit needs alot of work, maybe this one will get some CN stripes...not sure. The FA2 is an awesome build of the model power fatso FA1. It'll probably get parted out, not sure. I might repaint it in the late SP&S scheme if I can find some cheap decals. Not sure on this one, but the powered chassis will end up in the dummy shark I just bought.
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Post by CP_8530 on Jun 19, 2015 3:59:05 GMT -5
Well, you could slap a larger fuel tank on it, and do one of the CN/VIA FPA2u's rebuilt with 251's (6758 and 6759, the former lasting longer) that largely retained their FPA2 appearance. Might have to shave the DB off the roof though.
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Post by iomalley on Jun 19, 2015 9:57:02 GMT -5
I dunno, the powered chassis already resides in the shark now. With P2Ks being so cheap now (even the undecs!) this one is destined to be parted out. Its sad I know, but some Rabbits have to pass. Not to mention the farr grilles attached to it will probably be pilfered due to their being made of unobtainium, and worth more than the model...
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Post by iomalley on Jul 10, 2015 19:42:32 GMT -5
Papa's got brand new shoes! A couple issue with them, but they fit. Size 11 feet in 10.5 shoe actually. Not quite ready yet, but they look awesome!
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dtinut
Chairman
Modeling the DT&I of the 60's & 70's
Posts: 661
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Post by dtinut on Jul 10, 2015 20:45:54 GMT -5
Sean,
Looks good! Much work to fit? Note: the Concor wheels. Look nicer than the Atlas ones.
Regards, Brian
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pacbelt
Chairman
Building Layout #11!! ;)
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Post by pacbelt on Sept 20, 2015 3:33:22 GMT -5
Your "rabbits" look GREAT. Nice rescue! Those Roco Redux trucks are FANTASTIC!! Makes me want to get some GP38s! I've got Atlas/Roco SD24/35s... if you are ever inclined to do Flexicoil triple clasp trucks for these!
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