C-415's

[poweredby251]

Anyone out there done a C-415? I've had one partially done for about 10 years. I used the old Life-Like model, had it 3/4 of the way done, hit a snag, and it's been sitting in the box ever since. I had it all glued together using a cut down walkway from an Atlas C-424, and a frame from a Smoky Valley CF-7 with an Athearn drive. Took it down to the club to test run, and DANG IT, the pilots rubbed the rails!

Started rechecking my assumptions, and realized the C-415, unlike the rest of the Century series loco's, used the same walkway height as the previous RS units, (which I got right) and the Century pilots and ladders were Waaay too tall. I also had not cut down the fuel tank yet, so decided to look at alternitaves for that as well. It hit the box for the first time.

A while later the bug hit, and I opened it up again. I found that the SV GP-15 frame would work well, with no milling, and a modified Atlas tank will fit in place of the plastic EMD tank. I cut down the walkway from an Atlas RS-11 to fit, and started test fitting the drive and shell componants. But wait, I have to modify the Athearn trucks now as SV left the usual hole between the bolster and fuel tank as a solid piece, and the upper electrical arm on the Athearn will not work. Other things took priority, and it hit the box again.

One of these days it will be reserected and redone using the newer IHC for the frame/walkway and a modified Atlas drive.

John

[CIOR]

I've always wanted a C415, but no one made one that was worth my effort/money and I never felt like bashing one (skill set).
So, I wait, and I won't buy brass.

I am hopeful that one day it will be made, but when I asked a few sources, I've yet to hear a echo back!

[poweredby251]

never took a picture of it, or really, any project so far. Here is some of what I did do, however. Removed the solid cab steps but still need to fabricate the new steps, removed and filled in the fan housing on the long hood as it's correct only for the demo unit which went to Australia, lowered the cab to conform with the mid height cab, and cut out and added cab doors from a donor unit as the shell lacks this detail.

Still to do? Finish drive/frame assembly, finish walkway assembly, and form handrails. Not sure what to use for stantions yet, but have seen one that used Athearn metal pieces. Then add small details (grabs, horn, liftrings, etc), paint and weather.

I would LOVE for one to come out in plastic, as I really want several, showing a progression of reworking during shopping.

John