My 1/8th scale "Live Diesel" Long Island C420 in fabrication. The backbone is 2" x !" "C" channel, decking is 16g. sheet metal, edging is 1" x 1/8" flat bar. She's getting too heavy for me to lift on my own, about 150 pounds so far. Drive will be 24 volt electric motors on each truck. This will be painted in the World's Fair gray and orange sweep. I made the truck molds from wood and a a friend has cast them for me in aluminum, recycled from old lawn mowers and other scrap.
Looking at the title, I thought "Didn't I just see this?" That was the Z-scale version. This I haven't seen.
Yeah, kind of the extreme opposite of Z scale! The trucks will be machined next, and I will start on the hood section. While it will be a great deal of work, it should be fairly simple as a straight forward build. You have to love ALCO's.
Three quick pictures of the ALCO Century 420 in progress here at "Schenectady North". The radiator cabinet is mostly ready, except the lower louvers, for which I am still not finding an acceptable piece. I have a pretty good idea for the inside roof louvers and cat walk. Plenty of work remaining before you know exactly what she officially is. Next part of the body to be constructed will likely be the cab, then the short end high-hood. I'm hoping for good news regarding the 5" drive wheels, but right now, those are in limbo. Progress in little bites each week. Dick/Rich --
May 04, update. I've built and installed the short end, high-hood. This was where the LIRR C420's held steam generators for the commuter coaches they hauled for millions of miles. The front doesn't look too different than before, but I've built the center section of the hood and added ventilator louvers to the top of the radiator fan compartment. I have not yet installed the 24 volt muffin fans I recovered from an old computer. I doubt they'll make much difference, but air circulation is a good thing around electronics. You might note the front side louvers are not yet fabricated. I have been searching for a way to step around that tedium, but haven't yet discovered it. The Devil is in the details, yes? The engineer's side looks to set better than the fireman's side, but neither side is completely spread out, nor are they screwed down. And of course, I need to get those tasks completed in order to fit the cab properly. There appear to be cracks and tiny gaps, no matter what is done to eliminate them. Putty of some sort.
Latest pictures of the project, with a list of self-criticisms. I finally undertook the cab which admittedly, was a matter of some trepidation. I am not really good at cutting curves, and it shows. There is a matter height as well, which may actually serve to alleviate a problem. ALCO hounds may note the cab is about 1/4" inch too tall for the hood. This is the same location as an obvious gap between the from cab walls and the hoods on both sides. I will probably remove the hood and cut the error off the bottom, and grind out the curvature errors to better match the hoods. I may also face the gaps will corrected sheet metal and either weld or epoxy the coverage in place. People tell me J.B. Weld is a Godsend. The other possible error is the length of the ladders. Again, a relatively easy fix. End to end, Long Island 206 measures 83 inches, excluding draft gear and couplers. These will be permanently fit when I get the trucks under her. Steam generator end looking forward. Top radiator grates are aluminum louvers from Home Depot roofing and insulation department. Not a perfect match, but too close to quibble, in this case. I need to cut doors and sheet metal details, add some front end fixings, and then I'll post again. Thanks for following my first attempt at a locomotive build. -Dick
Front grill has been added, salvaged from an old a/c unit at the dump. Not exactly prototypical, but it works. There is a 24v muffin fan inside the hood, as well. Opposite side view. From the rear. Note the cab shade and smoke lifters have been added. I am adding the hood cabinet doors next, some pins to facilitate removing the hood, and a faux fuel tank. I have the electronics for motivation figured out and ready, but still am looking for 5" Diesel wheels I can afford. Hopefully, am update during the next week. Thank you for looking and your comments.
Richard, she's comming along beautifully. Although, I'm surprised to see Bettendorf(?) trucks. There must be something I've forgotten about their traction capabilities. :wideeyes:
Shop trucks, Hank! The ALCO trucks are almost ready, but my source for 5" wheels is hospitalized at the moment. The scale ALCO trucks measure about 17" long. She'll look right when you see her up on her own trucks. Shop trucks are under her to appease another railfan for the moment. Also, she'll go up on a plywood and rail platform today, I hope!
Shop trucks, Hank! The ALCO trucks are almost ready, but my source for 5" wheels is hospitalized at the moment. The scale ALCO trucks measure about 17" long. She'll look right when you see her up on her own trucks. Shop trucks are under her to appease another railfan for the moment. Also, she'll go up on a plywood and rail platform today, I hope!
I have added the forward section cabinet doors to the best of my ability. There are some details that will get added after I complete major "blocks" of body work. I put gray primer over bare steel after washing it down with orange cleaner to remove flux, grease and steel yard oil. I have come to better appreciate what autobody repair guys do for a living, too. Okay, major progress to this date is the cosmetic addition of hood doors and the shortening of the front and rear steps. I had noticed the steps looked to be as tall as the hood itself and this was going to have to be worked on. A friend pointed it out as well. Having checked the drawings from which I calculated the measurements, it turns out the end views are slightly larger than the side views! Ho ho ho! Very funny joke! I remeasured and removed 2 inches of excess length! Well, she looks better in my eyes and hopefully will pass muster. Rivet counters will find a number of detail issues, one of which is the radiator shutters, which should be in three panel sections. Well, they aren't, and that's just the way it is on this locomotive.
First side in World's Fair paint as delivered in 1964. Okay a few spots and pulls from the tape, but as of today the headlights, number boards, and markers are wired in and work. These came from Oznium.Com, which I recommend. I will wait to put the fuel tank on until the trucks are completed. Wheels are being supplied by Stephenson Machine Shop. The truck bolsters need recasting to accommodate the electric motors in the most efficient manner. Lettering will come from Bangor Neon, here in Bangor, Maine. "Dashing Dan" heralds are here, and in the correct scale, too! I need to build the battery box cab steps as well. Will she run this year? That is still a big question, since as a novice locomotive builder, my experience and resources often diverge from what I want to do today. Probably the next big construction on this end will be a stand on wheels. I need the saw horses for a vegetable stand by the road! Hope she meets everyone's approval. -Dick
August 02, and I'm afraid she won't get to run this season. I need the trucks completed and get the motors installed, plus the correct wheels, axles, and gearing. I shouldn't complain as I am relying on a number of friends to help me, and each has his own life! Here you see, and probably can barely make out, the headlights, number boards, and marker lights, illuminated by LED's from Oznium.com . These are 12 volt LED's, pre-wired with resistors in line and covered. Here they are wired to a double pole-double throw switch, to control lights in either direction. Also wired in are two cooling fans. The lettering is also on hand, but I've not applied it as of yet, since more internal work is required, and I 'd rather not scratch the decals. One other change is that it is sitting on a newly constructed mobile work station, rather than saw horses. Hopefully the saw horses will be hold produce for sale at the end of the driveway! Try to note the color of the markers is red. The short hood does not have markers wired in, but does bear illuminated number boards and headlights.
This is really cool! I was just down at a park that has, among other attractions, a 1/8 scale railroad club. I love the innovation that goes into building some of this stuff.
