Kaslo Shops F59PH Power?

jp2005 Jul 18, 2011

  1. jp2005

    jp2005 TrainBoard Member

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    Hi all,

    I'm currently wrapping up on the painting of a Kaslo F59PH shell into Metrolink II paint. I'm now faced with finding a mechanism to mount it on. While the Kaslo directions call for an Athearn F59PHI mechanism (as the F59PH and I versions have the same wheelbase and trucks), the shell simply does not fit onto it. I'm wondering if anyone has tried using a LifeLike/Walthers GP60 mechanism with any success, or if anyone has gotten the Athearn mechanism or any others to work. I'm especially curious if anyone has put one of these shells onto the new DCC mechanism from the newest runs. Thanks in advance!
     
  2. ram53

    ram53 TrainBoard Member

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    I have been able to get a Kato F40PH mechanism to fit, although some frame and shell filing/milling had to be done, as always with Kaslo kits.
     
  3. jp2005

    jp2005 TrainBoard Member

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    Thanks, I've looked into the F40PH mechanism, but I don't like the gap created by the shorter wheelbase. Any other suggestions?
     
  4. Doug A.

    Doug A. TrainBoard Supporter

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    I was told the Atlas GP38-2 had the correct wheelbase and it fits. I haven't confirmed this regarding the wheelbase but it seemed a better solution than the F40PH for sure. The original F59PHI mech won't work, as you say.

    I would be curious to find out if the new Athearn mech works as well, and also confirmation of the wheelbase info.
     
  5. jp2005

    jp2005 TrainBoard Member

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    An Atlas GP38-2, huh? I'll check it out next time I go to the LHS and report back. Sure will make DCC easier by a longshot if it fits.
     
  6. Richard320

    Richard320 TrainBoard Member

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    Let us know if you do find something. I have one of those shells, and an F59PHI donor, and also found out it won't fit.
     
  7. 3DTrains

    3DTrains TrainBoard Supporter

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    I too have one of the kits for a future Metrolink project - good to know about the original Athearn mech, however.
     
  8. jp2005

    jp2005 TrainBoard Member

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    Just got back from the LHS.

    The Atlas GP38-2 has the same wheelbase and is a perfect fit with the following caveats:
    - The part of pilots where the coupler attaches must be shaved down about 2mm on the inside to allow the shell onto the chassis.
    - The headlight on the board will need to be relocated to the nose, as it is in the cab windows.
    - Because the GP38-2 has a narrow hood, I can see the need to add material to the inside of the shell below the vents, but between the shell and chassis. Looks like it's a loose fit.
    - There is very little room to add lighting for ditch lights.
    - The fuel tank will need to be changed/shortened.

    I also tried a GP40-2. Appears to be the same mechanism as the GP38-2. The LHS did not have a LifeLike GP60 nor one of the newer F59PHIs in stock to try. They recommended that if I'm not in a hurry to get this project done, to maybe try out the Fox Valley GP60 chassis when they come out.

    Hope that helps!

    As a side note, I'm still requesting Kato to do F59PHs multiple times per week as well as an MP36PH in Metrolink. I figure a Metrolink MP36PH may lead to Kato Bombardiers/Hyundai Rotems which may lead to Kato F59PHs. I can only hope.
     
  9. daniel_leavitt2000

    daniel_leavitt2000 TrainBoard Member

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    The GP60M should have the correct LED position for lights in the nose. I would still use an Atlas GP38/40/38-2/40-2 chassis as you can get these engines off eBay fairly cheap (as little as $35). Whatever chassis you use will need a bit of tweaking. The narrow GP chassis should alow you to do all sorts of ditch lighting effects as the electronics and optics can be installed parralell to the chassis rather than on top of it. I am doing something similar with an MPI F40PH-2C on an Atlas B40-8 chassis.
     
  10. jp2005

    jp2005 TrainBoard Member

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    Did you have to put anything between the chassis and the shell to keep it from rocking or slipping?
     
  11. ram53

    ram53 TrainBoard Member

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    Now I remember why I went to the Kato F40PH instead of the Atlas GPs: the wheelbase issue isn't really noticeable, but the GP38/40 trucks lack the prominent axle snubbers on the F59s. Also, the underbody detail, ie fuel and air tanks, etc. are much closer on the Kato model. Also I wanted a sound decoder, which wasn't available for the Atlas mechanism at the time. My project is on hold, since no one makes or will make a few GO Transit decals. I know Rail Graphics would do them, but I don't need 100 sets! Everyone I know with an Alps is using them very sparingly, for their own purposes only, since all support for the product is gone, and soon the white "ink" will no longer be made.

    All Kaslo shells need "bumpers" built up on the inside to hold the shell centred on the frame and snugly in place. I use pieces of styrene and every engine, ie SD50/60F, F59PH is a bit different. I use two 1 cm long chunks of styrene on each side, just past where the flywheels go.
     
  12. Doug A.

    Doug A. TrainBoard Supporter

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    I'm curious how you got the F40PH to fit. I went back and reviewed my notes and then recalled that after filing the Kaslo shell to within a micrometer of its life, it still would not fit the F40PH mech. Now, I certainly can concede that the Kaslo shells were different as the run progressed, but I can't imagine that much. Was there some trick to getting it on there? As I recall, mine wasn't even close. The other issue is...the F40PH is about 2ft short which seemed pretty noticeable to me, but not overly so.

    I wonder if the Athearn trucks could fit the GP38-2, or maybe the WaLLy GP60 trucks would be closer...I think they might fit.
     
  13. ram53

    ram53 TrainBoard Member

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    Ok, here is my F59PH in base white for GO Transit, partly masked still. I concede that the wheelbase is too short. I have to admit, I didn't give that much thought because I wanted those d--n snubbers and those tanks under the body; so, the trucks are correct, the tanks and undercowl detail are much more accurate than a GP38/40, you won't have dead air under the body with the Kato undersill piece (but I admit I will have air in front and behind the trucks). Also you have a more advanced, quiet and smooth mechanism with the Kato vs. the old Atlas mechanism (nothing wrong with the Atlas, but it is not as smooth or quiet when running), and until the last few months, there was no sound decoder for the Atlas style mechanism.

    I'll show the way I did it in the next thread to avoid breaking up the picture sequencing. It's a nice engine, I always cut through the Kaslo bodies to make see-through intake grills. Now I've got to investigate getting GO Transit decals made--I haven't worked on this project for almost a year!

    [​IMG]
     
  14. ram53

    ram53 TrainBoard Member

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    Here is now I reamed out the inside of the Kaslo F59PH shell using a Dremel cutter bit. Looks like I had to thin the side walls of the casting. I opened up all the intake grills. Photos of the Kato frame show how a small amount of frame material was removed from the front and rear; there was a bit of bevel filing as well. Actually I didn't need any styrene bumpers for this as the Kato frame was a bit too wide, I just smeared some epoxy on the frame sides to give it a bit of grip.

    As I recall now (this is a year ago at least), this wasn't as bad as I anticipated. I used the small cylindrical cutter bit for the Dremel, checked my work often, and just took out all the cast in material behind the intakes. The filing was also not that extensive.

    Still, it's a tossup. I imagine the Atlas mechanism will look fine too. I think I really wanted the different trucks and tank detail more than a correct wheelbase, because I didn't notice the wheelbase issue at all. I do now, now that someone coming in from a different direction has pointed it out. My mind was fixated on those snubbers and those tanks.

    Richard.


    [​IMG][​IMG][​IMG][​IMG]
     
  15. Doug A.

    Doug A. TrainBoard Supporter

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    Richard,

    Wow! Great job on the shell! I hope mine turns out that good. Sorry, didn't mean to burst your bubble on the F40PH mech. I really don't think it will matter much once everything is together. The biggest issue was for me trying to get the shell on there. Guess I gave up too quickly.

    I'm gonna play around with some various options I guess. Good thing is I've got the two older F59PHI mechs that will eventually get replaced with the newer models. So I could salvage fuel tank and trucks and try to transplant them somehow. Dunno. I'm not technically modelling the TRE anymore so these have been put on the backburner for now. Anyway, thanks for sharing the photos and your process. Good work!
     
  16. daniel_leavitt2000

    daniel_leavitt2000 TrainBoard Member

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    Why not just use the Blomburg M trucks from Atlas (or Walthers)? They are very close to the F40/59 style trucks. You can use the Kato fueltank on the GP chassis and get the best of both worlds.

    The F40 chassis under the F59 shell looks a bit like the Kato GP7... a bit off.
     
  17. mariuszjj

    mariuszjj TrainBoard Member

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    hello
    have a link where can get one of those shells?
    thx
     
  18. mariuszjj

    mariuszjj TrainBoard Member

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    got one of kaslos ebay ..... going for metrolink

    [​IMG]

    see through fans......

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    don't have the kato mech yet but gonna get there and BTW the Athearn f59phi mech don't fit either ( tried to see
    if it would, used one of my metrolinks to check ....... )
     
  19. ffdockree

    ffdockree TrainBoard Member

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    I made the Go logos and provincial flags using downloaded vector graphics and an inkjet printer. 2012-05-14 22.16.39.jpg
     
  20. Doug A.

    Doug A. TrainBoard Supporter

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    Nice work!
     

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