I'm modifying a Kato AC4400 to SP specs (or close to, anyway), and I want to remove the box behind the inverter cabinet. Problem is, there is a locating peg under the box, and when I remove the box from the walkway and the box door from the cab, the peg will be removed. (where the red arrows are) No box on the prototype - the inverter cabinet goes straight down to the walkway. . . Do you think the locomotive will stay together without it? The 2 big locating pins will still be there. . . or should I sacrifice prototypical accuracy for structural integrity?? [ April 12, 2005, 09:58 PM: Message edited by: dave n ]
You yourself will know about the missing tab. You will handle the loco accordingly. Do you trust others? Will others handle them? It will most likely pop apart without the tab. Would you be willing to re-anchor the cab in some other fashion? Since you are modifying the cab anyhow you may as well find an alternate way to attach the cab to the walkway. Once you have made a cut in the body, the collector value will have taken a nosedive. Personally, I am not into collecting, so keeping things "as is" is no big deal to me.
I left it on the two that I did, Mainly I just filled in where the GPS dome sits. Guess you just have to decide what Is close enough for you. I think structuraly It would be fine as long as the other pin just ahead of that one is still there. BTW Did you ever find the right decals for the speed lettering?
Hey Dave.... are those your " Lotto numbers" $$$$$$$ I say Go For It!!!!! you can allways use glue like IM and others
I can see a SP decal in the Kato box lid! The plastic the shell is made of can be glued yes?ACC'ed?Why not re-locate the lug to the main cabinate?
I went for it - and no effect on the shell functionality at all ! After looking at the other side, I figured the tab was just there to hold the cover of the box that I was removing in place (no tab on the other side). Scott - No one makes the correct decals, so I'm having some custom ones done. A future addition to the SP moment thread:
If you are having custom decals done was there a minimum order and do you have plans for the excess? I want a couple SP's myself and I'm sure others would be interested as well.
Dave, you brave soul, I'm surprised that peg didnt cause you a problem, but what you said makes sense. Nice job in filling in the GPS dome. Cant wait to see the finshed product.
Hey I'll be up for a handful of those decals too Dave will you be attaching the hand rail & steps? as per SP proto.
Depending on what unit you're modeling, you could have the left the capacitor box intact; later deliveries came with them from the factory. I can't remember the start of the number series that had them from GE - I'll have to consult some books when I get home. Another thing to watch for, too, is that on units without the capacitor box, the access doors above/behind them go almost all the way down to the walkway. In HO, Details West did the capacitor box as a separate add-on part for the Athearn AC4400 (which lacks it), and included a set of photoetched doors to model the short doors needed on units with the box. And as for decals, I have it on very good authority that mass-produced, n-scale SP AC4400 decals will be available in the near future... Late SP AC4400 w capacitor box: http://espee.railfan.net/nonindex/ac4400_photos/0360_sp-ac4400-duane_simmons.jpg [ March 11, 2005, 12:06 PM: Message edited by: SP 8299 ]
I just hope that they get the KCS version set up soon with the 3 fan outlet on the inverter housing(? behind cab on left side) and the steerable trucks........ have to wait and see
Just for the heads up, I just released an etched metal set of GE grab irons! The photos below are pretty self explanatory….. Enjoy!
It appears that at least the 300 series units have the box and steps behind the inverter box. My model rendition is one of the 300 series AC4400's. The decals although not exactly correct are for the Dash 9 but seemed to work just fine with careful fitting. Brian
Damn, Craig, I wish I would have known about that set of grabs a few weeks ago when I spent a couple of hours hand fitting all of those grabs on the nose of a few cp ac4400's! I will definately pick a couple up for future use though!
Wow.... It's time to do my AC4400's Craig tell me part B is for nose and roof. part A is for top side of nose. but C and D??????
