I saw these show up in the last month or so. http://www.ebay.com/sch/N-Scale-/19119/m.html?_ssn=bigdawgoriginals The B30-7A (for BN) looks cool, along with some others. Has anyone purchased one of these and done anything with it? I'm wondering how it fits, cleanup needed and the quality. Would be nice to see some photos too!
Hi I recently purchase one of Bruce's Topeka cab Geep shells. They're not too bad, though the accuracy of the front windows is a bit off. Good enough for what I need when I make one of M&E's 'new' Geeps, ex BAR. Not sure there's a web site, but try his e-mail: bigdawgoriginals@yahoo.com He will send a pdf of his shell list. Also do a search on E-bay, as that's where he sells his shells. Worth a look, his work is good, and I found him very friendly. Cheers Steve
Definitely looks to be cast as a single piece. Not sure how easy it will be to fit handrails or any other parts to complete it. Steve, I'd be interested in seeing any progress photos you make on your Topeka cab.
I purchase the SD-38 shells, They are a casting, Look pretty good, but I am have a hell of a time fitting it on the Kato shell. Lot of grinding inside the shell. Way too narrow.
The GP9B that I got appears to be a casting of the complete Atlas GP9 (suitably modified into a GP9B), complete with the walkway. Basically, his master is the full loco shell with the handrails trimmed off. This means that handrails will likely have to be fabricated from the GMM stantion set. Also, it was cast with the headlight/numberboard glazing unit in place, so you need to drill out the headlights (if you care about such things). It is a very tight fit over the Atlas chassis. The casting detail is very good though. Yes it's a bit of work to get it to fit, but I think it is good value for the money. Adrian
Ryan, here's a photo with the Geep in the background. It's in storage now till I get a few more of my Alco-MLW projects completed. Overall it's quite good, though I may use another Atlas walkway section so I can avoid the handrail issue. This kit came in several parts: walkway, long hood, cab/short hood, and some other parts. Cheers Steve
Thanks for the input guys and for the photo Steve. I'd like to use as much of the stock Atlas parts as possible to keep the quality and fitment. I will ask him how many pieces make up the B30-7A and if it fits over an Atlas chassis without interference.
Just an idea,:question: but I have noticed that some of the Bachmann chassis are narrower then the Atlas and KATO ones. At least the Bachmann shells I have will not fit on the Atlas chassis. So you may want to ask if they are made for the Bachmann SD-38.
The B30-7A shell is a single piece, guy in Spokane bought a few, had the same issue as Adrian had, casting was too thick and needed lots of grinding within the shell. Almost destroyed one shell grinding it away. If you want to use mostly Atlas parts, just get a high hood B23-7 and use styrene to cover the area where the cab once was. Issue I see, is he is using Atlas and Kato parts to make his castings. I've asked Atlas, and they don't recall ever giving permission to him to sell shells using their work as masters.
That's is what it looks like to me. A Kato SD-40-2 with a Atlas GP-38 parts graft together to make the shell. I never did get the shell thin enough to use...Jim
Ok, these are SD40-2B ones I have. Just a bit of filing required. Used original handrails plus some bits from a scrap Intermountain shell. And, before the purists jump on me, UP ordered them, then changed the order to Cab versions, but on my RR, this one got through.
I ordered 2 of the GP7 shells. They fit fine on an atlas frame. Only problem I've found is a stock Atlas handrail does not fit on the resin sill very well. If you use an atlas sill the resin shell fits fine. Brian
I don't see any negative feedback for him. Atlas will NEVER do any of those B units. I have a couple sd45-2b's that look fine. I will share my experience when I get some time to work on them.
Atlas will NEVER do a chop nose GP 7/9 either. I inquired about this model one time at a convention. The Atlas rep told me there wasn't enough RRs that had them and in so many words told me to go pound sand.