Spookshow says: Dash 8-32BWH / Dash 8-40BW reviewed 02/03 Model Railroader "Atlas has added a pair of GE modern road diesel locomotives to its N scale line. The Dash 8-32BWH is an Amtrak passenger unit while the similar Dash 8-40BW is a freight locomotive. Both have North American wide-nose safety cabs and share many mechanism parts with Atlas' Dash 8-40B freight locomotive... Both models match the dimensions in GE specifications right down to their different wheelbases... " http://www.spookshow.net/loco/atlasdash8.html I'm just wondering ... the Dash8 40BW is 39'4" between truck centres, the Dash 8-32BW is 39'8" ... do they *really* have different wheelbases or is it the same chassis , like Spookshow says? Also, could Atlas C628/C630 trucks be installed into the Dash 8-32BWH chassis ? (This is for TT scale modelling purposes ... in case you're wondering why anyone would want to.) Cheers, Ben
They all share the same chasis. Tooling two different chasis for 4" in difference isn't worth the cost....and the variation is negligible.
Yes, the Alco trucks fit the GE chassis - makes a nice RSD15 chassis -or so it was said in the Atlas forum: http://forum.atlasrr.com/forum/topic.asp?ARCHIVE=true&TOPIC_ID=16233&SearchTerms=RSD,15, Stephan
Here is a photo essay showing you can make the Atlas C628/C630 trucks fits, photos below show the modifications / mechanism frame metal removal you have to do, in order to do so: http://www.pbase.com/atsf_arizona/n_scale_rsd15 Bottom line: yes, like u36B says above, these Atlas Alco trucks will fit the GE Dash 8-40B/BW/32BW chassis. There will be required modifications to the frame, which the above pbase.com photo album will show you all that needs to be done.
Ben, if you use the Atlas FM Trainmaster trucks they will fit without modifications on the chassis for the gear towers. you still need to grind off the fuel tank parts.
Great. Just when I'm starting to get a handle on my existing backlog of locomotive projects, someone gives me an excuse to add one more to the list. Oh well, I was going to start that RSD-17 project at some point.
I am a bit late getting back, but thank you gentlemen! The photo essay should prove very helpful. Regards, Ben