Awesome! Thanks again! It really does look great! As for headlights, if you happen to be ordering anything from Bachmann, their N-Scale 2-8-0 headlight lens (http://estore.bachmanntrains.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=66_70_80&products_id=339) should squeeze into the headlight sockets without much effort (that's about the only "lens" I have in my parts bin at the moment). It might look a bit funky though, Ill get back to you on that...
So the S-2 is available for anyone who might happen to be interested. Same warning as above with respect to the "Blunts"...
Bachmann has apparently just announced their own N-scale S-4. No confirmation or ETA yet. If it is anything like their other switchers, it will be a winner. While it may effect sales of your S-4, it seems that there will be a new modern DCC equipped chassis for your other shell variants. Then there are the parts and handrails we can use. What else can you put an S-4 chassis under?
Matthew, Your work here on the S-2 / S-4 has been spectacular and raised the bar and knowledge for all of us. I for one certainly think that with the Bachmann S-4 now being announced ( http://nscalesupply.com/Newsletter/CurrentNewsletter.html ), I hope there are many variants that your 3D printing work can use that chassis for. When you're ready, looking forward to hearing what you think you might do / change (if anything) a result of that Bachmann S-4 announcement. I haven't read this whole thread..... does the S-4 wheelbase also match the FM H10-44? Wishing you much success,
An SW1500 should fit. Maybe once they are out that would make for a great shell to do. Looks like Matthew helped us out.
Well wow. I kinda figured that someone would step up and make an S-4 here eventually - but I thought that my run would last more than three weeks! Oh well, what can you do? Clearly I'll leave the stuff that I've already finished available, but until we get some more details about the Bachmann mechanism I won't be putting too much work into them. Hopefully the Blunts will be adaptable (surely this will open up a new "S-2 Conversion Kit" market)? I'll also have to take a longer look as S-1s and S-3s. As far as interesting uses for the new mechanism go - I think that an SW1500 tops the list. I'm certainly open to ideas though... In the meantime I think I'm going to set this thread aside and dive into work on the FMs (my first H-10-44 sample is in production as we speak) and hopefully a Baldwin AS-616. I'm hoping that there might be some interesting steam projects in my future as well.
We havn't seen the price of the engine from Bachmann yet , yours might be cheaper making it more attractive to the poor but talented model railroader. I hope you finish the FM engine, maybe as soon as I order mine Atlas will announce thier release. Its not hard to find other little nitches to fill like steam locomotive tenders, boiler shells, transit cars, ad infinitum... Randy
In terms if the SW1500, I would set it up to use a separate cab. Include one with the kit, but make it to where the shell will accept the Atlas MP15 cab (I think it would be correct for the SW1500)
Well, Bachmann apparently isnt going to offer B&M in the first run at any rate (another locomotive like their GP7 that I wish was available in B&M). Oh well, I'm happy to have my kit from Matthew and enjoyed putting it together. Im looking forward to what this new chassis might open up in the kit world. I wonder if the Bachmann chassis could make a cheap donor for an SW1. I know Randgust has a resin conversion for the KATO NW2 available but a full kit on an easier to find chassis would be nice. Or... wait for it, an EMC SC would be great. The Model Railroader Diesel Encyclopedia even has a proper schematic for it. I would love to have one or two in B&M for my layout.
"Well wow" ! Matthew, I admire your attitude after you put all this work into this wonderful project, some upstart decides to market a commercial model with a new frame and DCC I presume. DANG, don't you hate when that happens?! Thanks for taking the lead on this for all of us, and certainly, I do think there should be an S2 Blunt truck conversion market. I too would wait to see what Bmann comes up with, but I forgone need S2's, not S4's.... Thank again for doing the heavy lifting without much (financial) reward... Kind regards, Otto K.
Hate this iPad auto spell check feature... It's much smarter than me. I meant to say " I for one need S2's not S4's" and "Thanks again" Thanks again, Otto
FWIW the way I have been doing the SW1 is this way: 1) You order/drop ship or send me your Kato NW2 2) I chop/mill the frame to fit the SW1 resin shell 3) I fit the shell to the sill and mech, relocate the LED headlight too. 4) Brass handrails can be added as nothing stock works for the SW1 5) Custom painting and decaling negotiable. 6) You get a batch of leftover NW2 parts including the shell. I've done quite a few of these. The frame chopping is pretty severe. But the end result runs just as good as the Kato NW2. Matthew, welcome to the 'stomped mouse club'. Right now it consists of at least three of us: Grant SAR in the F45 resin shell business... Me with the GE70-tonner conversion (although I made out OK, and only had one leftover kit) And now the S-4. People wonder why it's such a heart-wrenching decision to commit to try to make something, either investment of a lot of time or a lot of time and a lot of money.... sometimes it's Vegas odds.
Unfortunately, it also happens to the non-mice. How many Alco PA's got introduced/re-introduced at nearly the same time? How about nearly simultaneous introductions of plastic GS-4's (and a brass one too?). There are several other instances of it happening that I'm too busy this morning to research (I'm getting ready for the Evanston Roundhouse Festival this weekend). It's gotta be that the creative winds get detected by multiple companies/individuals and they all go to work designing their own versions of the same engine at nearly the same time. I don't think the odds support the idea that it's a totally random event. Anyway, my condolences but you put out one hell of an effort and my hat is off to you! Your efforts have spurred me on to develop my first few Shapeways products which I'll be introducing in August. Cheers! Bob Gilmore
Randy, since you relocate the LED does that mean that DCC (with the current decoders available) goes out the window?
I, for one, have no plans on abandoning my cool little project because Bachmann has some $129 doohickey. I've got far less invested and mine wears the proper roadname! These days, I feel like being more of a modeler.... and less of a RTR guy. Currently, I'm working on an NP challenger, an NP 2-8-8-2, an NP Mikado, an NP S4, an NP passenger consist (pine tree colors), and none of it is stock or storebought! Guess what? Haven't had this much fun in a loooong time! Cheers to the makers & innovators, guys.
You sound alot like me. I would rather bash this and scratch that to make something that I want. I have often told myself that IF for some reason I EVER decided to get out of N scale, I would go into Sn3 in a heartbeat. It would be a natural fit for a basher like me. BTW- What version of the NP 2-8-8-2 are you doing? I would LOVE to see someone make the early NP atriculates.
I have one of Randys SW-1s , its a nice looking machine. I drop shipped an NW-1 to him and got the shell and parts back in a couple weeks. I am currently painting it (waiting for decals) As soon as its done it will go back (to Randy) to be finished. I'm not that excited about the release of an S-4, Fist I'd have to disassemble the thing, strip the paint off (with unpredictable results sometimes) paint it and re-assemble it. I can save a few steps and a few bucks if I use Matts shapeways shells. It all comes down to economics for me. I got more time than money. Randy
Well, my goal is this: http://www.brasstrains.com/classic/...orthern-Pacific-Z-4-2-8-8-2-with-Booster-4503 I am starting with a Rivarossi Mallet, but damn if it isn't too big.... I have about 15 steamer shells I hope to hack & bash into a decent Z-4 but it's gonna requre some frame milling too. Ideally, I'll run across a deal on a LL/Walthers Mallet, and be able to work on that.
I don't think so but I've never had to deal with an NW2 decoder. I re-use the original Kato 'board'. The "T" shape at the nose gets cut off and the LED ends up moved back about 18 scale inches. Worst-case scenario: The cab is still fully open and you can stuff one of the Z decoders in there, just like people have been doing to my Climax kits. If you can make that work there's hope for anything. The only 'limits' I put on my SW1 conversions is that the cutting and milling puts out an outrageous amount of metal chips and dust. Because of that I work outside and take the equipment out with me. So I've had to hold up some projects until it got warm enough to work outside. Ironically that's the exact opposite problem of resin casting that I can only do inside during cold weather.
