TheRailwire

General Discussion => N and Z Scales => Topic started by: daniel_leavitt2000 on October 08, 2008, 04:27:29 PM

Title: SW1500 DONE! With Photos
Post by: daniel_leavitt2000 on October 08, 2008, 04:27:29 PM
Thanks to Richie, I now have a mechinism to run under the SW1500. The chassis is a Con-Cor/Kato SW1200 milled slightly thinner. You will notice the engine rides high. This is prototypical. The walkway is higher then the Geep in this photo:
http://rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=319855

Here is a great side shothighlighting the frame.
http://rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=649217

Here are the pictures:
(http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/500/trains_and_sw1500_203.jpg)

(http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/500/trains_and_sw1500_202.jpg)

(http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/500/trains_and_sw1500_204.jpg)

(http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/500/trains_and_sw1500_206.jpg)

I still need to work out some rough areas. The cab needs work as well as the blanked panel on the left side. The frame will be painted black. I would like to reduce the flanges of the wheels.
Title: Re: Can't wait for the weekend: SW1500
Post by: up1950s on October 08, 2008, 04:51:03 PM
Anytime Dan , glad it worked out . That SW-1500 looks terrific .
Title: Re: Can't wait for the weekend: SW1500
Post by: Mark5 on October 08, 2008, 04:59:55 PM
Here's a real one for comparison:

(http://www.nslocos.com/ns2215.jpg)

http://www.nslocos.com/main.html

Dan, looks like you'll need to convert the trucks to roller bearings.  ;)

Mark

Title: Re: Can't wait for the weekend: SW1500
Post by: Ed Kapuscinski on October 08, 2008, 05:20:17 PM
Oh man...
I'm jealous... that's gonna be gorgeous... so what did you do? Just cut down an MP15?

You know what I'm happiest about? The fact that now you've done it, Atlas will make one.
Title: Re: Can't wait for the weekend: SW1500
Post by: daniel_leavitt2000 on October 08, 2008, 09:32:04 PM
The hood and walkway was cut down a few feet to match the overal lenth of the hood and pilots. It was actually pretty easy but I'm not all that happy with the cab joint. I can see a bit of the tab slots on the sandbox hump.
Title: Re: Can't wait for the weekend: SW1500
Post by: tom mann on October 08, 2008, 09:42:53 PM
This looks great!  What is the process in a nutshell - apply a MP15 body to a SW chassis? 
Title: Re: Can't wait for the weekend: SW1500
Post by: nwline on October 08, 2008, 10:08:31 PM
Dan

Looks great , did you try any other chassis ?  When I first saw your pictures I grabbed my Kato NW2 to see if that chassis would fit and that looks like it would be a really tight fit , any thoughts ?  ( sure would be nice to have a drop in decoder )

Dave
Title: Re: Can't wait for the weekend: SW1500
Post by: daniel_leavitt2000 on October 08, 2008, 10:15:54 PM
I started with the MP15 shell assembly w/marker lights (for small number boards) and the “flat top” filter box. I believe this was the original phase I MP15DC. I cut the area just after the slope off and rejoined the cab mounting channel to the shorter hood. I think I made it just a hair too short as the cab overhangs the battery box just a bit on the left side.

The walkway was cut down using photos and drawings reduced to size. Everything lined up pretty well but you will have to remove a panel on the engineer's side of the long hood and reform the access doors on the conductor's side where the cab steps are located.

Here is the unmodified hood from the atlas site:
(https://secure.atlasrr.com/mmMOD1/Images/522400.jpg)

The modifications to the frame can be viewed on Richie's Picasa site:
http://picasaweb.google.com/up1950s

I really should have taken pics for the article.

This was the only chassis that could be thinned out without major modification. You need to use a drill press, which is why I needed help on the grinding. On the plus side, the motor is isolated from the chassis ( note the bronze tab sticking up on the motor. There is ample room above the chassis for a decoder. You can also fit one behind the front radiator, in the fuel tank or in the cab.

On my model, I will be using straight DC. I will be filling the battery box/sand hump with tungsten putty along with the fuel tank. I plan on adding a lighting modual to the nose and installing a Kato NW2 interior in the cab.
Title: Re: SW1500 DONE WITH PHOTOS
Post by: daniel_leavitt2000 on December 31, 2008, 01:38:32 AM
(http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/500/hf4.jpg)

(http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/500/hf3.jpg)

What do you think?
Title: Re: SW1500 DONE WITH PHOTOS
Post by: delamaize on December 31, 2008, 01:47:11 AM
looks great!  ;D how's it run?
Title: Re: SW1500 DONE WITH PHOTOS
Post by: daniel_leavitt2000 on December 31, 2008, 01:52:46 AM
About the same as a Kato/Con-Cor SW1200... a bit too fast but smooth through switches. Pulling power has decreased a bit as I emoved traction tires. This will only be pulling strings of 6-8 cars through a level yard anyway.
Title: Re: SW1500 DONE WITH PHOTOS
Post by: delamaize on December 31, 2008, 09:38:08 AM
About the same as a Kato/Con-Cor SW1200... a bit too fast but smooth through switches. Pulling power has decreased a bit as I emoved traction tires. This will only be pulling strings of 6-8 cars through a level yard anyway.

Consittered using "Bullfrog snot?"

although I imagine the reason you ditched the traction tire was because of eletrical concern.
Title: Re: SW1500 DONE! With Photos
Post by: Ed Kapuscinski on December 31, 2008, 10:20:55 AM
How does it look? Effin beautiful man... effin beautiful.

And you know the best part about this? Now that you've done it, Atlas can announce them! :-)

Title: Re: SW1500 DONE! With Photos
Post by: up1950s on December 31, 2008, 11:43:37 AM
Looks great Dan . :)
Title: Re: SW1500 DONE! With Photos
Post by: DKS on December 31, 2008, 01:03:41 PM
Great job, Dan! You should check this out:

http://therailwire.net/smf/index.php/topic,17304.0.html
Title: Re: SW1500 DONE! With Photos
Post by: TiVoPrince on December 31, 2008, 03:42:44 PM
A fine model
that virtually guarantees an Atlas announcement in 2009...
Title: Re: SW1500 DONE! With Photos
Post by: Mark5 on December 31, 2008, 04:11:02 PM
Good Job Daniel!
Title: Re: SW1500 DONE! With Photos
Post by: tehachapifan on December 31, 2008, 04:16:17 PM
Fantastic! :o

Russ
Title: Re: SW1500 DONE! With Photos
Post by: SirTainly on January 01, 2009, 09:12:55 AM
Looks great. :)