GMD1 to NW5?

[daniel_leavitt2000]

I am not planning o any heavy modeling for a time while things settle down at home. But I can plan future projects. One of these ideas is to model the Mass Central NW5 as seen in the 1990's:
http://donsdepot.donrossgroup.net/dr0404/mc2100b.jpg
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1877186
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=12263
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=12262

A partially complete shell has been sitting on my desk for years based on a Kato NW2 shell. Its so old that the styrene strip has curled and deformed the shell. What stopped the project was the lack of an appropriate mechanism.

Now that the GMD1 will be coming out with B trucks in the future... how close is the wheelbase to the NW5? Looking at the model compared to NW5 photos, the cab and hoods line up pretty well, which means it should take the stepped Kato long hood.

[jmlaboda - RIP]

Only 10" difference as listed by The Diesel Shop USA...

http://www.thedieselshop.us/Data%20EMD%20NW5.HTML
http://www.thedieselshop.us/Data%20EMD%20GMD1.HTML

[cjm413]

I am not planning o any heavy modeling for a time while things settle down at home. But I can plan future projects. One of these ideas is to model the Mass Central NW5 as seen in the 1990's:
http://donsdepot.donrossgroup.net/dr0404/mc2100b.jpg
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1877186
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=12263
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=12262

A partially complete shell has been sitting on my desk for years based on a Kato NW2 shell. Its so old that the styrene strip has curled and deformed the shell. What stopped the project was the lack of an appropriate mechanism.

Now that the GMD1 will be coming out with B trucks in the future... how close is the wheelbase to the NW5? Looking at the model compared to NW5 photos, the cab and hoods line up pretty well, which means it should take the stepped Kato long hood.

Flexicoil B trucks have a shorter wheelbase than Blomberg B trucks you'd need for a NW5.

I don't know the distance between truck centers for a RS-1, but I will point out that it is Alco's version of a 1000 hp switcher with both a short hood and road trucks.

Assumimg the dimensions for the RS-1 chassis work for the NW-5, swapping the AAR-B trucks with Atlas Blomberg B trucks should be no problem.

[chessie system fan]

I recall seeing an article on one in N scale magazine back in the day.   It used an RS1.

[coosvalley]

For comparison.....

http://s3.amazonaws.com/rrpa_photos/88620/IMG_6357.JPG

[pdx1955]

For comparison.....

http://s3.amazonaws.com/rrpa_photos/88620/IMG_6357.JPG

Well that is a ready-made juxtaposition if I ever saw one ! If you didn't mind the NW-5 being a bit shorter then it probably would work as a stand-in.

[jmlaboda - RIP]

The hardest part I suspect about both chassis is the stepped down hood that the NW5 had.  It likely will require some major work removing metal in that area irregardless of which chassis is used.

[Spikre]

 
  in HO the Athearn BB GP35 frame was one cheap starting place.
  but N Mechinisms are a bit different,so not sure what would work ?
  Flexi-Coil switcher truck- most 8' wheelbase,stay away from FL9 trucks.
  Blomberg B truck,most 9' wheelbase,stay away from recent 9'4" versions
  if any have been modeled.
    Spikre
       

[cjm413]

Well that is a ready-made juxtaposition if I ever saw one ! If you didn't mind the NW-5 being a bit shorter then it probably would work as a stand-in.

The only thing missing from that photo is a EMD RS1325