Source for European N scale Shells?

[M.C. Fujiwara]

Anyone know a good source for shells of European N scale locos?
Am contemplating a Meter gauge railway, so would rather not pay for a whole N scale loco & then replace the mech with Z.
(Or would just replacing the N scale trucks with Z trucks work? Hmm....)

Specifically looking for older French/German diesel B-B units:



and French diesel railcars:





Thanks for your help.

[eric220]

There are some online shops that specialize in importing European models to the us. They might have some stuff that would fit the bill. Here's a few links:

http://www.reynaulds.com/narrow-gauge.aspx
http://www.euromodeltrains.com/
http://www.tee-usa.com/index.html

[peteski]

MC,
if you can find the part number of the shell and the manufacturer is still in business and has them in stock you can get them. But don't b e surprised that the shell will cost you as much as U.S. prototype loco would cost!  Even with a very favorable Euro-US Dollar exchange rate, spare parts are quite pricey.

As to where to get them, most US importers really don't want to be bothered getting spare parts and even if they do, sometimes it takes months or even years to get what you ordered. I recently noticed that Reynaulds.com started a spare parts service for Fleischmann, but I haven't tried it yet. In the past, getting spare parts from Reynaulds was like pulling teeth and took months.

By far the best source of spare parts is DM-Toys in Germany. They are very friendly, take Paypal, and have direct contact with all the European manufacturers.  But don't be surprised with the prices.  The way to go about ordering parts is to email them (in English) with the list of parts you want (be sure to include the manufacturer name, part name, and German description) and ask for availability and price.  They will contact the factory and reply with availability and price (in Euros). When you acknowledge what you want, they will send you Paypal invoice.

[nkalanaga]

That first diesel could probably be kitbashed fairly easily from a Japanese DD-13.  I've repowered several Kato shells with Marklin 6-axle Z mechanisms, although the frames have to be narrowed.  The motor fits nicely in the cab, so it's just a matter of grinding the frame to fit the hoods.  Shortened it would probably look good on one of the 4-axle hood unit mechanisms available in Z. 

Keep the Z shells for industrial parts.

[M.C. Fujiwara]

Thanks for all the links & info.

(The Kato DD-13 is way too big, but I could cut the shell down. Might just get a shell to play around with)

Just wondering if anyone's ever put Z trucks on an N mech?
Wonder if the gears would mesh.
Or how difficult would it be to adapt/alter the worm/gear in the N mech to mesh with the Z trucks.

[M.C. Fujiwara]

This little shunter is pretty cute:



Looks like I could use a Minitrix 2-6-0 mech.

[M.C. Fujiwara]

Luckily for this one I found a close match on shapeways:



Well, almost.

[nkalanaga]

The DD-13 is too long for your use, but could easily be shortened.  As for width, that could be a problem, but it's fine for American narrow gauge, where most of the "modern" diesels were the same width as standard gauge.  The DD-13 is almost exactly 10 scale feet, 3 meters, wide, over the walkways.  Even the later D&RGW 2-8-2s were 10 ft 5 inches over the cylinders.

The only widths I have for European narrow gauge are for the RhB.  Their electrics seem to be standardized at 2.65 meters, or about 9 feet.

My 1970s Montana narrow gauge has a lot of RhB-inspired cars, but I used European standard gauge bodies for most of them.  The extra width doesn't show, with nothing to compare it to, and the D&RGW, EBT, WP&Y, and Newfoundland CN all ran standard gauge, or standard gauge width, equipment.

If anyone makes 1:160 models of British locos that might be a source.  Their equipment is actually narrower than many countries' narrow gauge.  For anyone not familiar with British and European railways, here is a visual comparison of loading gauges.

British standard gauge is the same width as RhB narrow gauge, although it may be taller.  The only number I can find there is the height of a couple electrics, 3.3 meters, 11 feet, over the roof, excluding the pantographs.  For comparison, the D&RGW's K27 is 12-9 over the stack, and the K36/37 are 13-4 and 13-5 respectively.

American equipment today routinely exceeds 15 feet high, but the "unrestricted" Plate B is still only 15-1.

[engineshop]

Unfortunately shells are not easy to find. Usually you have to contact the manufacture directly and know the order number and hope they still have one. I would like to have some passenger and loco shells for my railroad but never had luck to contact the right person. I usually get my stuff on e-bay when its sold as not working or missing parts.

[Mark W]

I've got an untouched Kato DD12 from an estate I bought this summer.  I have no intention of ever using it; it's yours for the cost of shipping if you want it. 

[johnb]

I've got an untouched Kato DD12 from an estate I bought this summer.  I have no intention of ever using it; it's yours for the cost of shipping if you want it.

if nobody else is interested, I am. I have a great idea for one

[Mark W]

if nobody else is interested, I am. I have a great idea for one

MC accepted it, sorry.