Finally, some MLW parts

[lock4244]

Miniatures by Eric has some new parts listed on his website for use on the ALCO C630 to make them more correct for an MLW unit. Not sure how new they are, but I can't recall seeing them earlier this year. I've already placed an order. MBE picking up from Briggs? Pud... anything here for you? NP15 might work to correct the rear of that C424.

MLW rear hood, no notches:
http://www.miniaturesbyeric.com/itm00424.htm

Dofasco sideframes:
http://www.miniaturesbyeric.com/itm00426.htm

Fuel tank:
http://www.miniaturesbyeric.com/itm00427.htm

[SirTainly]

Good news to have an alternative indeed, although I lucked out and got a set of the Briggs trucks, but I haven't dared build them yet.

[Puddington]

Oh my; indeed, the world is a good place - fix dem dar 630's and 424's.....

[BCR 570]

The C-630M fuel tank is good news.  I was sent a prototype a few months ago and I suggested a few changes but I cannot tell from the tiny picture if they were made or not.  I will have to get one if they were!

He has also recently released the solid pilot and hadlight shroud for hte Phase II RDCs.

Tim

[BCR 570]

Eric responded to my email query and yes he did make the corrections to the C-630M fuel tank so that is good news and I have ordered one, as well as several of the RDC parts.

Tim

[lock4244]

I've about 40 or so items coming from Eric. Fuel tanks, C630M ends, Dofasco trucks, SW1200RS, and a few other items. I buy and store until needed (I've a large stockpile of MBE parts)... no point in waiting, I got in late with Briggs and only managed to scape up four Dofasco truck kits. He who hesitates, right? And Eric's stuff is great at a fair to great price.

[BCR 570]

Mike:

That is the correct strategy.  When Sunrise announced they were quitting the soft metal detail parts I saw it as a wakeup call.  I sat down and made a roster of all the locomotives I would like to build, even if they were not yet available, and then sourced the required detail parts.  I may not get to all of them for a few years, but they are here for when I need them.  I don't see anyone else making BCR plows and horns if Eric retires.

Tim

[lock4244]

Tim, I think over the next month I'll be placing a few more large orders... which means I've got some planning to do. Diesels I need to build and have to get parts for:

CP SW9u
CN & CP SW1200RS
CN & CP GP9 both R/B and un-R/B
CN GP40
CN & CP GP38-2
CN GP38-2W
CN GP40-2L
CN and GO GP40-2W
CN & CP SD40
CP SD40-2
CN SD40-2W (I'm getting some IM units, but I assume they'll need a little work)
CN & CP RS18
CP C424
CN & CP C630M
CP M630
CN & CP M636
CN M420W
CN HR616
CN HR412

Ouch. Where the heck am I gonna find the time!

[cv_acr]

My roster will be a little more uniform once I actually get it going.

AC GP7
AC SD40
AC SD40-2
AC GP38-2
CN SW1200RS

Of course, there's all the unique freight car equipment that will need to be bashed or scratchbuilt to model the AC. 60' bulkhead gondolas, 40' pulpwood flatcars, and then there's those unique round ore hoppers, which would be nice to be able to pull off a few of those. At least the "Ortner" style hoppers and 52' bulkhead flatcars are covered in HO by walthers. The Proto2000 Greenville gondola is not at all accurate for any Canadian cars, but could be used as a stand-in for the 52' gondolas, some of which had cool bright yellow round covers for coil svc.

Plus I'll need various CN and CP boxcars and flatcars/gondolas for steel service.

And that's not including CP stuff that I'd like to do for the club layout. I'd like to do some SD40-2s for that fleet; I've got a Bowser C630M on order in CP red, and I've been finishing up a neat "prototype kitbash" of a CP 40' high-cube (13 1/2 foot inside height!) boxcar.

[BCR 570]

I received my new parts from Eric today.  The NT6 fuel tank for the MLW C-630M is a really nice one piece resin casting which includes the air reservoirs and fuel fillers.  Simply pull off the Atlas tank and push this one on.  Together with the Dofasco trucks this part will go a long way towards achieving a Canadian look with this model.

I also got the new NL9 RDC headlight shrouds and NP14 RDC pilots which are also resin castings for converting either the Con-Cor or Kato models to a Phase 2 appearance.  Together with the five chime air horns, Pathfinder lights and a Pyle barrel headlight for the front door, I now have the parts I need to attempt a pair of BCR RDC cars.  Now to order the cars!


Tim

[lock4244]

Mine haven't arrived yet, though I've got to get a C630 to put them on. I've held off buying any until a parts source is found. Hooray for MBE!

[lock4244]

Ok, mine arrived. I ordered a number of the MLW hood ends, fuel tanks, a set of Dofasco trucks, a few CP pilots and one each CN and CP SW1200RS shells. I was surprised that the trucks are cast metal as I was expecting plastic as per the flexicoils. They are not like the Briggs ones that essentially replace the entire truck frame on the unit, so they require some shaving down of the existing tri-mount in order to glue them on. The bonus here is that they'll add a little extra weight to the units. I'll assume this is a good thing if the C630 is as poor a puller as the Atlas SD50/60 models.

Now that these have arrived, I have to plan my next order 

[BCR 570]

I am confused as to the purpose of the new Eric sideframes as all you can do is laminate them onto the existing tri-mount trucks as you describe  - they do not correct the axle spacing. 

Tim

[SirTainly]

Suspect that's close enough for those who don't want to risk losing the running qualities of their truck by doing a botched job on the Briggs ones.

[lock4244]

I am confused as to the purpose of the new Eric sideframes as all you can do is laminate them onto the existing tri-mount trucks as you describe  - they do not correct the axle spacing. 

Tim

Any idea how far off they'd be? I've a finite stock of the Briggs kits.