Alco C-430 kitbash - with new contact strips.

[mandealco]

Hi
I was asked to show how I attempted to kitbash an Alco C-430.  What you see here is made from the following:
An Atlas B30-7 supplied the chassis and truck frames.  The truck frames have springs from an old Atlas RSC-2.  The majority of the hood is a shortened Atlas C-630, with the engine bay and dynamic brake section from a Life-Like C-424.  The Atlas hood is shortened at the rear after the radiator, and immediately ahead of the air intake area.  It is complicated a little by the low profile style of air intake that was only found on the former NYC units.  The model will end up as Morristown & Erie #17, which is now alive and well on the WNY&P. 

This project has remained as you see it for about 2 years.  I only have one way of putting the correct fuel tank on, and that's to remove the metal frame that hold the contact strips in place.  I figured I'd come up with a plan "B" at some point, but haven't yet.  The fuel tank area you see is a real mess.  I have removed the same section on another kitbashed Alco, but until I find an alternative electrical pick up system, that one remains a static model.  Any ideas are very welcome.  I'd prefer not to have wires bridging the gap.


Cheers
Steve
Me and my Alco

[daniel_leavitt2000]

You do not need to have the brass wipers run the entire length of the chassis. You could cut them down and mount them using 00-90 screws tapped into the chassis.

The model looks great so far. Did you have any issues mating the LL to Atlas hood parts? If I recall, one was much taller than the other.

[BCR 570]

Another promising ALCO model on the way - well done.  The chassis/fuel tank/wiper issue is something I have been pondering also as it will come up during M-420 builds.  I believe that Jeff Briggs has done away with the wipers on one or two models he has built in the past, so I will put your question to him.

Tim

[mandealco]

M-420!!!!!!
Tim, that got my attention.  When can we expect to see these?  Is this the next Briggs kit?  Gotta have one of those for CN 2574, another 1985 aquaintance.

Daniel, thanks for the contact strip idea.  I'll see what Tim comes back with, but that may solve the problem.

I can't remember if I had to lower the C-424 hood to match the Atlas parts.  I know the width was fine.

Back to the M-420.  The MLW fuel tank on these was quite boxy, rather like the GE tank.  May be OK for a CN unit, but the BCR ones had a smaller tank IIRC, so that's where the issue will be.

Thanks
Steve
Hmmm, an M-420, cool.

[daniel_leavitt2000]

Hod help me if those M420 ever see the liight of day. I will probably model them both in P&W and Maine Eastern.

Great, great looking engines. It was like New England's personal superfleet.

[BCR 570]

You do not need to have the brass wipers run the entire length of the chassis. You could cut them down and mount them using 00-90 screws tapped into the chassis.

Daniel:

Have you attempted this before?  If so I would be interested in seeing pictures, as I am sure Steve would.


Tim

[Wardie]

Steve, Thanks for the overview, I wish the C-424 shells were more readily available as this looks like an interesting kitbash.

[BCR 570]

M-420!!!!!!
Tim, that got my attention.

The biggest challenge with an M-420 conversion, or potential kit, is that the deck sits quite high and the frame (which is quite visible) runs right through the area occupied by the metal inside the fuel tank.

It would be a challenge to try and market a kit which requires the builder to remove part of the frame and cook up an alternate means of pickup - it would have less appeal I fear.  Jeff's previous locomotive kits for the ALCO C-425 and MLW M-630 were essentially shell swaps with added details, which appeals to a more common skill level.


Tim

[squirrelhunter]

I always liked the looks of the C-430. It looks like the kitbash is straightforward (correct me if I'm oversimplifying), but where does one find a LL C-425 shell short of buying a whole C-425?

[daniel_leavitt2000]

I did this with some second generation Bachmann C40-8Ws to improove electrical contact. I'll try and dig up photos. The experiment worked but I broke a few drill bits tapping the frames.

Here is a quick sketch up of how it works. The pin is a simple sewing pin glued in place with just enough of a gap to alow the leaf spring some movement up and down but not off center.

Daniel:

Have you attempted this before?  If so I would be interested in seeing pictures, as I am sure Steve would.


Tim

[mandealco]

Squirrelhunter, the Briggs Models C-425 conversion kit will supply the necessary hood parts you need.  It's not that cheap, but may be easier than waiting for an auction bargain.  I was lucky when the Hobbycraft C-424 first came out, I picked up 2 additional shell sets, though wasn't very lucky with the price. Should have asked first!!!!

The other potential option is to use Atlas C-420 parts, but the configuration is wrong.  The C-420 has a 12 cylinder prime mover, whereas the C-424 and C-430 have 16 cylinder, so doors and hatches are different.

Cheers
Steve

[craigolio1]

"You could cut them down and mount them using 00-90 screws tapped into the chassis."

You just made my day!  I've been working on how to get pickup on a GMD1 I kitbashed and had to remove the pickups.  Other ideas failed.  Sigh of relief and satisfied look.


Tim, tell Jeff I'm in for an A-B-B-A set.  I don't care what has to be done to the chassis.

Craig

[mandealco]

Hi
I've followed the advice from above and done away with the contact strips on my C-430.  I still need to tidy up a few fit issues, but it's starting to look a little better.  I will soon add the "I" beam frame and then finish the detailing.  This will become Morristown & Erie #17.

The other project that has sat around as long as the C-430 (2 years!!!!!) is my C-636P.  A model proposed by Alco to compete with EMDs FP-45 as a dual service unit in 1967.  While I wait for "Steve4painting" to finish my C-424, I'll plod along with these 2 models.

My weekend is almost done here in NZ.  Never long enough!
Cheers
Steve

[FrankCampagna]

Nice thread. Thanks for sharing the info, folks. I'm going to model the NYC in the '60's. Would love to have a couple of C430's (last locos delivered to NYC).  However, my fine motor skills are  nowhere near up to this project.

Frank

[BCR 570]

I've followed the advice from above and done away with the contact strips on my C-430.

Steve:

Are you able to show us exactly how you replaced the contact strips?

Tim