Atlas N S2: Anyone Try Removing the Cast Grabs?

[tehachapifan]

One project in the hopper is to paint up an undecorated S2. I typically replace the cast-on grab irons on my models prior to painting but haven't tried this yet on the S2 due to the long hood being metal. Anyone attempt this or any drilling for wire grabs?

[Cajonpassfan]

Russ, I have two undecs to dec but was kind of waiting for you to try it first
Otto

[tehachapifan]

Ha! well....unless someone else already tried and succeeded, I'm inclined to chicken-out on trying and just leave the cast grabs alone.

[arbomambo]

yes, it was so much easier to do the Bachmann S4...exactly why I haven't purchased an Atlas S2 yet (I'll wait for the zebra striped version)



~Bruce

[coosvalley]

I also chose NOT to mess with the metal shell as well...

[AKNscale]

That's one thing I didn't do because I didn't want to mess it up. I think the hard part would be sanding them off without damaging it. Besides the fact that 2 of the grab irons wrap around the front corners and one has 3 mounting points.

[Cajonpassfan]

Yea, unless the removal job is perfect, it will just call attention to itself. Maybe I can live happily with the molded on grabs it this case. The UP loco looks darn good, see below, and on the all-black, partial ATSF zebras I plan to do, I bet the grabs will be even less prominent. On to other projects, with a better ROI...
Otto

[SP-Wolf]

@Cajonpassfan

I too left them alone.

Here is my tiger stripe at the beginning stages of weathering:



Thanks,
Wolf

[arbomambo]

Yea, unless the removal job is perfect, it will just call attention to itself. Maybe I can live happily with the molded on grabs it this case. The UP loco looks darn good, see below, and on the all-black, partial ATSF zebras I plan to do, I bet the grabs will be even less prominent. On to other projects, with a better ROI...
Otto

Otto,
One also has to consider how to remove the base of the stack in the case of an ATSF unit...
That won't be easy either
Bruce

[tehachapifan]

Thanks for the replies! I will be leaving them alone as well. That said, should Atlas continue with making metal hoods, my preference would be mounting holes in lieu of cast grab irons....if tiny, pre-drilled (cast?) mounting holes in a metal hood like this are even possible.

[wazzou]

I don't know how the Bachamnn model compares but I would guess that Atlas decided tractive effort would be benefited greatly by the added weight of a cast metal shell.

[Cajonpassfan]

Frankly, I'm glad the Atlas unit has the extra weight; I need to switch long cuts of cars at San Bdno. So to me, it's a good tradeoff. @arbomambo, good point, about the stack, but not all ATSF S2's got them...see below.
Otto