N scale FM 16-66?

[Tom L]

I just saw an N scale EBay auction listing for a Kato H16-44. It appears to be a H16-44 body shell fitted onto a Kato RSC chassis. I can’t tell what brand body shell it is as it’s got a pretty heavy coat of custom paint on it. Anyway, I’m assuming this was an attempt at making a H16-66, maybe.

Does this come close to a H16-66, dimensionally? Thought I would throw it out there as it is an interesting combination.

Tom L
Wellington CO

[ChristianJDavis1]

I won't link to the auction, as to not hurt your chances, but it appears to be made from at least two Minitrix FM shells, with a modified (lengthened) long hood on one end and a short hood made for the other side out of another shell.

[Tom L]

Ha, that’s quite a conglomeration!

 No worries on the link, not interested, although a Kato chassis for $40 wouldn’t be a bad deal.

Tom L

[ChristianJDavis1]

Ha, that’s quite a conglomeration!

 No worries on the link, not interested, although a Kato chassis for $40 wouldn’t be a bad deal.

Tom L

Just making sure; didn't want to introduce new bidders if you were interested. It is definitely neat, though. Never thought to do something like that until I saw this.

[brokemoto]

I would concur on the bash made from Trix shells, especially given the handrailings.  I am guessing that it is painted and lettered either for a non-historic or a "what if" the Atlantic City and Shore had lasted past the mid-to-late 1940s and gone from electric to diesel.  I am guessing that those are steam generator stacks on the short hood.  There never was  any consistency in FM steam generator stack configurations.

It looks like a Kato RSC-2 chassis.  He fitted LL coupler clips to the pilot, so a swap out for 1015/1016 would be easy.

There does appear to be a minor amount of silvering on the decals.

The availability of a better shell from Atlas allows for an upgrade.

On the whole, for what it is, it is quite well done. 

[ChristianJDavis1]

I would concur on the bash made from Trix shells, especially given the handrailings.  I am guessing that it is painted and lettered either for a non-historic or a "what if" the Atlantic City and Shore had lasted past the mid-to-late 1940s and gone from electric to diesel.  I am guessing that those are steam generator stacks on the short hood.  There never was  any consistency in FM steam generator stack configurations.

It looks like a Kato RSC-2 chassis.  He fitted LL coupler clips to the pilot, so a swap out for 1015/1016 would be easy.

There does appear to be a minor amount of silvering on the decals.

The availability of a better shell from Atlas allows for an upgrade.

On the whole, for what it is, it is quite well done.

Using the Atlas shell would result in the same model, but a different phase, no?

[thomasjmdavis]

Wouldn't an RSD-5 frame be a better starting point than the RSC-2?  I am assuming the "-66" is a C-C locomotive using the same trucks as a Trainmaster- at least on the later models.  In the couple photos of my "vintage" Diesel Spotter's Guide, it looks like the early model shown is on some sort of oddball truck- maybe a Baldwin design? (if that's correct, those truck sideframes are available on Shapeways from the gentleman who makes the big Baldwin transfer loco shells)

[Missaberoad]

Wouldn't an RSD-5 frame be a better starting point than the RSC-2?  I am assuming the "-66" is a C-C locomotive using the same trucks as a Trainmaster- at least on the later models.  In the couple photos of my "vintage" Diesel Spotter's Guide, it looks like the early model shown is on some sort of oddball truck- maybe a Baldwin design? (if that's correct, those truck sideframes are available on Shapeways from the gentleman who makes the big Baldwin transfer loco shells)

There's alot that would be a better starting place for that model... (chop up a h-24-66 shell)
It's not prototypical by any means, but is a neat example of ingenious use of avaliable parts...

[Sharky_McSharknose]

Using the Atlas shell would result in the same model, but a different phase, no?

IIRC, the H16-66 was only ever available with the "Baby Trainmaster" body, unlike the H16-44 which was available with the Loewy body, simplified Loewy body, and "Baby Trainmaster" body.

I have a Bachmann H16-44 "Baby Trainmaster" that runs well but lacks some detail compared to the Atlas H24-66 Trainmaster. As I get better with my modeling skills, I'd like to shorten an Atlas H24-66 shell to fit the Bachmann mechanism or an Atlas Loewy H16-44 mechanism with a 3D print of the correct fuel tank. I wonder if something like that would work to create a H16-66, with a RSD-5 frame and Baldwin or H24-66 trucks as thomasjmdavis mentioned.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Given the origin, I'd bet that the mech is the OLD Atlas/Kato RSD one.

[Missaberoad]

Given the origin, I'd bet that the mech is the OLD Atlas/Kato RSD one.

It's the Kato rsc-2, it has distinctive trucks and fuel tank compared to the old atlas/kato rsd-4 or rsd-12.

I would definitely support a proper "baby" trainmaster kit. Would be a good Briggs project!

[ChristianJDavis1]

IIRC, the H16-66 was only ever available with the "Baby Trainmaster" body, unlike the H16-44 which was available with the Loewy body, simplified Loewy body, and "Baby Trainmaster" body.

I have a Bachmann H16-44 "Baby Trainmaster" that runs well but lacks some detail compared to the Atlas H24-66 Trainmaster. As I get better with my modeling skills, I'd like to shorten an Atlas H24-66 shell to fit the Bachmann mechanism or an Atlas Loewy H16-44 mechanism with a 3D print of the correct fuel tank. I wonder if something like that would work to create a H16-66, with a RSD-5 frame and Baldwin or H24-66 trucks as thomasjmdavis mentioned.

Google says this is an H16-66, but I will admit I am no expert on Fairbanks-Morse diesels. I would think the Bachmann body might be a better starting point for a kitbash of one of the "baby-trainmaster" versions, but this shell is neat none-the-less. I'm sorely tempted to try and build one just for the practice.

[wcfn100]

Only the H16-66 is a 'Baby Train Master'.

Bachmann mislabeled their H16-44 model many years ago and its unfortunately has caused confusion.

If anyone would like to argue this point, I just need a pre-internet reference that says otherwise.

Jason

[Sharky_McSharknose]

Google says this is an H16-66, but I will admit I am no expert on Fairbanks-Morse diesels. I would think the Bachmann body might be a better starting point for a kitbash of one of the "baby-trainmaster" versions, but this shell is neat none-the-less. I'm sorely tempted to try and build one just for the practice.

I stand corrected, it does look like the H16-66 was available with the Loewy styling. I did some googling instead of relying on my unreliable memory and found this website that has the phases of the H16-66:

http://digitalrailartist.com/home/builder-lists-and-phases-index/fairbanks-morse-h15-66-builder-list-and-phases/fairbanks-morse-h16-66-phases/

The Bachmann H16-44's detailing is sparse in some parts (especially the pilots, which have almost no detailing at all). It also lacks the neat see-thru etched metal grille and fan detailing of the Atlas H24-66. I guess a B-mann/Atlas bash would work, but making the hollowed-out sides of the walkways on the Baby Trainmaster bodies looks to be the toughest part.

[thomasjmdavis]

I stand corrected, it does look like the H16-66 was available with the Loewy styling. I did some googling instead of relying on my unreliable memory and found this website that has the phases of the H16-66:

http://digitalrailartist.com/home/builder-lists-and-phases-index/fairbanks-morse-h15-66-builder-list-and-phases/fairbanks-morse-h16-66-phases/

The Bachmann H16-44's detailing is sparse in some parts (especially the pilots, which have almost no detailing at all). It also lacks the neat see-thru etched metal grille and fan detailing of the Atlas H24-66. I guess a B-mann/Atlas bash would work, but making the hollowed-out sides of the walkways on the Baby Trainmaster bodies looks to be the toughest part.

A quick check of wikipedia (ok, so I don't have time this morning to dig through 40 years of back issues...) shows that the -66 is 5 feet longer than the -44 (56' v 51' which makes sense, as the trucks are much bigger, but the tank arrangement under the 2 locomotives is similar).  This was also given in olden times as one of the "spotting features" of the "Baby Trainmaster" that distinguished it from a -44.  For reference, a full sized Trainmaster is 66' long.  So I would think for a late model H-16-66, cutting down a Trainmaster would be the way to go, and for an early model, will need 2 Atlas shells and some cut and paste.
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