NW-5 chassis or GP-7 with AAR trucks? How about both?

[Mark5]

And I suppose if you wanted a high-nose something with with 31' truck centers and AAR B trucks on it this is one way to get there.

Perhaps it is worth mentioning that Atlas AAR truck frames are also swappable with Blombergs (some folks might not know this). So the above mentioned hi-nose something could be done that way (don't ask me why!).

Atlas has several versions of the AAR B truck sideframes (friction vs roller bearing I think).

http://archive.atlasrr.com/Images/NLocomotives/ngp3035/0209/46542_TQ.jpg

Mark

[daniel_leavitt2000]

Watching for the NW-5's status. The Mass Central NW-5 #2100 (ex-SOU) would be a fun little project, esp. since it may be returning to service after a ~5-year hiatus.

MCER 2100 Palmer Massachusetts March 2010 b by Pete Piszczek, on Flickr

I have wanted to model one for years. Even had one shell partially complete, but the chassis was always the sticking point.

I think the parts I had saved deformed because of the type of glue I was using and haven't looked at the project in well over a decade.

[randgust]

Well, dig your stuff out, because I'll be putting up another build thread here.    The entire reason for the Bachmann RS chassis was to find a 31' truck center wheelbase frame with Blomberg trucks that was low enough and narrow enough to fit the 'neck' in front of the cab without resorting to milling or splicing.   And I'm really pretty impressed with the Bachmann chassis, pulled the DCC board out and hotwired it for DC and ran it around, yeah, it's good.   You can fret over the body details but I think the chassis issue has a solution.

[davefoxx]

MCER 2100 Palmer Massachusetts March 2010 b by Pete Piszczek, on Flickr

That's a good looking unit, but tell the MassCentral people to not give any ideas for the striping on that plow to the folks at the Pennsylvania Northeastern RR.  Amirite, @Ed Kapuscinski?   

DFF

[daniel_leavitt2000]

Well, dig your stuff out, because I'll be putting up another build thread here.    The entire reason for the Bachmann RS chassis was to find a 31' truck center wheelbase frame with Blomberg trucks that was low enough and narrow enough to fit the 'neck' in front of the cab without resorting to milling or splicing.   And I'm really pretty impressed with the Bachmann chassis, pulled the DCC board out and hotwired it for DC and ran it around, yeah, it's good.   You can fret over the body details but I think the chassis issue has a solution.

It's narrow enough to fit the "neck" of the long hood that attaches to the cab? That was my sticking point.

I'll have to start over again. The parts are long gone I believe. I wonder if there is any interest in a body kit for the NW-5?

[Tom Todd]

Are ther people interested in a body shell for an NW-5?

I am Randgust's customer.  Before I decided that my skill set was insufficient, and contacted him, I went on the GNGoat list on groups.io and asked about how they would go about making one of these.  I got about 10 or twelve people sending me photos, diagrams, and suggestions.

So I would say YUP.

Tom

[daniel_leavitt2000]

@Lemosteam

John, would this be something you might be interested in if I funded the project?

[randgust]

If anybody wants to go through the grief of doing a full 3-d printed shell, I'll work with them on supplying the precise chassis dimensions so we don't have the usual cluster____ of a shell that doesn't actually fit anything.    I've been through that plenty and I'm going through that on another custom build right now where a precise 'to scale' body shell fits absolutely nothing known to man and has to be completely redone.   

I'll probably build this one from parts supplied, but a resin-printed (not Shapeways FUD) shell with good surface properties is certainly possible, I've worked with them.   While I could probably do a resin shell using a chopped-up one as a master, I suspect the end result of a 3D print done with the right material would be just as good if not better.

This isn't a chicken-and-egg exercise, you have to work with a mechanism to start with or you're just making scenery.   My initial measurements have already concluded that the shell has to be stretched about a scale foot lengthwise as the two screws that hold the Bachmann chassis together can't be relocated.  You can mill off the ends up to the screw head, but that determines the interior shell length. 

[sirenwerks]

 Tim (diezmon) penned an article on this build, which was printed in the Sept-Oct 2002 issue of N Scale Railroading.  He stretched a frame/hood using 2  LL SW9s and tank and trucks from a LL GP20.

[daniel_leavitt2000]

I wonder if a metal printed frame would be the way to go then?

Or we could use a 3d printed frame as pattern for a pewter or bronze casting.

[Lemosteam]

@Lemosteam

John, would this be something you might be interested in if I funded the project?

@daniel_leavitt2000 yes.  I would need @randgust 's measurements, or:  With a custom frame using the Bachmann parts (which I do not have, someone would need to supply), might as well be a ground up design with etched grilles, stanchions designed for wire, access panels and the like. Drawings or builders photos of any kind would be welcome.  What's with the one with no upper windows?

[peteski]

  What's with the one with no upper windows?

My suspicious is that the cab's internal arrangement is like in the high-hood diesels (the control stand is behind the small window in the corner).

[wazzou]

What's with the one with no upper windows?

It looks like they were blanked out at some point.

[GimpLizard]

MASSCENTRAL NW-5 #2100 in action. And at a pretty good clip, too.

/>

[Tom Todd]

A great video❤️