Has anyone converted a Del Prado Krauss-Maffei model to operational?

[nkalanaga]

Spookshow:  I had the predecessor to that SD45, with the plastic frame and two metal weights.  Great model, wouldn't pull it's own weight, if one could get it to run at all.  Absolutely horrible pickup.

I finally hard-wired it to a Minitrix F-unit, quite prototypical for the early BN.  It still wouldn't run reliably, and the F could barely drag it!

[OldEastRR]

In the photos of the HO locos, is it the cab or hood unit?

[Spades]

In the photos of the HO locos, is it the cab or hood unit?

The photo shows the initial order KM's.  I would say cowl units and if so SP's last cowl units purchased purchased.  The DRGW units were eventually purchased by the SP.

From the MY ESPEE  Modellers Archieves The first order was successful enough, for SP to go back to Krauss- Maffei and ordered another 15 incorporating upgrades developed with the six Prototype Units, and built with more American-sourced parts to the more contemporary 'roadswitcher' hood-style configuration.

[Mark5]

Spookshow:  I had the predecessor to that SD45, with the plastic frame and two metal weights.  Great model, wouldn't pull it's own weight, if one could get it to run at all.  Absolutely horrible pickup.

One of the first locos I bought back in pre-history was an Atlas (Mehano) SD45. Unlike the Con-cor iteration, it only had one powered truck (but a 5 pole motor). To help the pickup, I swapped out the traction tired wheels for solid ones. It could pull, but you'd need one hand to count the cars.  Thankfully, MU was the typical consist. These drives are primitive!

Eventually, I put it aside to find a better mechanism to power it (along with replacing the horrible handrails) - never really got back to it.



The Concor mechanism was a horrible choice to power that Krauss-Maffei! 

Mark

[OldEastRR]

The photo shows the initial order KM's.  I would say cowl units and if so SP's last cowl units purchased purchased.  The DRGW units were eventually purchased by the SP.

From the MY ESPEE  Modellers Archieves The first order was successful enough, for SP to go back to Krauss- Maffei and ordered another 15 incorporating upgrades developed with the six Prototype Units, and built with more American-sourced parts to the more contemporary 'roadswitcher' hood-style configuration.

There were only 6 of the cowl units made. What did the "hood" versions look like?

[Spades]

There were only 6 of the cowl units made. What did the "hood" versions look like?

http://espee.railfan.net/nonindex/km_photos/9004_sp-ml4000-john_rosser.jpg

http://espee.railfan.net/nonindex/km_photos/9016_sp-ml4000-john_rosser.jpg

From this linky, don't be afraid to try: http://espee.railfan.net/spml4000.html

[OldEastRR]

Aha. Cowl units had front doors and decks.

[randgust]

There is a survivor on the Niles Canyon, one of the hood units.

I actually saw this on the SP - as the 8799 'camera car' north of LA, on a 1972 Amtrak trip, and got a fleeting snapshot from my Instamatic.   

https://www.ncry.org/about/collection/diesel/southern-pacific-9010/

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Other than the PRR T1 'new steam engine' project, this has to be one of the more spectacularly difficult preservation/construction projects out there.

[Missaberoad]

For what it's worth, there is one such instance for sale on eBay right now (using a Con-Cor chassis): https://www.ebay.com/itm/146048693105

It's a shame it looks like the workmanship is top notch.
...but it's kind of a case of a guy trying to get the 10k worth of work he put into his 500$ car...

[Philip H]

It's a shame it looks like the workmanship is top notch.
...but it's kind of a case of a guy trying to get the 10k worth of work he put into his 500$ car...

The relisted opening bid is $150.  Looks like he's got about $25 in for the Del Prado shell; maybe another $25-30 in for the Drive (depending on what it is etc) and maybe $70 for the DCC decoder? So that get's you to $120 in parts . . . .

[bbunge]

There is a survivor on the Niles Canyon, one of the hood units.

I actually saw this on the SP - as the 8799 'camera car' north of LA, on a 1972 Amtrak trip, and got a fleeting snapshot from my Instamatic.   

https://www.ncry.org/about/collection/diesel/southern-pacific-9010/

/>
Other than the PRR T1 'new steam engine' project, this has to be one of the more spectacularly difficult preservation/construction projects out there.

The restoration is an amazing story.  Getting the Maybach engines working took an international team, including experts from Europe coming over to help.

[GGNInNScale]

Well, I gave up on the DelPrado conversion.  Here is my 4th shot at the KM diesel shell design.  It is not my own base file- I adapted an existing file extensively- about 50 hours of adding/subtracting/reworking in the CAD program.  I found that it fits onto an Atlas/Kato SD7 frame with almost-perfect wheel base- with a bunch of internal braces added to locate the shell on the frame.  I tried SD40 and SD45 frames that others had used- the wheelbase is 'way too long.  Working on assembling a sound file for the ESU 58923 decoder.  I put a 8x15mm OWE speaker on a 3D printed case.  A bit of filing to maximize the frame shelf for the speaker and backcase.  The decoder fits in the front with a bit of beveling of the frame for clearance.  I added LED white 0402s with a 2.2kOhm SMD resistor.  Reprogrammed the lighting in the decoder configuration.  I found a note from someone last year regarding a "Gallery Glass Clear" material to make windows- tested on a failed print- WORKS GREAT!  The print in the picture has a tapered glitch along the body- not sure why that occurred.  I broke a few parts off from too much handling.  I got the correct paint colors from TruColor.  Decals from MicroScale.  Time for another print, and then add all the body details- handrails (lots), number board, horn, etc.  I designed a horn set, also.  The MU hoses are really touchy...  I will post progress as I get the results. 
Just for fun, to fit the SD45 frame, I added a "steam generator" section- could not print it as it is too large for my 3D printer plate... oh well.

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[Olivani]

Piko has released them in H0 scale. They do release their H0 models in N scale a couple of years later. Hope dies last 

[DRGW5349]

  I found that it fits onto a Kato SD7 frame with almost-perfect wheel base- with a bunch of internal braces added to locate the shell on the frame.  I tried SD40 and SD45 frames that others had used- the wheelbase is 'way too long.

Are you sure about the wheelbase? Scale drawings show from the middle axle to middle axle as 38' 3 11/16" on the prototype. I measured 39.5' on the Kato SD-45 and 35' on the Atlas SD-9.

[GGNInNScale]

Hi   My shell measures 127mm long O/A after hardening, or  20.48 meters scaled up.  So a bit short, but correctable.  I am adjusting the print again, but will keep it on the SD9 frame because it looks good to my eyes.  I tried the shell on several SDs that I have (7 units, SD40s, SD40-2s, SD45)- the trucks extended about 5mm beyond the shell ends.  So I bought an SD7/9 to fit after talking to Atlas people about frame lengths for their different models- very helpful discussion.   I found that I get about 1% resin shrinkage on a part this large (about a mm or so overall), so I should have stretched the body just a bit at compile time to compensate...  The real thing is 20.62 meters long (about 128.87mm in scale).  I have to print a new shell as I broke off the steps in the center, and cracked the rear MU hose area fitting up the coupler.  I got some True-Scale long shanks from MicroTrains- they look good.  I will post more when I get the new shell fully decorated.