Conrail Ballast Express C32-8 kitbash Project

[u18b]

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https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=60579.msg835077#msg835077
It will jump you to post 19.


Does anyone here have a set of decals for this loco in the light gray scheme?
https://www.microscale.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=MD&Product_Code=MC-4222&Category_Code=CR

This is my target:
https://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=5146535

The decals have only been made in HO scale and are long gone.

If you have a set, please let me know.   

[mu26aeh]

I don't trust our website right now (going thru a transition), I'll check at work tomorrow

Worst case, i found these in Germany

https://www.ebay.com/itm/404965968357

[u18b]

Yes, I saw those.   And I might try to buy them if necessary.   Thanks.

Another guy has some, but they are part of a MASSIVE decal lot for Conrail stuff.   I don't think he will part off sets.

I have searched the internet and cannot find any others.

Thus I'm turning to you guys.   

[nscaler711]

Ok Im not into Conrail by any means, but I have been wondering about the nose decals of those units.
they look over sized as it is, could you potentially find a decal set for a wide cab GE with the CONRAIL QUALITY and use those as they are already white?
may poke around here, or contact them.
https://www.cmrproducts.com/Conrail-CR-Decals-c31673300?limit=30

https://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=998846

https://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=2591502

https://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=4335935

the rear as well
https://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=2684895

Out of all the ugly things GE has made... these are right at the top.
Cab reminds me of beetlejuice with a shrunken head.
I'd dare say the C30-7 is better looking...
Also I hope you grabbed those decals, they are gone.

[u18b]

I went ahead and bought the set in Germany. 
We will see if it arrives.

If I do get them I’ll post a hi res scan.

[daniel_leavitt2000]

OK, don't get too excited.
This will probably be a very slow thread.

This is only in the idea/planning stage at present..... but I'm stuck.

I posted on the HO board and at present only 3 people beside me have even looked at it.
So I'll ask here since a few of you here model in more than one scale.
(moderators, you can delete the HO thread if asking twice is a problem)

Does anyone here have a set of decals for this loco in the light gray scheme?
https://www.microscale.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=MD&Product_Code=MC-4222&Category_Code=CR

This is my target:
https://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=5146535

The decals have only been made in HO scale and are long gone.

Since the decals are mostly just black and white, I think they are great candidates for doing ourselves.
Since there are no locos in N and I assume there never will be, these decals will almost certainly not be made in N.

But to get started, I just need to physically see a sheet.

If you could sell me a set- great.
Or if you could loan them to me, that will work too.    I need a set to get started on drawing and prep work to make some in N scale.   So I won't even be cutting and using the HO set so I can return them if needed.

If you have a set, please let me know.   

I made sets in N scale, but not HO. I just wish the shell was available in N.

You'll need the font here:
http://railsimstuff.com/fonts1.html

Create a Word doc with the correct logos and print to paper to test size. Then print using a laser printer on laser decal paper. It works surprisingly well. My decal paper source is long gone, but I think I have several sheets left.

[u18b]

So Daniel...  @daniel_leavitt2000
Are you saying you already made Conrail Ballast Express decals?

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Hmmm. I wonder if we have the original drawings in the CRHS collection.

If not, I'm sure we have good references for some of the components in case new artwork needs to be made.

[u18b]

This locomotive is possible by kitbashing a Scale Trains C39-8.

Like other GE locos, the engine compartment just needs two doors removed to take them from 8 to 6.

It's not an easy kitbash:
- partially because of all the glued-on details on the shell
- I believe the mechanism which will give the correct dimensions is a Kato SD40.    The frame at the motor would need to be milled thinner.
- Also, I found that Kato GE U30C sideframes will snap on as a replacement for the EMD truck sideframes.   The problem is- it is almost impossible to find GE Kato trucks or sideframes.   I might have found the last two in the country after much internet searching.   
- In the worse case, you could buy Scale Trains sideframes and splice/glue them onto the SD40 truck.

Once again, I have not done much of this project yet.
Only in the dreaming/planning stage.

Though I did contact Scale Trains to buy a C39-8 shell and fuel tank while they still had them in the parts department (expensive, but the only game in town until someone 3D prints one).
I *estimated* the SD40 length would be close.
I confirmed that the SD40 mechanism will fit in the shell-- except for the motor section in the middle.  Once shaved down, shell should fit fine.

I'm not ready to attempt this build because I'm trying to finish other projects (like the SD50S).


 

[daniel_leavitt2000]

So Daniel...  @daniel_leavitt2000
Are you saying you already made Conrail Ballast Express decals?

I do have them in N scale. I thought you were asking for HO versions. I can't vouch for them being 100% accurate as I measured them using body panels on reference photos.

Should you get a good body shell, I can cast a small fleet of them for you.
[ Guests cannot view attachments ]
The triple black stripe is for the pilot, and needs to be decaled over standard CR white sill stripes. This creates the barcode stripes on the anticlimber. I made two varieties of the logo as I wasn't 100% sure of the sizing. I believe the full height decal sheet is nore correct.

And of course, I only made 3 number board decals in each number. 

[u18b]

Wow- this is amazing.

And Jesse is graciously also started decals but with the full white and other colors as well.

[u18b]

I didn't really intend to start this project this quickly... but man, this thing is moving forward.

Jesse has been so gracious is drawing up decals and adjusting them after every single suggestion I made (and Daniel has offered his).
And this all started to go public because I knew the loco was impossible without decals- and was looking for how to make that happen.

Thanks guys.

So in the next few days I'll officially start posting about this rare and unusual locomotive.

[CR4100]

I can't wait to see this. I've always loved the oddball C32-8s.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

As the guy who just recently redesigned the CRHS's official collection management spreadsheet, let me know if there's anything I can help with.

[daniel_leavitt2000]

As the guy who just recently redesigned the CRHS's official collection management spreadsheet, let me know if there's anything I can help with.

Ed do you have a timeline for the CR/CRQ/CRQBE schemes? I remember they were in CRQ for only a short time before the 10 unit fleet was repainted.

I'm throwing my hat in and offering to cast the master. Maybe we could make this into an old fashioned group build off!

For trucks, I think the Atlas C40-8/8W would work. I believe they use the same gearbox as the Kato SD40, and should swap in. Maybe we can pink someone at Atlas to see if they have any DOA engines we can pull parts from as they are not listed in stock on their site.