Phase 2: Body Mods
Since this is not only an electrical, TMCC or Railsounds project, but a complete body off resto-mod and 3R conversion, we can continue with the rest of the conversation back in the 3RS forum.
One of the things that I'm looking to do is to lower the locomotive. Luckily, this seems like one I should be able to get through rather easily. (Hope I didn't just jinx myself)
When I've done my diesel mods, I've strived to get the pilot down to at least the top shelf of the Kadee coupler gauge, if not down to the shelf for the trip pin.
Since the body is die cast, and it sits on long legs in which screws come up through the bottom, it should be easy to trim these legs the 1/8" or so to get the drop.
Again, luckily, there's plenty of room inside the bathtub for it to be lowered, without hitting the electronics.
There will be one more thing that has t be done, and that is the smoke generator will also need to be lowered, by the same amount, because currently the brass outlet funnel of the smoke unit fits snugly against the inside of the body's funnel.
As for the tender trucks, this again should be relatively easy, since I'll only need to machine the tops of the pedestals on which the retention screws sit. The kingpin screws are stepped, so they bottom out on the top of the truck, and this alloys with to staff of and rotate.
Mine more thing that I've done, which is pretty mundane, is I've swapped the scale wheeled pilot truck for the stock piece.
One more body modification that was done, was the creation of a flat headlight lens, using UV cure epoxy, called Bondic. This is a thick liquid goo, that comes in a pen, and you just fill in the whole housing, while the shell is vertical and the let it self level. Once that is filled, I just used the UV LED on the repair pen, and it sets.
On the back end, you can we where the stock height is in comparison to the Kadee coupler gauge.
We shall see...
thanks!
-Mario
PS-how have you lowered your CommVan and we'd like to see some pictures?
