Diesel fix pilots

superwarp1 posted:

I really like the fact that  you can get E units or F units with fixed pilots from 3rdrail, MTH 2 rail, and AtlasO.  But what about other diesels?   Does AtlasO offer other diesels with the option of fixed pilots?

Since Atlas O was/is essentially a "2-Rail Scale" model maker, all their 2- rail model diesels come with fixed pilots. That said, NON of the Atlas 3-Rail models come with fixed pilots and full length hand rails, thus the 3RS modeler must do the conversion themselves.

 MTH?  

Just from memory, not all MTH diesel models are available in 2-Rail Scale, which is the only way to get models with fixed pilots and full length hand rails (then change-out the 2-Rail Scale wheel sets to Hi-Rail wheel sets).

Yeap, what he said!

The Atlas 3-rail mp15dc is fixed pilot, the pilot is cast integral with the frame.  The 3-rail version has a wider opening for the truck-mounted coupler swing, the 2-rail has a narrower opening.  3-rail on the left, 2-rail on the right.  

Jim

I thought all the Atlas modern diesel models had the pilot screwed on with a shim in between. Learned something new.

Joe,

The mp15dc is the only Atlas model that I know of that has the pilot cast with the rest of the frame.  Even the sw8/9/1200 has a separate pilot that is screwed on.

Interestingly, even though the sw8/9/1200 pilot is a separate piece, I think it is fixed by default even for the 3-rail models, and includes full length handrails.  In other words, the sw8/9/1200 pilots are not attached to the trucks, and do not swing.  They do however have a wider opening for the coupler swing, similar to the mp15dc.  It makes sense since the respective loco wheelbases are so short.

Jim

Hot Water posted:

superwarp1 posted:

I really like the fact that  you can get E units or F units with fixed pilots from 3rdrail, MTH 2 rail, and AtlasO.  But what about other diesels?   Does AtlasO offer other diesels with the option of fixed pilots?

Since Atlas O was/is essentially a "2-Rail Scale" model maker, all their 2- rail model diesels come with fixed pilots. That said, NON of the Atlas 3-Rail models come with fixed pilots and full length hand rails, thus the 3RS modeler must do the conversion themselves.

 MTH?  

Just from memory, not all MTH diesel models are available in 2-Rail Scale, which is the only way to get models with fixed pilots and full length hand rails (then change-out the 2-Rail Scale wheel sets to Hi-Rail wheel sets).

 

Thought the AtlasO F units came with a fix pilot you had to install for the three rail versions?  On the MTH units I already knew that.   

What wwould be interesting if 3rdrail ever did GP7/9.  

superwarp1 posted:

Hot Water posted:

superwarp1 posted:

I really like the fact that  you can get E units or F units with fixed pilots from 3rdrail, MTH 2 rail, and AtlasO.  But what about other diesels?   Does AtlasO offer other diesels with the option of fixed pilots?

Since Atlas O was/is essentially a "2-Rail Scale" model maker, all their 2- rail model diesels come with fixed pilots. That said, NON of the Atlas 3-Rail models come with fixed pilots and full length hand rails, thus the 3RS modeler must do the conversion themselves.

 MTH?  

Just from memory, not all MTH diesel models are available in 2-Rail Scale, which is the only way to get models with fixed pilots and full length hand rails (then change-out the 2-Rail Scale wheel sets to Hi-Rail wheel sets).

 

Thought the AtlasO F units came with a fix pilot you had to install for the three rail versions?

Don't think so.

 On the MTH units I already knew that.  

OK. 

What wwould be interesting if 3rdrail ever did GP7/9.  

They would be no different than their SD7/SD9 units, i.e. fixed pilots no matter whether 2-Rail or 3-Rail.

They did Gary. As did their Erie Builts.

Atlas pilot  SW8/9  

Pilots top right in picture bolt to the diecast frame. 

The Atlas F units come with a fixed pilot in the box that you can put on. However, once you do that, there is no going back to the 3 rail pilot and claw since you have to cut the coupler mount off. It's a one and done option. Not sure why people would want to go back to ugly anyway, but some do.

Other Atlas diesels had spacers and pilots that screw on, and you could buy the 2 rail pilot and swap them out...… IF you were ever lucky enough to find them in stock. Mario designed spacers to fit the GP7/9, GP60's, and GP35s that could be screwed on between the pilot and frame. Also gap fillers to fill the space in the coupler opening.

Mth makes fixed pilot versions on both the Es44ac and the Ac4400