Improving the Lionel Phantom Locomotive

Heres site i have

http://www.superlumination.com/trainbulbs_leds.htm

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

The Phantom chassis is an odd shape to match the shell, probably why they went with the sheet metal chassis.  While I suppose anything's possible, I think mechanically getting everything to line up on a different chassis will be a lot more difficult than just transplanting the motor.  I guess it was serendipitous that the exact right chassis was available when I was doing the upgrade.

John on the gp 9 you have do you just cut rails off or will the fit inder shell?

Fantastic, Rob.

Just what I was looking for.

@ROB O GAUGE KID posted:

John on the gp 9 you have do you just cut rails off or will the fit inder shell?

GP9?  Go back to the first page of the thread, I used just the riveted motor mounting plate and motor truck from the donor chassis, all the rest was the Phantom chassis.  You are not going to fit a different chassis into the Phantom shell without a lot of work.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

GP9?  Go back to the first page of the thread, I used just the riveted motor mounting plate and motor truck from the donor chassis, all the rest was the Phantom chassis.  You are not going to fit a different chassis into the Phantom shell without a lot of work.

Thanks john. Ok that what is what i was missing. I thought you used the gp 9 frame. No wonder I was running around in circles. 

You'll need a hammer for the GP9 chassis install.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

You'll need a hammer for the GP9 chassis install.

Lol. I was thinking the same thing. Glad to have you along for the ride even if your from the wrong side of PA. LOL

Not the Phantom engine, but the passenger car shells do fit the Williams GP chassis (more or less!!!) 

Found some bare shells without inserts under a table at York. They became the "Arcturus Express" which made it into a Halloween layout article I did for OGR many years ago!

Jim

Never felt the need to swap chassis for the passenger cars.   I guess if there are no wheels, then it's time to consider the alternatives.  It's neat what you were able to do with those, looks better than the original Phantom cars!

The engine chassis is somewhat critical to allow the unique truck side-frames to line up exactly with the body, so changing it's chassis is a very chancy proposition.  With my dual motor mod you have to make sure you cut the hole exactly in the right spot so that they work out.

@Jim Policastro posted:

Not the Phantom engine, but the passenger car shells do fit the Williams GP chassis (more or less!!!) 

Found some bare shells without inserts under a table at York. They became the "Arcturus Express" which made it into a Halloween layout article I did for OGR many years ago!

Jim

These are great!