Kitbashing diesels

I have purchased parts from Atlas O, made my own parts and kitbashed a few engines.

 

Not the best, but it works for me.

PSC, Precision Scale Co.  has a Diesel parts catalog.  Click on Catalogs, about 1/2 way down the page.

I currently have two kit ashes diesels in the drawing board. A Lionel RS-11 into a RS-32, and an Atlas C-630 into a C-430, on a Lionel RS-11 or C-420 mechanism.

This is in addition to fixing the pilots on my fleet.

Thanks,
Mario

Years ago I used parts from P&D Hobby Shop to convert a PW LIONEL F3 into a Burlington F2.  It was my first such project:  added the side-facing number boards on the A unit; added a second headlight to the A unit; added third portholes on the A and B units; installed scale porthole windows; added high fan shrouds on the roofs of both units; and, filled in the vents between the portholes on the B unit.  (When I get around to doing some decaling I'll replace the "3" that fell out.)

 

Included is a photo of the prototype from Jeff Wilson's F Units:  The Diesels That Did It; apologies for the poor scan quality.

 

EDIT:  Added are two photos.  The first is a prototype photo of #153.  The second is a side-by-side photo of an F2 next to an F3 (Phase 1 version) showing the differences in portholes, number boards, and striping.

 

 

That Burlington looks really good!

The only thing I've majorly hacked is an old Rivarossi 2 Rail C-Liner, I took a Williams PA chassis and back halved it into a passenger version. Still waiting on paint.

I'm really looking into making a standard cab SD70, likely using a premier SD70M, but I'm not sure where to get a standard cab by itself without buying another engine like an SD60 to steal it from

Ah, yes. That reminds me. I want to make an FM Erie built out of an MTH Premier PS-1 PA (converted to TMCC) using an Atlas 2R pilot and painted body.

They're a little re-redundant as I have a PA/PB set of TMCC from Lionel, as well.

Thanks,
Mario

Two that have been on the back burner till I figure out how to make the frame, are Ma & Pa and YorkRail CF7s.  I think I can take the long hood from a GP9 and cut it up for the long hood and cut down the short hood.  It is just how to make a frame with the open framework above the fuel tank.

 

Gene Anstine

I have thought of bashing the Lionel LC+ GP7 chassis by putting an older Lionel F3 body on it - looks like it would fit with little or not work and the wheelbase is right, etc.  

 

But to date, almost alll the diesel bashes I have done involve RMT products and are fairly whimsical.

 FrankenBEEP: Lengthened BEEP on a BANG chassis.

 

An Army Battle BEEF

 

Long before RMT made its BEEFs, I cut down two old Lionel F3 bodies and put them on BEEPs chassis.  The traditional size Lionel bodies are smaller than RMT's BEEFS.

 

Some other BEEP bashes . . . 

 

A year or so ago someone posted a photo of a shop-built yard switcher somewhere in the Midwest, I think.  I had a spare powered truck and a recitfier, so . . . 

Lee,

here's my BEEP mod.  From this:

 

To this:

 

 

Nothing prototypical about it, but I enjoyed doing it.

 

I've been looking at doing something like this:

 

 

 

Maybe Walter can come up with some spoked wheels for a BEEP chassis and save me the effort!

grfd59   I was thinking on a CF7 also.  Make the sides of the framework from plastic "H" or "C" beams,  the low short hood from a Lionel U36C body?  Make the engine center frame from a 2" x 1/8" aluminum bar from Lowes or HD.  GP long Hood.

It's not a diesel but i call it frankenG...

Just a note that my original Burlington #153 post has been edited to include two prototype photos.  One is a prototype photo of #153; and, the other is a side-by-side photo of a Burlington F2 next to an F3 showing the obvious differences in number boards, portholes, and striping.

 And what's out there for detail parts?

Trevor

 

P&D Hobby Shop

 

 

Other O scale Detail parts are:

• The Irish Track Layer
• O scale America from Des Plains Hobbies [formerly Bob Rzasa detailed parts]

Here are some of my custom jobs:

A very cool mod.  I love it!

 

I was thinking plastic, but the aluminum is a good idea.  I'm going to try powering it with an older Weaver drive.  I have the components, I just have to find a motor.

 

Gene Anstine

My current Beeping project, LOL

This is very well done, Carl.

 

Thank you, PTC.  It was my first repaint project many years ago.

 

I have some other repaint projects underway, and when I get to the decal stage on those I'll address the missing "3" and consider any other changes to "freshen-up" the AB units.

To all who contributed to this thread, thanks for the inspiration!  When I first saw this in March I was on the fence about trying a kitbash, but after seeing all of the great work here I started immediately. There is still quite a bit of work to do and it is far from a museum piece but I had a ball doing it. There is no better way to get your mind off of a tough day than to sit down and figure this stuff out. For those who don't know this is a Baldwin/EMD AS-16M. The major components are all MTH, an AS-616, GP-7, and a modified RS-3 chassis. Fans, hatches & Gyralight from P&D Hobbies. 

That looks awesome! Looks dead on with the picture I found oc the real one

Trevor

Hi Lee, what are these on your shelf in the background? Rail cannons?