MTH Premier Modifications

NCNW, I have a few black Dynamic brake blisters that I've pulled off my Lionel GPs, you're more than welcome to one.  Let me know.  It should be close to scale, as the Lionel GPs are close...

 

 

With and without...

 

 

mscalzo3-at-juno.com

 

Thanks,

Mario

 

 

 

1 - the dynamic brake blister from a MTH, Lionel or Williams GP-9 should do the trick.

I'm not saying that you won't have to do some modeling or modifying to make it fit, but scale models of the same prototype should be consistently about the same. In my diesel

experience, MTH tends to glue these blisters on with Atomic Glue (I took the blisters

off my GM&O GP-38's...it was an adventure), but Williams and maybe Lionel take a more

casual, pop-on/off approach.

 

See eBay for a dynamic-brake-equipped body shell or even just the blister.

 

2 - I just gathered 3 MTH locomotives for a comparison: SD45, SD9, SD24, and

looked at them one on one on one. (BTW, the SD45 photos that I have - Southern

Railway - show the locos with the modern HT-C truck, not the older double-clasp type. This HT-C matches my MTH SOU SD45.)

 

- the MTH SD9 - it has double-clasp - truck side frames are much too long; the wheelbase is different, and the frames would not even fit under the SD45. 

- the MTH SD24 side frames appear to fit nicely as to dimensions and wheelbase; concerning the mounting points I could not see well enough for a definitive answer, but assume that

you will be required to do a little modeling. Very do-able, for sure.

 

The underlying truck "power block" for the SD9 is longer, and is an older design. The size difference between the double-clasp side frames for this loco and the SD24's is quite striking - almost a different scale.

 

eBay may yield the trucks that you seek, or maybe a dummy at a reasonable price. This

is a good way to build up your personal Parts Department - there will be future needs. 

Thanks guys.I dug around and found an MTH part number for the dynamic brake blister.It is FC-2100639.Not sure if these parts are still available,as this was from the 1999 catalog.The lionel blister does look like it will work.

 

I very much appreciate the engine comparison.I hoped the SD-24 sideframe would be a match.I haven't had any luck finding an MTH parts catalog for the SD-24.Perhaps ebay will come to the rescue.

 

The N&W loved double clasp brake shoes.If i'm not mistaken,all of their SD-40's had them.Even the SD-50 "S" came factory with double clasp.I think it would improve the look of my 1776.Perhaps i'm a bit picky about being prototypical.All of my Southern and N&W units run long hood forward.I can't bear to see them run otherwise.LOL.

You can always call Midge at MTH's parts department, she might be able to help you with the truck sideframes you're looking for.

Thanks John.I will give that a try tomorrow.

 

Mario,i'm new to the forum and was looking for a way to send a message to you.I'm interested in the dynamic brake blister you mentioned.

My email is mscalzo3-at-juno.com.

In order to prevent the search engines from picking up the link, I use "-at-" instead of "@".

Our emails are usually in our profiles, just click on our names (on the left) and it'll take you to our info, then click on the "profile information" soft button on the right.

Shoot me your address and I'll get it in the mail...

Welcome on board! Pun intended!

Thanks,
Mario

 

NCNW,

 

The only thing is from the research that I have seen, is that the Southern units that had dynamic brakes did not have winterization hatches.  In fact, I haven't seen any pictures of Southern units with dynamic brake hatches...

 

In that case, I'd try this piece from Lionel:

 

ATSF Dynamic Brake Hatch 620-8598-146

 

 

I'd start at Jeff Kane over at The Train Tender (www.ttender.com) or Boxcar Bill at Modern Toy Train Parts (www.mttponline.com).

 

I have mine with me at work, and can be at your place Monday (all I need is your address).

 

Thanks,

Mario

Thanks Mario.That's true.The hatch would have to go.The choice i'm faced with is sectioning the carbody or the blister.Something will have to be cut.The lower lionel part appears to be a removeable carbody section.The actual MTH part slides over the existing carbody,no modification needed.Obviously,that would be the easy way out.The MTH hotline opens at noon.I will call and see if the blister is available.

 

http://extranet.mth-railking.c...loded/20DL19892E.pdf

 

The Atlas blister in this link also requires sectioning the carbody.Which would be easier,sectioning the blister or the carbody?The smoke unit comes into play as well.

 

http://shop.atlasrr.com/p-1124...9-brake-cover-2.aspx

 

 

 

I know the blisters with the winterization hatches are over-the-body pieces, as when I pull them off the non-dynamic hoods are underneath.  But then you have to trim the blister to get the hatch off and match the height, as the winterization hatch comes into the blister area.

 

 

For those of you who are wondering how it turned out, we'll have to wait for NCNW's work to be finished.

 

But... I happen to have some photos he sent me, and this is what he had to say; "...They arrived today.   I couldn't resist breaking out the Dremel tool and having a go at it.  It fits like a glove!  Now if I can turn the engineer and conductor around the other way, move the F to the long hood end, and paint the blister green, I'll be done with project Geep. Any recommendations for the best paint to use? Would it be an MTH specific code?

 

Thanks again Mario!"

 

 

 

Looks good.  **** good!  Can't wait to see them done!  And, quite frankly, I like the black... it sets off the frame nicely.

 

I do know for a fact, that Mike Reagan at Lionel uses Pantone color codes and OTS colors for their pants.  And, also know that Atlas is the hardest, because they use custom colors, and that Weaver is the easiest, since they own Scalecoat.

 

So, I'd first try MTH customer service, again (good luck) and see if they can offer some assistance, either with paint codes or a close match.  I do believe that you'll be able to get it spot-on, and that a nice coat of flat will do wonders, as well as some light weathering, hmmm?

 

Keep up the awesome work and can't wait to see them all dolled up!

 

Thanks,

Mario

 

 

 

I tried to turn the engineer around on an old MTH Premier GP-7 so the unit could run long nose forward. It turned out that not only was the engineer asymmetrical, but the window frames were different from side to side.

It looks like project geep has hit a little snag.A close examination of SRHS archives revealed that my GP-9 has a GP-7 paint job.Not a huge deal,unless you are OCD like i am.The differences i see in the GP-7 and GP-9 are mainly the carbody louvers.So what to do?Change the road number and pose it as a GP-7,or continue to add GP-9 details and pretend it should have had that paint job?

 

Either way,i need to add a bell to the short hood,dome spark arrestors to the stacks,and a shroud to the first carbody fan.I am having a hard time finding dome styled spark arrestors for o scale.Any ideas?Thanks everyone.More details to come.

 

Charles

Sounds like a case for Super-Power Mikado!

MIke, has fast can get Legacy up in here and get him some new Geeps?

Just kidding.

BTW... The Lionel part number for the nose bells are 630-8874-402, well the ones they have in stock.  Don't take the lot of them, I need 4 for my TMCC1 Geeps.

This photo shows more clearly the spark arrestors i am looking for.

NCNW,

 

Do you still have the winterization hatches that you removed from the parts that I sent you?  I was thinking of mounting just them back on my Geeps...

 

 

 

Thanks,

- Mario

Here's some more hi-res photos.

 

 

NCNW,

 

Did you ever finish the modifications?

 

I'd love to see a picture.

 

Thanks,

- Mario