P48 axles for Sunset Diesels

I plan on looking at the potential of converting one of the new SD9s to P48.  I examined a few of Scott's previous models and if his builder uses the same axles and wheels I think we can come up with something.

So far, I've just made new axles and used Norm's wheels.

Jay

Jay C posted:

I plan on looking at the potential of converting one of the new SD9s to P48.  I examined a few of Scott's previous models and if his builder uses the same axles and wheels I think we can come up with something.

So far, I've just made new axles and used Norm's wheels.

Jay

Me and precision machining press fit wheels to axles so far has been a failure. 

On a couple of occasions I've asked Sunset about extra parts for some of their model releases. In each case the answer has been they don't bring in enough spares to sell, outside of what is kept on hand for repair.

my point is Sunset does not get extras made for model runs, I think the chances of getting alternate wheel sets made are zero. Unless you have an overwhelming number of pieces to order, you'll have better luck with an alternate approach.

P:48 is interesting to me. It requires a little more effort than I want to invest at this time, but in the future I may be interested. I wonder sometimes if P:48 won't replace O5w at some point down the road? It will be interesting to see where things are 20-30 years from now.

When I first got into "O" several years back, after a brief flirtation with HO, I wasn't aware there was a disparity between the gauge and the scale of the equipment. By the time I became aware, I was heavily enough invested that changing was not really an option, and the only other possibility size wise, "S", was even more of a wasteland availability of equipment wise than "O". (Take note here that I think "S" might be the optimal oldster gauge, in that it is large enough to work on, and small enough to fit a decent amount of stuff in a smaller space.)

I like steam/diesel transition, and when I learned the difficulty of converting steam to P48, the choice was easy. Add to that my particular disdain for hand laying track and it became an even easier decision. Had the error in gauge been enough that it was easily visible (to me), I might be concerned......and then there is the overall cost of stuff in general.

To me, it's just not worth the aggravation, I can live with what I have.

Simon

I've never owned a Sunset engine and reserved a SD-9 in the hopes that a P48 conversion is possible . Was hoping something along the lines of the NWSL conversion for the Atlas diesels comes along . Not to go off tangent , but has anyone converted a late run Key FT or E ?

Bryan D. posted:

I've never owned a Sunset engine and reserved a SD-9 in the hopes that a P48 conversion is possible . Was hoping something along the lines of the NWSL conversion for the Atlas diesels comes along . Not to go off tangent , but has anyone converted a late run Key FT or E ?

I've seen early Key "F" units that were converted. I can't imagine that the process would differ that much, if at all. I'm guessing any competent machinist could do the job.

Simon

I'll offer a vote of limited value.  I would like for p48 to be an option.  But practically speaking, Sunset does not offer anything I would currently buy.   So take that for what it's worth, which isn't much.