Rivarossi C-Liner-Start from scratch

What was the Atlas part number for the pilot and how much was it?

Good luck with the conversion!

Tom D. posted:

What was the Atlas part number for the pilot and how much was it?

Good luck with the conversion!

This is what I ordered. 

Thank you for the reply.  Have you cut the pilot off the Rivarossi engine yet?  Does it appear it will fit pretty easy or will you have to do a lit of filling?

Tom D. posted:

Thank you for the reply.  Have you cut the pilot off the Rivarossi engine yet?  Does it appear it will fit pretty easy or will you have to do a lit of filling?

Super easy. 

 Side-by-side comparison shows that the rib at the top of the pilot is slightly below where the frame need to be cut, so you can use this rib as a guide for the razor saw. 

This is what we're going for...

Atlas pilot mockup. 

CentralFan1976 posted:

Tom D. posted:

What was the Atlas part number for the pilot and how much was it?

Good luck with the conversion!

This is what I ordered. 

There's a part in the mix I missed... 

theres a part that holds the pilot cover to the pilot, and I believe it's this:

Since I'll be modeling this unit as a NYC CFA-20-4, that has been repowered with an EMD 567, I'll need exhaust stacks.

I ordered some from P&D and they don't have a base... so I designed them!

I designed them so there is a mounting post out the bottom to fit in a 1/8" hole, and they're hollow, so that if you wanted to use smoke, you can!

Thanks,

Mario

So, I finally got around to doing some more work on this unit. 

I have drawn out the opening on the pilot. 

You can see the outline of the square coupler opening through the burnished tape. 

When I get up the courage, I'll start up the Dremel. 

Thanks,

Mario

How timely !

I just picked up,a Pennsy C-Liner for my Fairbanks Morse Omscale collection ...

( just missed an A-A Pennsy set �� )

Thought I was going to need to install some 2 rail ... so , this can be converted to 3 rail ?

dPrasse posted:

Thought I was going to need to install some 2 rail ... so , this can be converted to 3 rail ?

 

 

Nice!

For my conversion, I'm going to swap all the innards and trucks from a Lionel unit. 

Its going to be pretty involved, but it'll be hit when it's done. 

Thanks,

Mario

I'll keep watching and reading !

i was thinking if it'd be possible to put an A1A truck on the rear to make it a passenger version I could paint as Demonstrator units , as I did the Rivarossi N scale C-Liners ???

guess I could just paint the units up in Demonstrator colors , anyways ... few folks would even notice the "wrong " rear truck ... 

i also need to find find one of those nice looking Lionel H15-44 for the Demonstrator paint scheme ..

My guess is yes!

Mario,

I have one started, I abandoned the FM Lionel underframe because when I measured (hopefully correctly) the motors sat too high and I would have either had to modify the flywheels or find shorter motors.  What I did was take the original Rivarossi frame and modify it to accept cut sections of MTH frame. This worked well since I also discovered there were pivot issues and I could move the centerlines of the trucks anywhere I wanted (within reason).   I suspect there might be a problem with the pivot centerlines with the Lionel frame as well. Using the original plastic frame also enabled me to continue to use the mounting tabs for the shell and not reinvent the mounting.  What I give up are the great looking Lionel sideframes- but I am hopeful to come across some MTH C-liner side frames.

Attached is a photo of 5016 in progress- still a long way to go!!! 6600 is not far behind. 

Scott

In my opinion:

Like the Atlas/Roco F9 of similar vintage, this model can be a good foundation for "better things"...

I picked this up, as is, on eBay for $11.50,   plus $11.00 shipping.  

Two motors, runs very well. Although the motors are small, I rather like the trucks self-contained feature: it keeps the entire interior pretty clutter free...

If any of you swapping over to 3 rail want dump your motors and wheel/axle sets, I'm interested. I need one pair for another project.

Mark in Oregon

skroencke posted:

Mario,

I have one started, I abandoned the FM Lionel underframe because when I measured (hopefully correctly) the motors sat too high and I would have either had to modify the flywheels or find shorter motors.  What I did was take the original Rivarossi frame and modify it to accept cut sections of MTH frame. This worked well since I also discovered there were pivot issues and I could move the centerlines of the trucks anywhere I wanted (within reason).   I suspect there might be a problem with the pivot centerlines with the Lionel frame as well. Using the original plastic frame also enabled me to continue to use the mounting tabs for the shell and not reinvent the mounting.  What I give up are the great looking Lionel sideframes- but I am hopeful to come across some MTH C-liner side frames.

Attached is a photo of 5016 in progress- still a long way to go!!! 6600 is not far behind. 

 

Scott

That looks great!

can you share something me details about what you did to build it? Decals and such...

Especially the frame details!

thanks,

Mario

Mario,

Thanks for the kind words, it has many faults!!  I used microscale NYC FA-2 decals but could not use the grey-white  lightning stripes included, they wouldn't lie right no matter what I tried. If anyone on the forum knows how please let me know.  What I did was tape off the loco and shoot it with testors gloss grey and then painstakingly hand stripe it with Microscale HO white stripes(still have some fixing to do there!).  Attached are photos of 6600's frame that is underway.  Note the area's cut out of the Rivarossi frame and the cut sections of MTH frame.  The Rivarossi frame features cut easily with diagonal cutters then sand smooth(yet to be done).  The front MTH cut section is reversed and standard pivot trucks will be used to keep the front fixed coupler as close to track centerline at possible in a curve. The MTH frames fit into the rivarossi frame with a little sanding on the edges.  The trucks are tight to the frame but appear to be OK running around the layout.  If I get a chance in the next couple of days I'll do a sketch with some dimensions on the Rivarossi frame cuts and the MTH frame cuts.

Scott

Excellent !

Strummer posted:

In my opinion:

Like the Atlas/Roco F9 of similar vintage, this model can be a good foundation for "better things"...

I picked this up, as is, on eBay for $11.50,   plus $11.00 shipping.  

Two motors, runs very well. Although the motors are small, I rather like the trucks self-contained feature: it keeps the entire interior pretty clutter free...

If any of you swapping over to 3 rail want dump your motors and wheel/axle sets, I'm interested. I need one pair for another project.

Mark in Oregon

Sorry I missed that one ! Hahaha she looks great ....proper PRR freight colors , unlike the way Rivarossi made them

mine will be , in the future , either Milwaukee Rd or Demonstrator colors ...

I mounted the pilot on a block of wood so I can put in a vise or drill press. 

this should be interesting. 

dPrasse posted:

Strummer posted:

In my opinion:

Like the Atlas/Roco F9 of similar vintage, this model can be a good foundation for "better things"...

I picked this up, as is, on eBay for $11.50,   plus $11.00 shipping.  

Two motors, runs very well. Although the motors are small, I rather like the trucks self-contained feature: it keeps the entire interior pretty clutter free...

If any of you swapping over to 3 rail want dump your motors and wheel/axle sets, I'm interested. I need one pair for another project.

Mark in Oregon

Sorry I missed that one ! Hahaha she looks great ....proper PRR freight colors , unlike the way Rivarossi made them

mine will be , in the future , either Milwaukee Rd or Demonstrator colors ...

Yes, I got lucky with this one...and it's hand lettered, to boot! Will post some closeup photos, if anyone's interested.

Mark in Oregon

Of course this FM nut is  interested !

the factory "wrong" Pennsy scheme looks so nice , I may not " correct" it and just find it a mate ...

So I drew new grilles for the Rivarossi C-Liner. There's a back part that slides out from inside. It's tabbed.

Then there's an outer grille, 0.020" thick that slide in front he outside. There's pins that fit in the holes in the frame, above.

thanks,

Mario

More grilles:

First design for the rear radiator fan housings... look nice but didn't render.  Back to the drawing board. 

Why didn't they render do you think? Too many small holes in the grill itself?

Laidoffsick posted:

Why didn't they render do you think? Too many small holes in the grill itself?

I think I tried to do too much, but I rebuilt it and it worked. Once. Sigh. 

I'll try again. 

Finally got the radiator fans to render, but had to make them in three pieces. 

The screens...

Notice the hole in the side of the hub for the power line. 

The housing...

notice the slots for the tabs from the screen. 

And the fan blades...

your choice of 5 or 12 blades for the radiator fans. The 10-bladed ones are larger, for the dynamic brake fan. 

Thanks,

Mario

Will the grills and fans be available soon?

They look great.

Tom D. posted:

Will the grills and fans be available soon?

They look great.

I ordered the first sets today, once all the designs were uploaded. 

I need to ensure that everything will work as designed, in case I need to change something.  

Stay tuned!

Here's the new lift ring / buffer plate assembly. There will be a new door assembly that comes in from the rear, as well. 

They should fit pretty well, with very little modification. Just the trimming of the existing faux lift rings...

Here's what I had to go on...

Thanks!

-Mario

So I ran into a small snag...

I trimmed off the stock pilot, and it came out great. 

But... it also seems that my preliminary measurements were off and the Atlas pilot will need some tweaking to fit. 

The curves of both pilots match perfectly at the rail side, but at the body side, the curves don't exactly match. 

Therefore, I'll have to cut the anticlimber flat to match the pilot.  Hopefully there's enough material back there so I don't have to fill. Fingers crossed.

And yes, the Atlas pilot curves are correct.

Thanks!

-Mario

Slowly, it's coming along... I've shaved off all the cast in grab irons and handrails... especially the horizontal ones on the sides of the nose; the Central's never had those. I kept the NBW intact, though.

This also includes shaving off the steam generator details, as the Central's FM CFA20-4s were freight units. 

Last but not least, I've removed the stock FM exhaust stack. This is because I'm going to be modeling mine as one that was repowered with an EMD 567 (A or C model), between August of 1955 and the end of 1956. These had the EMD-style exhaust stacks in the same location above the prime mover, like their Geeps.

thanks,

Mario. 

One down; 5 to go. 

2 grilles gone...

Nice work!!

Thanks!  It's coming along...

heres the rear buffer plate and door insert:  needs a little tweaking, but should be a home run!

And all of the fireman's side grilles are gone, waiting for their replacements.

Check back later!