Scale locomotive high hood

Tim-

 

I never heard of a high hood kit, but the best source for a stock high nose GP/SD35 would be Atlas. I'm not sure if the Atlas versions have fixed pilots though.

 

-John

I sure not aware of ANY manufacture that offers high short hood modification kits, in O Scale. I remember that 30 or 40 years ago, somebody offered high short hood kits in HO Scale for GP30 models, and other "normal" EMD GP and SD units. I would pay just about anything for a high short hood kit in O Scale for a GP30.

Just about anything?  I converted an Atlas SD-35 to high hood, using only some plastic sheet and some auto body putty.  Not at all difficult.

An EMD "normal" unit, i.e. GP/SD 35, 38, 39, 40, 45, 50, 60, and 70 are all pretty much the same (obviously NOT the "super cab" versions). Now look at the GP30 unit, and suggest how to add a high short hood to THAT monstrosity. 

Yes, please come up with a reasonable way to create these.

Dave, I have been after one of the VPs at MTH for over five-years to produce these.  I talked to Mike Wolf about these when he was here for the NS-Heritage Event.  Told him about the 2601 and 522 sitting on the grounds.  He stated he was going to take some pictures.  Don't know if he did or not.

Here are shots of some Atlas parts.  The high hood is from the xx35 series locos.  The cab in this instance is the -2 type cab used on the gp60 and gp15-1.  In the photo showing the cab partially seated onto the nose, the cab is being held up by two locking tabs on the cab front.  These could easily be trimmed of if necessary.  They are intended to lock into a low short hood, rather than the high hood version.  Someday these parts will be used on a high hood sd40-2 scratch/bash.

 

Re: the gp30 conversion, I think this either this nose or sheet styrene could be used.  It does not appear that the extra sheet metal above the cab extends forward of the cab front?  If not it seems the nose conversion would be the same as for any other loco. Presuming you have a gp30 to start with.

 

Any way here are the pics.

 

Jim

Here's the link to Atlas' parts for the SD-40:

 

http://www.atlaso.com/partspdf...02%20rail%20body.pdf

 

High Hood PN 150099

You might best served by looking about for someone using a 3D printer to make a master that could then be used to make a mold to cast these in resin to make such a kit.

Excellent thread Tim!  Bob, how can I order parts?  Atlas or through someone else?

thanks in advance.

 

Chris

Your best bet is to order directly from Atlas. That way you will learn exactly whether they even have the parts in stock or not.

I would order through Atlas, unless they do not have parts in stock.  

 

sd40 high hood part

 

Be aware that Atlas will have parts that are not necessarily listed in their online store. If you do not see the part you are looking for online, then either email or call the parts department to confirm whether they have it.

 

Atlas has some expanded parts diagrams online, but again not for every locomotive.  It can be a bit of a trick to locate the parts diagrams.  From the Atlas O homepage, click on the "New Products" tab at the top on the left side.  On the New Products page there are a series of links on the right side.  One of those links is for parts diagrams.

 

sd40 parts diagram

 

Do some exploring.  You may find some odds and ends that inspire you to build something not previously on your radar.  

 

Jim

Yep, call them.  The guys I've dealt with went out of their way to find the parts I wanted.

Expensive?  I assume it depends.  Like Tim, I need a GP nose except I need a low nose.

 

thanks,

 

Chris

Of course it depends.  The high short hood part I linked to is $3.40.  The more complicated, or larger the part, the more expensive it will be.  It also seems from my experience that the newer tooling is more expensive than the old.  When I last ordered parts, an sd40 body shell (older) was $8.00.  At the same time, the gp-15-1 shell (newer) was $19.95. The last time I ordered, I received 76 parts ranging from bit parts like fans to big parts like long hoods and cabs.  Most of the small parts are in the range of less than $1.00 to maybe $3.00.  My total for all those parts was $239.75, of which about $97.00 was for eight shells.  I don't consider the price I paid for anything to be extraordinary.

 

I'm sure that something like a short hood could be scratchbuilt from sheet styrene fairly quickly.  But one thing people are often surprised by when they scratchbuild is the price of styrene sheets, shapes, and parts.  It adds up quickly, especially for bigger models as found in O scale.  And if you are the type to include the cost of your time in the cost-benefit analysis, you will find scratchbuilding to often be a losing proposition.  It's great for things that are not readily available elsewhere, but lousy for the idea of saving a buck by doing it yourself.

 

As advised, find a parts diagram for the model you are interested in, and look up some parts.  The prices vary widely from part to part, so that will be the only way to truly ascertain the costs.

 

Jim

Just my opinion, but if you are concerned with prices of spare plastic modeling parts, maybe you shouldn't be in the model railroading hobby.

Chris,

Which gp low nose do you need?  They have two for the gp35, four for the gp60, and one for the gp-15-1.  Headlight and handbrake details are different on each one.

 

Gp35 exploded parts diagram

 

gp60 exploded parts diagram

 

gp15-1 exploded parts diagram

 

Both gp35 low noses are showing in stock at $5.70 per each.  The gp60 noses appear to be in stock at $12.60 each.  The gp-15-1 nose is in stock at $7.95 each.

 

Jim

Hot Water, I was just curious on what parts ran that is all.  The cost is way lower than some how I imagined.  Very doable!

 

Big Train, I think the SD40 lose nose is what I need to make a B&M GP18.  The nose will have to be trimmed in way that it has a slight slope to it to make it look realistic.  I have been slowly accumulating everything to kitbash it from a GP9.

For reference:  Fallen flags website  http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/bm/bm1750as.jpg photo by: JR. Quinn/ Gary Steubben collection

 

thanks in advanced,

 

Chris

 

Chris,

What you really need, based on the photo, is a gp20 nose.  They had that slope to them. Is the gp18 just the non-turbocharged version of the gp20?  I know Atlas doesn't have a gp20.  I'm not familiar enough with Lionel or MTH to know if either of them make a gp20, or if you could even get parts from them anyway. Otherwise you will just have to fab the the top of the short hood to have the angle.

 

Jim

Hey Jim, can you email me. I apologize for hijacking the thread Tim.  Email is in my profile.

 

sorry,

 

Chris

To the best of my knowledge, that "slightly sloping/tapered" nose was peculiar to ONLY the EMD GP20 model, however the EMD SD24 nose was sort of close. EMD never did use THAT same nose on any other diesel model. 

If you refer to the web address, the B&M 18's have that slight sloping of the nose.  Also, the units had very different fan set up, dual exhaust and dynamic brake housing almost identical to GP9's.  I have body from a  mth GP 20.  I plan on only removing the cab and mating that with the back end of a GP9.  Then adding the short nose.  Mth's makes the Gp20, but the nose is to short and not sloped.  I believe this is due to where the front motor is.  If atlas has a GP 20 short hood that's is probably what I need.

Chris

The "GP20" low nose was used on the following EMD units:

 

GP9 (Late model Southern Pacific);

GP18;

GP20;

SD18;

SD24.

 

Stuart