I've got a Williams Alco PA. I'm happy with it, aside from the fuel tank. It's much shorter in length and height than scale. Has anyone fitted a Lionel or MTH Alco PA fuel tank to a Williams PA? I'd like to do something about the small fuel tank, just to make the unit look a bit better visually .
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Funny you should mention this. A few months ago I looked into this very idea on my old custom-painted GM&O Williams PA's, and discovered something: the Wms fuel tank is the correct (scale) length (but still not the correct depth). I was going to buy Lionel PA tanks to replace the Wms parts - and discovered (by direct loco-to-loco comparison) that the Lionel tank was the same - and correct - length as the Wms. Deeper, but the worse part of the problem would still be there.
Why? Because Williams has mounted the trucks on their PA's in the wrong place. The wheelbase (not the loco) is too long, and the trucks are too far toward each end of the loco. The tank appearance issue is essentially un-fixable on the Wms PA's, unless you move the trucks inboard, and that is a whole 'nuther can of fish.
The Lionel PA's are much better models all around, anyway. The early ones (even w/TMCC) are usually available pretty cheaply. Run well. (And, for those who care, made in Michigan.)
I have a Williams GP7 that I purchased a few years ago, but I always thought something just didn't look quite right about it. It finally dawned upon me that the fuel tank wasn't big enough. Not knowing what else to do, I finally decided a few months ago to scratch build a bigger, more scale sized tank. Using N-scale and HO-scale GP7's and pictures off the internet for guides, I designed a tank to fit. Built out of wood, metal, brass & copper, and plastic, I think it turned out pretty decent.
The wooden tank form. It is loaded with some metal weights on the inside.
Tank is primered. Air tanks are made from brass tubing & wire, and copper end caps.
Side sills made from plastic strips. Shown upside-down in this view.
Tank assembly now prime painted and shown right side up.
Finish painted (black, of course).
Finished fuel tank mounted on GP7. Looks much better, in my opinion.
I enjoy running it much more frequently now, with the better looking tank.
Paul. 
Great looking fuel tank and air tanks, really nice job on them. It looks good on the engine also, I'd lightly weather them just so they stand out a little better, then you see them better. Thanks for sharing.
Mixed Freight posted:I have a Williams GP7 that I purchased a few years ago, but I always thought something just didn't look quite right about it. It finally dawned upon me that the fuel tank wasn't big enough. Not knowing what else to do, I finally decided a few months ago to scratch build a bigger, more scale sized tank. Using N-scale and HO-scale GP7's and pictures off the internet for guides, I designed a tank to fit. Built out of wood, metal, brass & copper, and plastic, I think it turned out pretty decent.
The wooden tank form. It is loaded with some metal weights on the inside.
Tank is primered. Air tanks are made from brass tubing & wire, and copper end caps.
Side sills made from plastic strips. Shown upside-down in this view.
Tank assembly now prime painted and shown right side up.
Finish painted (black, of course).
Finished fuel tank mounted on GP7. Looks much better, in my opinion.
I enjoy running it much more frequently now, with the better looking tank.
Paul.
Nice job but Lionel still has their fuel tanks for the gp and it can include the speaker for a sound system upgrade.
I did just that on some Wms Santa Fe PA's some years ago when I tried my hand at painting the Rio Grande 'Aspen Leaf' Scheme. I used balsa wood glued onto the existing fuel tank. I assumed that the Wms trucks themselves were too small which gave the large gap on either side.
c.sam posted:I did just that on some Wms Santa Fe PA's some years ago when I tried my hand at painting the Rio Grande 'Aspen Leaf' Scheme. I used balsa wood glued onto the existing fuel tank. I assumed that the Wms trucks themselves were too small which gave the large gap on either side.
Did you just glue the wood to the sides of the existing tank or did you have to cut some of the factory tank away? I'm thinking this is my best bet vs. buying another PA model.
If I remember, I used fairly thin balsa for the sides and some balsa block at either end for stiffening and added some small strips for the ladder steps, etc. It was pretty easy to do.
I always assumed the Williams body itself was undersize, but never got the chance to measure it. The MTH and recent Lionel bodies are darn near perfect, with Lionel taking the edge with a way better windshield.
Opinion.
The fuel tank on the Williams PA is not as bad as the oversized pothole windows that really can't be corrected unless you know how to make your own side grills. If the PA's undersized fuel tank and oversized pothole windows bother you, the best thing is to sell off and as stated above by the Lionel or MTH models.
My favorite Williams PA's are the "American Flyer" NP set. The stock fuel tank and shorter trucks are strikingly apparent on these. If the tanks extended lower almost to the rail height and the trucks were longer they would look terrific
Looking at my Williams model I can now see how the trucks are pushed too far off center. The fuel tank size is what bugs me a bit, not so much the oversize portholes. I'm going to try and make a larger than scale fuel tank to get rid of that "gap" between the trucks.
Would I like a Lionel/MTH Santa Fe PA? Sure. Selling the Williams unit won't get me enough to outright buy another PA. Plus it would take awhile to sell. It's going to be cheaper/easier to just modify the Williams fuel tank.
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