A short while ago I picked this Great Trains F-40 body shell up on EvilBay:
With the intent to build it up so I have something to pull my Great Trains Observation car around. Now thanks to a fellow MLS forum member XL Special, Larry Trumbull, who as Marlon Brandow said, “Made me an offer I can’t refuse”, I now have a very large reason to proceed with this project now, actually 3 very large reasons…
I am now the very proud owner of 3 vintage Amtrak Superliners that Larry offered me. These are big cars, about 24" long, nicely detailed to me, and very impressive looking, did I mention these are large? I did some preliminalry testing on the layout and yes! they should be fine going around it, they juuuust make it through the new tunnel portals in the background. I’m just glad I aquired these BEFORE I had set in the scenery, Now I can builld the layout around the clearance these cars will require. I just now need to build an engine strong enough to pull it around the grades, or if worse comes to worse, maybe a USA A-B F-3 set???
Did I mention these are large cars? Theirs some work to do to them, which Larry pointed out before I got them. The biggest being I need to add couplers back onto the trucks, one car has some glazing missing, and theres some ACC hazing but overall these look great as is. and if I decide to get nutty, the top comes off and they look like they were intended to have interiors installed. Now theres a summer project! Did I mention these are large cars?
To this day I am still amazed no one has aquired the molds and reissued any of these models. What a waste of tooling. With all the brewhaha over modern passenger cars and engines that happened with LGBs Amtrak cars theres obviously a demand for the modern out there, but is anyone list
They were all made by a company called Great Trains, they were around back in the dark ages of the hobby, namely 1989 to about 1992, they offered the F40, streamline cars, and these Superliners, they are 1/32 scale. Suprisingly they didnt sell well and the company folded, large scale back in those days was almost exclusivly narrow gauge. I cant help but think if these were still being offered how popular hould they be? As nice as these are, I think they would have to be 1/29 for any chance at success.
Watch, risto will make some in the next few years now that someone has shown interest. Great find and good luck. Is the FP 40H going to be as realistic as posible being held together with bailingwire, bandaids (the ocasional severed finger) and gum?
Started cutting the base ply for the frame, marked off all the locations for drivebricks (need to order the second brick), added weight, etc. Going to start adding basswood strips on the inside of the shell to give the ply something to screw into. Need to think about adding a cab interior, I’ll check John Warners FP45 log for that detail. Also need to decide how I’m going to add glazing on the inside. I’m going to make this engine heavy, as it needs the adhesion to pull those cars, the bricks themselves are like 2lbs each, add a big lump of lead wieght I have, and I should be able to get it up to 8 lbs. I’ll test it in action to make sure its strong enough before I finish it. Headlights? Hmmm…
Body still sits a little too high,need to trim the mounting posts on the brick a little. I need to fab up the ladders and steps, not looking forward to that. Its going to be a PITA doing those. There are a few things that wont be quite prototype, but what the hey, since when have I ever counted rivets.
Sorry Toad, that pup is epoxied on something permanent! Suggest learning to fabricate in styrene[;)]
Ok the undercarraige is getting really close. Ladders built, fuel tank 75%, remainder undercarrage stuff also getting close. First drive brick installed, trimming mounting posts on top lowered body just about right. Awaiting second drive brick, ordered it last week, it only shipped today [}:)] , should have it by Friday [:)] . Still need to mount the couplers, and begin building the cab interior. Once I get the beast up and running, I can begin to consider fabricating new sideframes.
Casting is fun! Besides it takes me now 3 min to cast a part! [:D]
Now you know, just send me the cool parts I know you have lurking [}:)] around or I will have to send over Sweet Santa Fe [:o)] to beat you over the head with a baseball bat [xx(] to get your bag of goodies [:-,] lmao…just joking!
Body height looks about right. Chassis still could use some detailing, still need to add couplers, ladders, and cab interior, plow looks a bit more agressive than standard.
Toad, I’m begining to consider scratching a new plow, this one puts the coupler pocket way too high to be usefull, so you and Sweet may get your wish if I have to cut the beast off.
This may be the wrong question but… You know the cases Ipod Shuffles are in? Ill bet the bottom half would make a good EMD fuel tank. Great Job so far and if you dont want the plow anymore [:-^]
