I am new to the forums as a user, but I have used them often for advice on a few things. I found an article that recently helped me that was related to installing a decoder in an early generation Kato SD40. I hope to post my version of that task soon so I can make a contribution to the forums and repay the favor. I have a decoder very cleanly installed in one of these old wrecks already, but I have to do a second one and photograph it as I install it.
Meanwhile, I am looking for advice on brake detail parts for HTC trucks that you would find on an SD40-2. I have a Kato loco that I bought used and the brake cylinders and plumbing was missing from the kit. They are no longer available from Kato.
I could go with Athearn cylinders and make the brake line with bent Evergreen styrene. I have made lines this way before when detailing a Blue Box Athearn unit. I am hoping to find another product to use that might look better. There are a variety of options on the Walthers site, but the descriptions are not clear at all and none are specifically labeled as HTC or SD40-2 or anything like that, so it’s impossible to pick the right part without seeing it in person. I am a pretty advanced modeler, so any level of kit bash is fine.
Some larger specific parts ( brake clyinders etc) are needed, for sure. Any of the Athearn SD truck details going to work, even if mods are needed? Speed recorders, brake piping and sanding pipes can always be done/ added. I find that .015 brass works far better for brake line.
I know how troubling it can be when parts like this are missing. I’ve had the same problem w/ Kato NW2 rails. Luckily i found a set many years after production. I don’t have that many Katos, but After that, I will always grab extra detail sprues/ parts when buying a unit.
Could try HO interchange, I know they are small inexpensive pieces, but may help. Surprised to see some of the weird things people offer/ buy.
You could probably go with Athearn brake cylinders, although the mounting methods used by Kato and Athearn are different, so you may need to do some extra work to ensure the Athearn parts fit properly.
As for the air line, I wouldn’t use styrene. Brass wire sounds like a much better option. The stock Kato air lines are not of a prototypical shape, so they aren’t appropriate to copy anyway. The prototypes I’ve examined have distinct bends in the air line inboard from the brake cylinders, and the center attaches to the top center of the sideframe. These photos give something of the idea, but you’ll probably want to find some better ones to see the exact shape: http://www.rrfallenflags.org/up/up3151ava.jpghttp://www.rr-fallenflags.org/up/up3166adt.jpg . This detail isn’t readily discernable in all photos and most modelers seem to miss it.
I will give brass a shot for the brake lines. The styrene is actually pretty good, but it requires some work to get the bends correct. I have seen a variety of bends in brake lines based on roads or revisions and rebuilds. I did a pretty basic bend on mine just to get it back to the truck frame to fix it to the center. I will upload a picture of one of my styrene modified Athearn sideframes. Is there a brass or pewter brake cylinder that anybody has tried? I just like experimenting with new stuff, so I would be more interested in trying something other than the Athearn parts.
Yes, maxman, I did that exact search too. I am just not clear on what cylinders would be the right ones for the HT-C truck. I guess they would be close, but the awesomely limited description of “Diesel Truck Brake Cylinders” isn’t too helpful. Maybe I can send Smokey Valley an email. I can wait for that expected slow reply- I am in no rush to buy these, my month’s train budget is already blown!
Didn’t show up on your search results link above, probably because it’s listed as being “out of stock” at Walthers. Other places may have them, though.
I don’t pretend to be an expert, but from a close up photo of an HTC truck I found on the internet, these look like they might be reasonably close, at least to me… your mileage may vary.
I found the right part. This is an old thread, but solutions sometimes come slowly. I was visiting family in Indiana and when I do, I always visit the local shops. I found this part and picked it up. TK 2801 from Detail Associates. This is appropriate for my SD series locos. They even supply some brass for brake lines.
During the elapsed time, I have been using brass wire as advised with lots of good results.
I really just needed the cylinders for this Kato loco that I bought sans cylinders.
