Kato NW2 shell on LifeLife SW9/1200 frame?

[mmagliaro]

Subject says it all.  Will that shell fit and will the trucks line up?
Some web searching turned up that people have wanted to do the swap the OTHER way (LL shell on Kato frame),
but not this way.  (people malign the LL mech for a few things, but mine has always been a
terrific runner).

I just happen to have a LL engine that runs beautifully, so slapping a nice NW2 shell on it in NP paint
would be a good way to reuse the mechanism and have an engine that fits my current environs.

Thanks.

[Plumcrazy]

Hi, I am not sure if the Kato shell will fit the Lifelike mechanism, but if it does fit your biggest problem will be making new wipers for the lifelike mechanism (frame) .The lifelike wipers are attached (melted on) to the bottom of the walkways of the shell , and the mechanism will not run without the shell attached.

Alex

[lajmdlr]

Have both the Kato NW2 shell & a LL SW chassis. The "notch" on the cab end of the long hood won't seat because of light board. Mine has a NCE decoder which is same shape as the LL light board. If you're DCC maybe you could do it w/ a smaller decoder.

[SP-Wolf]

For me, it is a matter of liking the Kato mech. a lot better. For a couple of reasons- easier to DCC and the pick up issue. the LL mech works preety good- it's weakness is that goofy pick up system. Which I have tried modifying the pick up system- helped alot. 

Haven't really seen the need to go Kato shell on a LL mech.

Thanks,
Wolf

[Chris333]

The LL chassis is capable of much slower running than the Kato speed rocket.

[mmagliaro]

No DCC here, so if the shell physically can fit on the frame except for a minor notch that can be removed, this sounds like
it will work.   A BIG key is whether the wheelbases are identical so the trucks will sit in the shell cut-outs correctly.

As for the crazy wiper system in the LL, most likely, I would get rid of that and mount some new wipers that
are permanently attached to the frame, leaving the shell out of it altogether.

Thanks for the info.

[Sokramiketes]

No DCC here, so if the shell physically can fit on the frame except for a minor notch that can be removed, this sounds like
it will work.   A BIG key is whether the wheelbases are identical so the trucks will sit in the shell cut-outs correctly.

As for the crazy wiper system in the LL, most likely, I would get rid of that and mount some new wipers that
are permanently attached to the frame, leaving the shell out of it altogether.

Thanks for the info.

From what I remember of tweaking my LL units, there needs to be some pressure from the wipers downward on the trucks in order to have proper gear mesh.  So they can't just go away entirely.

[mmagliaro]

AND I JUST DISCOVERED....

That LL made that SW9 in NP paint.  I didn't think they did.  So I think I'd rather just bide my time and hunt
for an NP shell for it.  No need to retro a Kato shell onto it at all.

(So... if anybody's got a LL SW9 NP shell... PM me!   Mine is PRR.)