Models with 48" Q-Fans?

[6axlepwr]

Alwyn,

The SD35 are standard 48" fans. They are flat tops with a spiral 20 radial arm grill.

[Alwyn Cutmore]

Hi Brian,
Can accept that.

I am looking for the fans for a GPB unit.

Regards

Al

[6axlepwr]

If you want fans for a GP9 B unit, use the 48" fans from the Atlas SD24. Those are the fans you need and they are CORRECT for a phase III GP9. Which the PRR GP9 B-units are.

[Alwyn Cutmore]

Hi Brian,

I think that was the fans I had identified. I also want to do a Phase III GP9 as well.

Regards

Al

[Spades]

Greg,

That is a very interesting product. I did not know about it.

When you say mixed results. give me an example of your mixed results. What was not good about it and what was?

Brian

The mixed results were just getting the right reduction to size for a master, and sometimes the reduction was not symmetrical in its shrinkage, this could be due to my casting and molding skills.

Greg

[Ike the BN Freak]

Cannon Co is not interested in producing n scale so this may be the only way to fab some parts.

So wish we had a company similar to Cannon in N scale.  Would make my fleet of SD40-2s so much easier.

Need different noses and random doors and what not for other locos.

[6axlepwr]

So wish we had a company similar to Cannon in N scale.  Would make my fleet of SD40-2s so much easier.

Need different noses and random doors and what not for other locos.

Not to take this to a manufacturing topic, but I would be very happy to start an injection molded detail parts company. It has been proven to me time and again that the N-Scale market would not support it. There are a handful that would, but not enough to make it a viable business. You will notice that Craig at BLMA does not expand upon his locomotive detail parts and that he has moved his business model to freight cars and supporting scenery items. There is a very good reason for that. As he explained to me a number of years ago. The locomotive detail parts interest is not there enough to support his business. He started out that way, but quickly saw that he could not survive with it.

It is what I really would like to do, but I cannot afford to invest thousands into molds and not even get a fraction of it back. Even in HO Cannon & Co. is not expanding upon its locomotive parts line. His molds are showing their age as well. There are no new detail part companies coming out because there are no modelers to support it. And it is not a case of "If you build it, they will come" because they won't come. It will be just the few of us who do model that will come. Very sorry to say, but the actual "modeler" is a creature of the past. There are still a few of us hanging on wishing for greener pastures. Your only hope is to manufacture your own parts as I am doing. It is expensive, but I get what I want and get to build some unique models. I have masters for casting and I may do a short run here and there and offer them up for sale. But no business to start and no business model. Just parts that I want and maybe others can benefit form it.

I want so badly to start a state of the art N-Scale detail parts business because I absolutely LOVE model building. I mean something serious with really crisp injection molded parts and photo etch parts where needed. I can design a locomotive that would put HO models to shame. Especially to be able to bring N-Scale to the forefront would be a life dream of mine, but it would never even get off the ground for lack of customers.

[peteski]

I agree that (in all scales) the ship for injection-molded styrene locomotive parts has sailed.

There are less and less craftsman-type modelers out there. Instead, more and more modelers just buy ready-to-run models.  Manufacturers are catering to them by better detailing their r-t-r models with road-specific details. Those models cost more but are r-t-r.

However I also think that in few more years the 3D printing technology (high enough printing resolution and cheap price) will be mature enough for a wide range of parts to become available as 3D printed items. No molds needed, no minimum quantity.

[daniel_leavitt2000]

I dunno, I think the detail parts in N are pretty available if you know what you are doing. Sure Sunrise is gone and BLMA is no longer producing new items, but all those nice parts off Atlas and Kato engines are available. I use more parts from Atlas than any detail specific producer. I do not have any problems cutting a $5 hood for fans since that is what I would pay for them anyway. I think it all works out in the end.

[wcfn100]

I use more parts from Atlas than any detail specific producer. I do not have any problems cutting a $5 hood for fans since that is what I would pay for them anyway. I think it all works out in the end.

For now.  Unfortunately, Atlas's parts selection isn't as complete as people may think.  I wouldn't assume what you need will always be there.

Jason

[Ike the BN Freak]

However for myself, I needed an 88" nose with ratchet brake that will fit a Kato SD40-2.  And being the Kato mech/hood is wider than newer Atlas units.  So easiest nose for me was a GP35.  However, Brian mentioned a walkway light that the GP35 has that isn't on the SD40-2.  So now I gotta fill in the walkway light.  I tried to use GP38/40-2 noses, however the mech was wider than the shell, and didn't feel too comfortable filing down the mech, which meant I'd loose the shell mounting knubs.  So figured the GP35 nose, being its originally Kato/Atlas, has the wider shell/mech.

[6axlepwr]

However for myself, I needed an 88" nose with ratchet brake that will fit a Kato SD40-2.  And being the Kato mech/hood is wider than newer Atlas units.  So easiest nose for me was a GP35.  However, Brian mentioned a walkway light that the GP35 has that isn't on the SD40-2.  So now I gotta fill in the walkway light.  I tried to use GP38/40-2 noses, however the mech was wider than the shell, and didn't feel too comfortable filing down the mech, which meant I'd loose the shell mounting knubs.  So figured the GP35 nose, being its originally Kato/Atlas, has the wider shell/mech.

But the GP35 has an 81" nose. What model are you wanting to build? What road has 88" nose SD40-2's with the miner brake?

If you need an SD40-2 with an 88" nose with a miner brake, then I suggest the Kato SD40-2 with 88" nose unit. From the newer run, it would be the BN, IC, NS or the NS MAERSK. The ATSF unit has the nose light. Kato sells the shells separately (http://www.katousa.com/images/921465.jpg).

This shell can be made to fit the older chassis. I have done two of them. But you can also just buy the model and make the change. One other thing though. What type of radiator grills does your model need. The Kato mid production units come with corrugated grills. The early units come with wire grills. So if the model you want has corrugated grills, then you are OK with this shell. Shave off the brake wheel mechanism. Cut out the area that need the miner brake and then put a miner brake in from an Atlas SD35. It is a separate part. Although the SD35 is perpetually parked and tied down. The designer at Atlas thought it would be cool to mold the chain. Well, if you see the chain, then that means the unit is tied down. Brakes applied.

[Ike the BN Freak]

BN had a few runs of SD40-2s that were mid production, aka corrugated radiator with ratchet brakes.

As for the GP35, I add the nose to the Kato nose section.  So it comes close to 88"  Figured it was easier to hide the seem of entire nose change vs the ratchet brake area.

As for buying a Kato shell, I don't need ones with brake wheels, I'm replacing the brake wheel nose sections with ones with ratchet handbrakes.  And I don't want to pay $35 for a shell to use as parts, not when the Atlas one is under $4.  As for using the SD35 part, I don't believe Atlas sells it separately.

[6axlepwr]

Found another model.

The Kato MP36PH. Does this locomotive come with 48" Q-Fans or 52". They look like Q-Fans, but I cannot tell from any of the photos I have found.

[ryan_wilkerson]

Found another model.

The Kato MP36PH. Does this locomotive come with 48" Q-Fans or 52". They look like Q-Fans, but I cannot tell from any of the photos I have found.

Brian, have you seen this angle? http://www.model160.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/MP36-Preview-2.jpg