Briggs Models 8-40-CM

[sd75i]

  Does anyone have any more pics of these units finished or being finished?  Thanks

[Scottl]

I'm slowly working on mine.  The trucks are slowing me down and I plan to include ditch lights, so will slow it further.

[JanesCustomTrain]

Same here, still fighting with the trucks.

Jane

[craigolio1]

Mine aren't much farther than I posted. They are assembled and ready for paint.  I have the trucks assembled and rolling nicely but I havn't actually put them under power yet. I won't really be modelling for the next 6 weeks but once I'm back at it I think I'll bring them down to the LHS and run them in on the store layout for a bit. See how they work.

I too would like to see someone else's progress as well.
Craig

[bnsfdash8]

Mine's not much farther than adding the ditch light SMDs. I set it aside for awhile to finish some NS stuff.

[Catt]

Hey Reese,when are you going to add that GP30 cab and nose to your Shapeways store? 

[bnsfdash8]

Hey Reese,when are you going to add that GP30 cab and nose to your Shapeways store? 

No shapeways parts on that nose. It's a modified GP35 rear section, worked like a charm.

[craigolio1]

Nice! Great idea.

Craig

[Scottl]

I started to work on this (finally) and discovered to my dismay that I have the wrong Kato chassis... 

I have to admit, I'm pretty confused about the early and mid designation applied to the Kato models.  On one hand, it applies to a prototype designation, but there are also early and late chassis designs.   The Kato website currently hints at this, I think:

Model Features:
Equipped with body mounted KATO magnetic knuckle couplers.
Locomotives feature directional Golden White LED headlights.
Mid Production: Lighted ditch lights and illuminated preprinted numberboards.
Mid Production: Shock absorber construction for reliable performance.
Mid Production: DCC friendly and ready for drop in decoder installation of a Train Control Systems K1D4-NC.
Early: DCC friendly and ready for drop in decoder installation of a Train Control Systems K1D4.
Low flange wheels.

So does this mean a "early" version has the old chassis?  The lack of the shock absorber construction seems to be distinguishing.  If so, then I can actually buy one of these still, or am I searching for used only?

While I am at it, does anyone have a spare chassis they want to unload? 

[Bendtracker1]

As of now, only the Mid Production SD40-2's have the new mechanisms.
The early [the first and latest runs] and snoot version have the original frames.

[Scottl]

OK, thanks for the clarification.  Nuts.

[jpwisc]

The early are still readily available, especially since Kato did another run of them last year. They are great runners. If you see any of the new NS, UP or the WSOR units, those will work. There are a few on eBay for under $60 right now.

[Scottl]

Thanks Karl, I'm going to source one to get this project moving again.  I'll have to figure out a use for my mid-chassis too 

[Scottl]

This project has crawled along for few reasons, but I have everything in hand now and made progress this week. The trucks are the real work and I can say that mine went together without a hitch.  The parts are well designed and went together well.  The locomotive runs pretty well but does need some breaking in now.

I also made the commitment to go BC Rail with this.  Some of the details are different, so I could not wait any longer.

[bnsfdash8]

That's looking really good. The trucks for mine went together well after some tweaking, but they do need some breaking in time though.