Lima LS-1000/1200 Scale Decision Survey

[Dreadnought]

Hey all,

After some feedback I've decided to adjust the N-scale price to about $75-80. $90 is too high. Also, I am discluding the Atlas VO-1000 as a chassis choice due to the height of the mechanism. The only remaining viable chassis are the Stewart VO-1000 in HO scale and the Alco switchers in N scale.

Regards,
Dreadnought

[up1950s]

Would be nice if with our komputers we could match line drawings that we set to the same scale and make one black and the other red , then overlay them as if they were drawings on clear vinyl . It would make bashing so much more clear as to how things line up , and slicing and dicing .

[daniel_leavitt2000]

The S series chassis would be several FEET too short, right?

I'm thinking RP brass chassis halves that use a truck from the S4, VO1000 or SW1200.

[Dreadnought]

daniel_leavitt,

Indeed, the S-series chassis would be about 2 feet too short. I'm not sure I understand what you mean by RP brass chassis halves, though. Can you elaborate on what that is?

Dreadnought

[peteski]

daniel_leavitt,

Indeed, the S-series chassis would be about 2 feet too short. I'm not sure I understand what you mean by RP brass chassis halves, though. Can you elaborate on what that is?

Dreadnought

That is what happens when acronyms are used.   RP means "rapid prototyped" or 3D printed.
He suggested to design a new stretched chassis with a correct wheelbase and have it 3D printed in brass.  Then stuff it with the S-series mechanical parts. I suspect that some modifications would have to be made to the original mechanical parts (like drive shafts extended) to make this work.

[Dreadnought]

peteski,

I see. I'm not sure of the cost of 3D printing in brass, but I suspect it's not incredibly low. The chassis which will most likely be used in HO scale is the Stewart Hobbies VO-1000. The Bowser version is too tall mechanically to fit inside the shorter Lima hood. The VO-1000 itself is one foot too long (or about 0.138 inches), so if a difference of one foot is so important to require a substantial increase in size and effort to make a new chassis, then I will happily look into it.

In N scale, the S-series chassis will result in a deficit of about 0.15 inches. Again, if that difference is so important to require a new chassis, then I will pursue that route. Feedback from others has intimated to me that differences of this magnitude are not enough to require the increase in price and effort necessitated by creating a new chassis, but I can pursue that route if it is of great importance.

Dreadnought

[jdcolombo]

I don't know about everyone else, but I can live with 1/8" too short, especially given that (1) designing a new chassis would make these prohibitively expensive and (2) the Atlas S-2, as someone pointed out, already has an ESU sound decoder built in.  So if the N-scale Atlas S-2 works height-wise (don't forget the height of the decoder board), I can live with the 1/8" short to get something that will never be produced commercially.  The NKP had 8 of the 1000/1200 series, and I'd be in for a couple while I'm waiting for Atlas to do the S-2 in NKP paint.

John C.

[wcfn100]

Atlas S-2 would need new trucks/side frames.

I was interested in this for a second because I knew the RI had Lima models but alas it was the 900.

Jason

[dcutting]

The S series chassis would be several FEET too short, right?

I'm thinking RP brass chassis halves that use a truck from the S4, VO1000 or SW1200.

I've attempted this in the past, and I know that Brian Bussey (sorry if I butchered the last name there) has done a larger unit with a Rapid Prototyped frame, but the major problem that I had was the fact that the machines at both shapeways and Xometry were not accurate enough. I think I will try again soon because of the new tech that is being introduced, but it is something to keep in mind. I'm also toying with the idea of printing the mechanism on my FDM printer using PLA plastic and having someone do lost-PLA casting. But I think in the end this is not significant enough to warrant a new mechanism. An MP15DC to C415 like I was attempting is a little different.

Atlas S-2 would need new trucks/side frames.

True, but that's pretty easy:

https://www.shapeways.com/product/KQGCXH6AB/alco-hi-ad-trucks-n-ho-o?optionId=62297549
https://www.shapeways.com/product/888BU9RGF/flexicoil-kato-early-production-sd40-2-n?optionId=62297668 
https://www.shapeways.com/product/L5H2SQREU/mlw-zwt-sideframes?optionId=62297382

[Dreadnought]

David,

Thanks for chiming in, you definitely know more about this than I do. How exactly do you get those new truck sideframes onto the trucks, though? I don't have an N scale Alco on hand, but I know that it'll require some major surgery to get the sideframes off my HO scale Alco, unless you just slice them off and glue on the new ones - Solution a la Occam's Razor?

Dreadnought

[Kisatchie]

...Solution a la Occam's Razor?

Hmm. I cut myself too
many times with Occam's
Razor...

[wcfn100]

If the Atlas MP15 will take a different truck with a 8' wheelbase, that truck center should only be 4" too short.


Jason