Time to get started... SD40-2s and SD35 trucks

[Ed Kapuscinski]

The Atlas HTC trucks can be upgraded with Kato wheelsets, but I'm not sure about the sideframes.

Thanks for the reminder. That's now added to the list.

[learmoia]

Wait... I thought that I did make flexicoils for the HT-C truck...

You (or somebody) did for Kato Trucks.. but not Atlas..

~Ian

[JanesCustomTrain]

Are the Atlas HTC sideframes compatible with the Kato ones?

No, not at all.   

Jane

[daniel_leavitt2000]

Not being an expert on "modern" units and never having researched the Conrail Flexicoils the photos appear to require new trucks.
The SD35 and earlier trucks are different than the Conrail versions applied instead of the HTC truck.   It looks like an entirely unique frame (possibly designed to use as many parts as possible common with the Flexicoils ?).
Check wheel centers; looks like it may be different than older Flexicoils which would require designing a new gearbox to reuse HTC gears and new pickup plates.
Charlie vlk

It's be willing to live with the compromise. Atlas uses the same SD7/9/35 gear case for the Dash-8. I don't think the wheel centers of the prototype match the flexcoil. In fact, I think the prototype Dash-8 had asymmetric wheel spacing where the longer wheel base is closer to the cab on both trucks, rather than a mirror image as in most trucks (and the atlas model).

We have to live with compromise. But a flexcoil side frame that fits the atlas HTC truck would look worlds better than the totally incorrect truck.

P.S. I would also add that a really good HTC truck rendition would be welcome as well. One that includes some of the traction motor and deeper frame detail similar to the Kato trucks. I would swap out all the side frames on my Atlas and IM engines.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

P.S. I would also add that a really good HTC truck rendition would be welcome as well. One that includes some of the traction motor and deeper frame detail similar to the Kato trucks. I would swap out all the side frames on my Atlas and IM engines.

I thought I read you COULD swap out the Atlas HTC sideframe with the Kato one.

[Mark5]

I thought I read you COULD swap out the Atlas HTC sideframe with the Kato one.

Nope. You can do this with the Flexicoil.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Nope. You can do this with the Flexicoil.

Ahhhhh, ok.

That makes sense, because the Atlas/Kato SD7/9 went to Atlas, and I'm betting that the trucks (or at least parts) were common between that, the Atlas SD35 and the Kato SD40.

Or maybe it's just dumb luck.

Too bad about the HTCs though.

[Mark5]

Honestly, I don't think the Atlas HTC is that bad, its just the relief on the Kato HTC is better.

I have a somewhat similar problem in that N&W did not opt for the standard HTC on their SD40-2s (and SD50s) either - they ordered a triple clasp version.

Shapeways (dcutting?) has these sideframes but for the Kato. I was tempted but I held off hoping for a SD40-2 without all of the errors of the Kato SD40-2 - and now its here.

So hopefully we can get him to make the sideframes that we all need. 

Mark

[chessie system fan]

Here's a drawing of a CR SD40-2.

http://trainiax.net/drawings/18-emd/sd40/18-emd-sd40-2-cr-ph2a2.GIF

@bnsfdash8 I'm curious what you did to make the SD40 trucks work.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Resurrecting this from the dead for reasons...

Does anyone know if the Atlas HTC part is the same as the IM HTC sideframe part? Ie, are they interchangeable?

[daniel_leavitt2000]

https://shop.atlasrr.com/p-3657-n-sd-60-truck-side-frame.aspx

They do swap - sort of.

It appears that somewhere along the line, Atlas retooled the HTC, with the newer runs being somewhat crisper. I had some minor issues fitting an older side frame to the IM gear box. This was mostly due to the tabs of the gear box being slightly larger than the cut-outs of the side frame.

This side frame was well over 10 years old, and it appears that newer SD50/60/60M trucks and parts swap with the SD40-2 without issue.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

https://shop.atlasrr.com/p-3657-n-sd-60-truck-side-frame.aspx

They do swap - sort of.

It appears that somewhere along the line, Atlas retooled the HTC, with the newer runs being somewhat crisper. I had some minor issues fitting an older side frame to the IM gear box. This was mostly due to the tabs of the gear box being slightly larger than the cut-outs of the side frame.

This side frame was well over 10 years old, and it appears that newer SD50/60/60M trucks and parts swap with the SD40-2 without issue.

Ok, awesome. I'm just trying to make sure I'm giving someone a good reference.

Hopefully this should make something much easier for them (and cheaper for me).

[daniel_leavitt2000]

Does that mean that someone is working on a flexcoil side frame for the HTC truck?