Building the Shapeways "Little Joe"

[UP4-8-8-4]

First step was to remove both power trucks & drive shafts.
Separate the end trucks.
Also cut off all four GG-1 ladders.
Remove the top plastic piece that holds down the board. I used a touch of butyl rubber (used to hold auto glass in) on the end of the board to hold it down and in place. Must be removed so GG-1 chassis will go up high enough in the Little Joe body.
Also I had to mill both ends a bit shorter as well as rounding the front edges for Little Joe end clearances.
Now both the Little Joe body's is setting flush with the chassis.
Next step will be to extend both power trucks at each outside ends for the extra Kato GG-1 driver set. Will cut off end sections from other power trucks so I can keep the original factory end truck mounts.
Shapeways Little Joe power truck side covers, extended pilot decks and end truck side covers set in place with Kato GG-1 drivers with exact wheel spacing.
Kato GG-1 end trucks will be shortened as the Little Joe uses shorter end trucks.
Will post all conversion here as I go.

[UP4-8-8-4]

Got the chassis finished first adding the extra driver.





Next was attaching the end decks direct to the driver set frames.




Next was to shorten and the end length and file top side flat the pilot wheel set mounts, but keeping the factory mount tabs.
Also as with the driver sets, filed down all GG-1 detail and attach the Little Joe side truck frames.



Once end trucks were cut for Little Joe length, I had to cut and deepen the trucks for wheel clearance, then add the wheel set and original mounts to Little Joe side frames.




Last was adding side ladders and MT coupler's.
Here's the finished Shapeways "Little Joe" leading the Overland Brass one.
Body is attached to chassis with some auto windshield butyl rubber on each end.
Runs great, just like a Kato GG-1 !

[atsf_arizona]

Looks great!

[CBQ Fan]

Very, very nice.  Sure wish there was one out there I could actually buy!

[mmagliaro]

I really like the look of that!

What did you use to glue the extra section on to each truck (to get 4 wheelsets per truck)?  Kato frames are probably Delrin and I don't know what you had the Shapeways parts made out of, but I would think it would be hard to get any glue to hold those together.

[UP4-8-8-4]

I really like the look of that!

What did you use to glue the extra section on to each truck (to get 4 wheelsets per truck)?  Kato frames are probably Delrin and I don't know what you had the Shapeways parts made out of, but I would think it would be hard to get any glue to hold those together.

On all driver and end truck sides I use a large auto file to completely remove all detail for a smooth finish. On the Shapeways side covers I hold them flat on a section of 320 sand paper and sand them thinner as well as smooth.

Like most all Shapeways engine shells, they also come with the side covers for driver sets as well as end wheel sets.
The Shapeways side covers I glued first to the GG-1 sides first starting at the rear sections., then aligned and glued the 4th driver set as a free roller.

When I built the Great Northern W-1, I was testing different types of glues.
I found by using Testors model cement to hold the pieces together untill dry, followed by Krazy Glue using the tip of a small wire and applying all around it held like concrete.
One of the Shapeways W-1 side driver covers was a bit crooked so I had to remove it to align. found out it took quite a bit of careful use of an Exacto knife and some time to separate the parts.

Another glue I use at work is J.B. Quick 2-part plastic epoxy glue. With this glue, best make sure everything's is correct as theirs no removing.
This was the last glue I used applying the same way as Krazy Glue, now their all permanent.