Repowering the old LL F40PH?

[Wutter]

The earlier Kato runs of F40PH locos had no ditch lights or AC units. I have about half a dozen of them. I think the last "original" run was in 2011 (first run was IIRC in 2005).  They also have small forward fuel tank, so even fewer modifications.

But depending on which time period Daniel is modeling, ditch lights would be correct, or on the earlier versions hood-mounted marker lights.  But in either case the dynamic brake details will have to be removed.

What I mean is the Metra carbody is a different phase completely compared to all the early F40PH releases because of the roof fans not being recessed into the roof. All the other stuff I mentioned removing would just be to get the not-recessed fans carbody, the major benefit being able to put the shell on the same Kato F40PH mechanism as the other Phase III builds.


Agreed on the detailing items:
The Metra marker light housings would also work for early-MBTA, but have to be moved up to the numberboards for late-MBTA. And the ditchlights are protruding rather than recessed so they would have to be changed as well. The dynamic brake grills on the side would be relatively easy to fill in and also the DB fan removal as well.

[peteski]

What I mean is the Metra carbody is a different phase completely compared to all the early F40PH releases because of the roof fans not being recessed into the roof. All the other stuff I mentioned removing would just be to get the not-recessed fans carbody, the major benefit being able to put the shell on the same Kato F40PH mechanism as the other Phase III builds.

I never owned or even examined one of those Kato Metra units (and since I don't model Metra) I didn't look closely at the model photos or specs, so I didn't realize that the entire shell was retooled.  I thought they just changed the nose part of the mold.

[Wutter]

I never owned or even examined one of those Kato Metra units (and since I don't model Metra) I didn't look closely at the model photos or specs, so I didn't realize that the entire shell was retooled.  I thought they just changed the nose part of the mold.

Here you go:

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[daniel_leavitt2000]

OK... so whats up with the exhaust bin orientation? I Just looked though a bunch of overhead shots of the MBTA F40s and they are oriented - with no consistency whatsoever. I see several Phase II with both forward and reverse grates, the Phase III look like they are all forward.

My guess is the entire hatch can be bolted down either way?

Looking at the Metra F40, there are some issues:
Wrong ditch lights. The MBTA are recessed.
Cab roof detail deleted under the AC units.
Class lights need to be removed.
Cab is missing the horn notch that is present on the MBTA units (this looks like a modification done to the early batch after their silver face repaint in the late 80's)
Nose battery box is different.

If I have to get a new donor model for the chassis, I may just bite the bullet and get some more Kato F40s. But I think it would be easier to remove the Q fan section with a standard fan section from an Atlas GP40-2 or similar than to try and make all those modifications to the Metra engine.

Anyway, lets take a look at the prototype in question.

As delivered until the late 80's:
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=2097379

This was the original black face scheme that lasted until the late 80's. Class lights stuck around for a few more years until the early 90's when they were removed. Starting in 1997 the MBTA added recessed ditch lights during light maintenance shopping.

Same engine in 1999:
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=3334868

Here you can see the cab notch for the new air horns (same Nathan 5 chimes as Amtrak at the time I believe), which are also noticeably smaller than the originals. Bell has been moved to between the number boards and the ditch lights have been added. The black along the roof sits lower. Silver replaces the black and fellow face. The top of the nose is painted flat black with anti-skid tread material. I think this is much more attractive than the original scheme.

The vandal screens would last until about 2008. I'm not sure if this was due to more durable glass being installed or people just getting bored throwing rocks at trains:
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=2096418

One other note... that purple man. Early engines did appear to be more red, and I remember a blue shift as they were repainted. Interestingly enough, that purple continued to patina as it faded and becomes a rather strange lilac color. The paint patch for the ditch lights is a great example as to how far that fade can go.

[mcjaco]

Ugh.  Those stupid Q fan sections on the Katos are solid plastic.  That was the worst part of the Cabbage project I did a few years back.

[peteski]

I like the as-delivered scheme better with black nose. The high mounted bell is also an attractive feature. But what you do depends on what period you are modeling, or how into prototypical accuracy you are. 

Have you thought about modeling the unique stretched versions MBTA had of those locos?  I don't remember their designation.

[daniel_leavitt2000]

I like the as-delivered scheme better with black nose. The high mounted bell is also an attractive feature. But what you do depends on what period you are modeling, or how into prototypical accuracy you are. 

Have you thought about modeling the unique stretched versions MBTA had of those locos?  I don't remember their designation.

Yep already have one 99% complete.
MBTA actually ordered the F40PH-2C from both MK and EMD. And there were slight differences.
1025-1036 were made by MK, 1050-1075 were built by EMD.

I heard that the HEP units were different between the two (Cummings in one and Cat on the other?) but can't verify that. MK units came without the bug eye class lights and the door panels may have been slightly different from the EMD version.

Both had strange square corner cab windows and curved door windows. The EMD units were brought up to MK specs when they hit their first major overhaul in the late 90's. After that point the models were indistinguishable except for road number. Both lines hit repainted during mid cycle shopping in the early 2000's. This is where the reverse lightning stripe was introduced. Like the standard F40PH, they lost their vandal panels around 2008.

I'll post my model this weekend