Hello
@johnb,
I purchased a few of the Bandai 3 chassis to be allocated for the GHQ PE Steeple cab project that was announced on the Railwire back in 2018...we're still waiting for the release someday?
https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=45607.0Got tired of waiting so I went ahead and ordered the Shapeways Baldwin shell and side frames. The Bandai 3 chassis needs to be modified (Rapido couplers cut off and chassis front/rear frame cut back) in order to snap into the shell from below, but it fits nicely. My shell came with three version of roofs depending on which prototype loco you want to model. As I mentioned earlier in this thread, all of my Bandai 3 chassis seemed to have a slight wobble when they were test run. The trucks are easy to disassemble and after swapping around various traction tire axles I found one combination that ran much smoother. The Shapeways shell has not yet received the Bestine cleaning treatment & I have already broken off one of the pilot steps...
be careful when handling the shell and it's brittle detail parts! Hope to take some video later this week.
