Author Topic: The N-scale Milwaukee Little Joe is done! Is it worth the effort?  (Read 16992 times)

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thbguy

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Hello all,

One of the reasons that it takes so long to get products to market is that a company may be working on many things at the same time.
You get so far on one project, switch to another, change priorities, etc. When your business is offering completely unique kits, it is difficult to gauge what will sell enough to actually make it viable.

Gregg Scott has been working on accurate, operational Milwaukee Electrics locomotives for about three years now. Entirely from scratch. Not shrunk down HO versions. And not kitbashed from anything. He has finished several versions of Milwaukee boxcabs, as well as the Little Joe. Many of his projects he does strictly for his own enjoyment. Right now he is trying to weigh the viability of putting the parts into production molds and offering highly specialized kits that can be used to create your own functional models.

Here is the current state of the Little Joe.



Note that it is fully powered.


So, it is possible for you to have one of these. Here is what it would take:
1) You will have to make it yourself and you have to be one of quite a few other people who commit to buying one (that is, more than 25 units).
2) The kit cannot be powered by anything else and is based on the old Arnold GG1 (and be accurate to the prototype).
3) It is not based on (and cannot be based on) the Kato GG1 model.
4) You need to buy 3 Arnold/Rapido GG1s to create 2 Little Joes (You just need the extra axles from a donor unit).
5) You would need to use basic modeling skills to disassemble the GG1s and make the chassis using parts in the kit.
6) The kits will not come with detailed instructions, but information non how to make it will be provided either on this site or on GHQs forum.
7) To make it like this model you will need to perform some advanced modeling tasks like turning down wheel flanges or bending grabs and ladders from wire.
8) Some additional parts, such as Kato GG1 pantographs would need to be purchased (and modified) to match the Milwaukee prototype.

If there are enough N-scale modellers left out there, we can make this happen.
So, the question is:
Is it worth the effort to you to actually model something for yourself that you want in N-scale if it isn't available RTR?

Hopefully, the answer is a resounding yes!


Otherwise, this and many other non-RTR projects probably won't become generally available, and that would truly be a shame for N-scale modellers.   

Michael Livingston
A Railroad Modeller in N-scale and TT-scale 
Michael Livingston
Modeling southern Ontario in N scale

Better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak out and remove all doubt. ~ Abraham Lincoln.

wcfn100

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Re: The N-scale Milwaukee Little Joe is done! Is it worth the effort?
« Reply #1 on: February 16, 2014, 11:59:41 PM »
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Being based on the Arnold GG1, I'd have to hear it run.

Jason

draskouasshat

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Re: The N-scale Milwaukee Little Joe is done! Is it worth the effort?
« Reply #2 on: February 17, 2014, 12:15:15 AM »
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Perhaps you could include an estimated cost? Is it $10? Oh wait, would it be $10000? My first born child?   I'd  be interested in a little Joe and a box cab just to have them but I can't justify a commitment if I don't know what its going to cost me.

Boy am I glad its not a shrunk down ho version though, you had me sweating bullets for a minute!
Draskos Modelworks. Contact me for your 3D modeling needs!
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Norway2112

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Re: The N-scale Milwaukee Little Joe is done! Is it worth the effort?
« Reply #3 on: February 17, 2014, 12:17:59 AM »
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The other point about those Arnold GG1s, you're looking at around 40 engines being cannibalized to make the minimum order of 25 of these kits.  Those engines aren't exactly common on eBay these days.

C855B

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Re: The N-scale Milwaukee Little Joe is done! Is it worth the effort?
« Reply #4 on: February 17, 2014, 12:38:19 AM »
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This appears to be a very worthy project of an iconic prototype, although not one I would personally be interested in. But keep up the good work!

The other point about those Arnold GG1s, you're looking at around 40 engines being cannibalized to make the minimum order of 25 of these kits.  Those engines aren't exactly common on eBay these days.

Not common? 44 have been listed on eBay in the past 90 days, which I would interpret as fairly plentiful. Going price is in the $40-50 neighborhood. Certainly a reasonable core to use as parts donors.

...mike

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mmagliaro

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Re: The N-scale Milwaukee Little Joe is done! Is it worth the effort?
« Reply #5 on: February 17, 2014, 01:05:31 AM »
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I think it's a beautiful model, but it just doesn't fit for my road or prototype.

I am posting here, mainly, because of the grumbling I see building about the old GG-1 mechanism.   Yes,
it is noisy.  But it definitely can be made to run slow and smooth, and pull very very well.  It takes
 replacing the motor (and stock Kato/Atlas diesel motors can fit in there pretty easily with a little
Dremel grinding of the frame cavity),  some extra wiper contacts to get all the wheels "live", and some
weight here and there.     Grinding down the flanges is relatively simple.  I did it the old fashioned way by
just running it on its back and laying a diamond file against the flanges.

I would hate to see this project nixed because of the old GG-1 mech.  It wasn't all that bad, and can be made into
a very serviceable runner.



Andrew Hutchinson

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Re: The N-scale Milwaukee Little Joe is done! Is it worth the effort?
« Reply #6 on: February 17, 2014, 01:26:36 AM »
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I'm not the intended customer but that's some real modelling there. Nice to see. I'd buy the "How I designed and produced a little joe in N scale" book if that means anything.

A Hutchinson

peteski

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Re: The N-scale Milwaukee Little Joe is done! Is it worth the effort?
« Reply #7 on: February 17, 2014, 01:30:26 AM »
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I'm surprised that nobody has mentioned this: Why couldn't this wonderful model be based on Kato GG1?  They run great and they, and parts for them, are readily available.
. . . 42 . . .

Sokramiketes

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Re: The N-scale Milwaukee Little Joe is done! Is it worth the effort?
« Reply #8 on: February 17, 2014, 01:45:10 AM »
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I'm surprised that nobody has mentioned this: Why couldn't this wonderful model be based on Kato GG1?  They run great and they, and parts for them, are readily available.

Quote
3) It is not based on (and cannot be based on) the Kato GG1 model.

up1950s

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Re: The N-scale Milwaukee Little Joe is done! Is it worth the effort?
« Reply #9 on: February 17, 2014, 02:15:36 AM »
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Resounding yes from me . Great for a Model RR museum .


Richie Dost

u18b

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Re: The N-scale Milwaukee Little Joe is done! Is it worth the effort?
« Reply #10 on: February 17, 2014, 02:22:28 AM »
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I highly respect Gregg Scott.
What a great modeller.

But when someone tells me it is impossible.....

well....  :trollface:

Ron Bearden
CSX N scale Archivist
http://u18b.com

"All get what they want-- not all like what they get."  Aslan the Lion in the Chronicles of Narnia by C.S.Lewis.

peteski

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Re: The N-scale Milwaukee Little Joe is done! Is it worth the effort?
« Reply #11 on: February 17, 2014, 02:36:40 AM »
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3) It is not based on (and cannot be based on) the Kato GG1 model.

Well, I was curious as to why not.  Nevermind, I guess.
. . . 42 . . .

sd45elect2000

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Re: The N-scale Milwaukee Little Joe is done! Is it worth the effort?
« Reply #12 on: February 17, 2014, 08:29:26 AM »
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I'm in for all 12. I wish to power it by catenary .

Randy

garethashenden

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Re: The N-scale Milwaukee Little Joe is done! Is it worth the effort?
« Reply #13 on: February 17, 2014, 11:12:47 AM »
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Well, I was curious as to why not.  Nevermind, I guess.

I see three possibilities;
1) There is something about the Kato GG1 that makes it unsuitable. The motor is too big or something like that. There's some sort of problem with adapting the Kato mechanism.
2) This project was begun before the Kato model's release and once he was at it he stayed with what he had.
3) The desginer had Arnold GG1s to hand used what he had.

I hope it's not number 3. That's fine if it's your own project but with something that's offered for sale...  :facepalm:

LV LOU

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Re: The N-scale Milwaukee Little Joe is done! Is it worth the effort?
« Reply #14 on: February 17, 2014, 11:58:05 AM »
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I think it's a beautiful model, but it just doesn't fit for my road or prototype.

I am posting here, mainly, because of the grumbling I see building about the old GG-1 mechanism.   Yes,
it is noisy.  But it definitely can be made to run slow and smooth, and pull very very well.  It takes
 replacing the motor (and stock Kato/Atlas diesel motors can fit in there pretty easily with a little
Dremel grinding of the frame cavity),  some extra wiper contacts to get all the wheels "live", and some
weight here and there.     Grinding down the flanges is relatively simple.  I did it the old fashioned way by
just running it on its back and laying a diamond file against the flanges.

I would hate to see this project nixed because of the old GG-1 mech.  It wasn't all that bad, and can be made into
a very serviceable runner.
Actually,any of the old Arnolds can be greatly improved by shimming the large brass gear with a thin brass washer.That gear wobbles around,and causes most of the goofy noises.It never breaks in,it just wears..My FA's all run fairly well..