Obesssive Atlas Conrail B23-7 walkway observation

[daniel_leavitt2000]

Anyone not a hardcore Conrail fan may want to exit this thread now...

So I was renumbering another B23-7 last night and planning a new 28XX series paint job when I noticed something strange.

Atlas has 4 styles of walkways: Fat anticlimber with button latches, fat anticlimber with knuckle busting latches, thin anticlimber with button latches and thin anticlimber with knucklebuster latches. From what I understand, the  button latch walkways also feature two holes in each lift pad.

Conrail uses button latches as seen here:
http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/cr/cr1948awb.jpg

Unlike the model, these latches protrude from the body.

Here is an example of the knuckle buster - which looks like you have to pull out a ring and twist it.
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1662994

Note that the button style on CR 1948 come with jack pads with holes and the knuckle buster equipped Sou unit does not...

Looking through my inventory, I noticed that # 1989, a CR Quality unit Atlas ran in 2009 features a knuckle buster latch with no holes in the jack pads.

Here is the prototype:
http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/cr/cr1989aga.jpg
Button latches with no holes in the jack pad.

So, was this walkway selection deliberate? Was it in error? This run seems to be the only one with knuckle buster latches for a Conrail unit.

For reference, here is an earlier CR quality atlas run on eBay:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/172058287042

[tehachapifan]

We're not obsessive, we're "discerning".

[eja]

Way too much time and much better eye-sight than I have .....
 

[wcfn100]

This kind of stuff is really only important on freight cars, I wouldn't worry about it.

 

Jason

[John]

I have no idea what you just described .. how about circling the "button" on a pic

[Catt]

The "buttons" are the latches on the various doors other than the crew doors.

[jmlaboda]

Having an eye for detail is a benefit not a curse... be thankful that you are like you are... there is no shame in it!!!

[daniel_leavitt2000]

I have no idea what you just described .. how about circling the "button" on a pic

The latches are used on the battery access door below the cab. This was such a small technical spotting feature that I figured anyone who didn't know what they are wouldn't be bothered with this thread.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Oh man. Now I'm mad I bought the replacement frame I did!

Good spot.

But I'm also not going to lose sleep over it.

[John]

Oh man. Now I'm mad I bought the replacement frame I did!

Good spot.

But I'm also not going to lose sleep over it.

I have a couple of B23-7 frames .. maybe i have the correct one

[cjm413]

Atlas mixed up the trucks on their Family Lines B23-7 with SCL reporting marks - it came with AAR-B rather than Blomberg trucks.  Oddly, the one with the L&N reporting marks from the same release did had the correct FB-2 trucks, which makes the AAR-B trucks on the SCL unit that much harder to explain....

[Iain]

Atlas mixed up the trucks on their Family Lines B23-7 with SCL reporting marks - it came with AAR-B rather than Blomberg trucks.  Oddly, the one with the L&N reporting marks from the same release did had the correct FB-2 trucks, which makes the AAR-B trucks on the SCL unit that much harder to explain....

Sounds like a goof

[daniel_leavitt2000]

I have a couple of B23-7 frames .. maybe i have the correct one

I am looking for additional B23 shells and parts. If Ed isn't interested, I am.

Ed, its an easy fix. Just check to see of the proto has holes in the jack pads. If it does, just add them with a #78 bit. You can use the same bit to remove the knuckle busting rings from the battery box doors, in essence making it a button style. Turn the drill counter clockwise. This will remove the detail but not cut into the shell.

Technically, we should be drilling through the battery box holes and adding styrene rod to make a proper button latch - something Atlas didn't do with their "button" style walkways. Oddly enough, this is a detail the Bachmann B23-7 gets right. With their RS3 out, you can replace the FB-2 trucks with ARR-B and have a proper Conrail B23-7 in the 28XX series

[John]

I am looking for additional B23 shells and parts. If Ed isn't interested, I am.

see my response in the Atlas Horn wanted thread .. there is a guy on ebay -- sooo-much-stuff that has all kinds of parts .. he combines on shipping, ($3.99)  .. just a happy customer

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I've already done my frame.

And, I think it's actually correct!