Lima LS-1000/1200 Scale Decision Survey

[Dreadnought]

Hello!

I am looking into producing a resin shell kit for a Lima LS-1000/1200 Switcher. The reason I chose this locomotive is because the LS-1000 and LS-1200 used an identical carbody, so both could be modeled by one model. It was also used by several major roads, including B&O, Wabash, NYC, New Haven, and others.

The front locomotive in this picture is a Lima LS-1000.


Now I want to decide whether to produce the kit in HO scale, N scale or both. Hence, I have created a survey to gauge interest in each scale.

This kit will hopefully be able to be adapted to either Bachmann or Atlas Baldwin chassis in HO and Atlas or Baldwin chassis in N scale. If you have interest in the kit, please fill out the form. Once I decide what scale to do the kit in, I will begin taking pre-orders. If enough pre-orders are received, the locomotive will be produced. The cost of the kit will be about $110 in HO scale or around $90 in N scale. Also, hand-finished ready-to-run models will be available.

Here is the form:
https://goo.gl/forms/2X89pFVWw9x571042

Thanks for your input.
Dreadnought

[Chris333]

I'm at work. How close are these to the ones Erie had? They are kinda modern for me, but almost all of Erie's Limas were used in my area.
http://file.vintageadbrowser.com/c4jdz1p7pwifoa.jpg

[Dreadnought]

Chris,

Thank you for your interest. I believe that the Erie owned several of these switchers: they owned at least 10 LS-1000s, which are identical (externally) to the LS-1200.

Regards,
Dreadnought

[jmlaboda]

Gotta ask... what sort of chassis can be used to power such a shell?

Here is a list of original owners, just in case anyone is interested...

LIMA LS-1000
Armco Steel (3 units) 707 (ex-Lima-Hamilton demonstrator 1001), 708, 709
B&O (10 units) 330 – 339
Erie (10 units) 650 – 659
NYC (6 units) 8400 – 8405
NKP (4 units) 305 – 308
TP&W (3 units) 300 (ex Lima-Hamilton demonstrator 1000), 301, 302
WAB (2 units) 400, 407 (ex Lima-Hamilton demonstrators 1002 and 1003)

LIMA LS-1200
Armco Steel (3 units) 710, E109, E110
B&O (24 units) 320 – 329, 340 – 353
CR&I (NYC) (6 units) 8406 – 8411
NH (10 units) 630 – 639
NKP (4 units) 309 – 312
TRRA (6 units) 1200 – 1205
WAB (10 units) 401 – 406, 408 – 411

[peteski]

Gotta ask... what sort of chassis can be used to power such a shell?

Um, that was mentioned in the initial post:

This kit will hopefully be able to be adapted to either Bachmann or Atlas Baldwin chassis in HO and Atlas or Baldwin chassis in N scale.

See next post. 

[Dreadnought]

jmlaboda,

The chassis which will be used for this shell will most likely be a Bowser or Stewart VO-1000 in HO scale, or the Atlas VO-1000, Atlas Alco S-2 or Bachmann Alco S-4 chassis in N scale.

Regards,
Dreadnought

[Chris333]

I'm interested in N scale 

[Dreadnought]

peteski,

I've just noticed that's incorrect. It should say 'Bowser or Stewart' Baldwin chassis. Bachmann and Atlas do not make a Baldwin switcher chassis. Apologies for the error.

Dreadnought

[pjm20]

What would be most accurate between the S4, S2, and VO-1000?

[jmlaboda]

Thanks.  Will be problems using ALCO S-unit chassis... they are too short.  Trying to find technical info to see what the truck spacing is... looks like it might be able to use to Atlas VO1000 in N but want to be sure...

[Dreadnought]

pjm20 and jmlaboda,

I have looked into the issue recently and found that the VO-1000 chassis is the closest to correct. It is about one foot too long overall. The S-series chassis is too short indeed, by about two feet, but this is less noticeable in N scale. The VO-1000 does use the correct trucks, though. The reason I chose to include the S-series switches in the N-scale category is to allow the chassis to be able to fit more than one frame. Further, the N-scale VO-1000 may have problems with the mechanism fitting under a shorter hood, since the Lima switcher has a shorter hood than the Baldwin switcher. I don't believe this is as much of a problem in HO scale.

Dreadnought

[Dreadnought]

Hey all,

Here's an update on the chassis situation. It appears that the Bowser VO-1000 will not be a suitable chassis. Its mechanism takes up too much space within the locomotive. It appears the Stewart VO-1000 still fits. Hopefully, the Stewart S-12 switcher will also fit. Of course, this only applies to HO scale. If anyone has any information on the height of the N Scale Atlas VO-1000 mechanism, please tell me.

Regards,
Dreadnought

[up1950s]

My Wyoming & La Grande could use some Limas .

[pjm20]

Atlas '05 Mechanism

[dcutting]

If you use the Alco S-2 from atlas, you can have sound without excessive effort... I think I could ignore the 2 foot difference in distance between the trucks if there's sound pre-installed. I'm doubtful that the VO-1000 will be the correct height. The hood looks significantly taller and it will be a squeeze.

David