Scale Trains SD40-2 Fuel Tank height fix?..

[learmoia]

@turbowhiz

So what did you do to fix it?

« Reply #34 on: Yesterday at 11:42:43 PM »

Before (came just like this… No screw glueage or signs of factory re-work):


Fixed, or at the very least radically improved:

[wazzou]

It looks like the gap between air and fuel tanks has been closed up.
I don't own one to understand how that was accomplished, but it looks more like it should, I think.

[learmoia]

It looks like the gap between air and fuel tanks has been closed up.
I don't own one to understand how that was accomplished, but it looks more like it should, I think.

Agreed.. the top of the fuel tank should be almost touching the bottom of the air tank.. and the bottom of the fuel tank should be visually even with the bottom components of the trucks.

I'm guessing these nubs on the inside of the tank surround by speaker holes has something to do with it.

[turbowhiz]

I’ll post a more complete version when I get a chance but you need to mill the frame:

(Disassemble/Mill frame/subtle but important tweaks (tank filler, shorten screws, speaker etc.)/Reassemble)



On my Cheesie example it wasn't too bad, but it was a bit more work then I thought it would be (I figured on mill and done, but the devil is in the detail as always). I’m not sure how much more trouble the factory ditch lights add as my version doesn’t have those. It looks like the marker/class lights were intended to be operable at some point in development, there are clear signs of that.

(All this on a model that I bought only to test couplers on!)

Hopefully future runs of this SD-40-2 won’t have this issue. I really like this model, but I understand why it’s been polarizing. Not only does the low tank cause operational issues on less than perfect track (e.g. any typical modular layout), it’s not prototypically accurate either.

[chessie system fan]

That does look better! Considering Scale Trains uses Tru Color paint on their models, I wonder if a 3D printed fuel tank  alternative would work.  Hopefully, the model wouldn't need any milling and the paint will match. Plus, the original fuel tank could be put back on if it didn't work.    I'll do some investigating since I've already drawn up an EMD tank.

[learmoia]

Is there a reason you can't mill the nubs on the tank and (maybe if needed) mill down the front part of the tank the same depth  and accomplish the same thing?

[learmoia]

I emailed both threads to Scale Trains to review... so hopefully they can address it on future runs..

Update 16:31 Central... I got a response almost instantly.. they are aware and working on a resolution.

[peteski]

That does look better! Considering Scale Trains uses Tru Color paint on their models,

Do they really?
Yes, I saw the mention of this (very helpful for touch-ups thing) when I bough the GTEL Big Blow UP Turbine, but the Tru-Color UP gray and yellow paints shades were not even close.  Other Scale Trains models I bough don't seem to mention the Tru-Color thing.

[turbowhiz]

That does look better! Considering Scale Trains uses Tru Color paint on their models, I wonder if a 3D printed fuel tank  alternative would work.  Hopefully, the model wouldn't need any milling and the paint will match. Plus, the original fuel tank could be put back on if it didn't work.    I'll do some investigating since I've already drawn up an EMD tank.

You need to find .5 mm (0.02”) for the factory fuel tank supports to reach the frame. I’m not convinced you have the room in the bottom of the tank speaker cavity to find .5 mm; You won’t have much if anything left for the screws to hold to at the very least.

Is there a reason you can't mill the nubs on the tank and (maybe if needed) mill down the front part of the tank the same depth  and accomplish the same thing?

Nubs on the tank? If you’re referring to those bars on the inside of the tank, those aren’t in play with respect to the overall fuel tank height. They only interfere with the speaker itself. Removing them does not alter the fuel tank height at all.

The filler block in the front of the tank was oh so subtly too tall in my example too, so I removed it from the tank and slightly lowered it from the inside edges. I’m also going to add some weight in that space too. The filler block also needs to be filed down on the inside to cavity edge to match a taper at the top of the frame/tank section.

I emailed both threads to Scale Trains to review... so hopefully they can address it on future runs..

Update 16:31 Central... I got a response almost instantly.. they are aware and working on a resolution.

Glad to hear that! I'm not exactly sure if there is a really easy fix for existing models short of frame replacement which isn't easy. Maybe a super thin wall fuel replacement fuel tank, but that seems pretty dicey.

(I will note the UP specific fuel tank w/coupler knuckles. My Chessie example does not have that detail.)

[learmoia]

Do they really?
Yes, I saw the mention of this (very helpful for touch-ups thing) when I bough the GTEL Big Blow UP Turbine, but the Tru-Color UP gray and yellow paints shades were not even.  Other Scale Trains models I bough don't seem to mention the Tru-Color thing.

It's great as long as you mention what color of Tru-Color your matching to.

A UP Turbine it should be obvious..

But lets say I want to back date this to pre-Conrail Quality..

I remove the Quality logo and need to patch the gray.... which Tru Color Gray did they match to..

I asked but I don't think I got a response.

[Mark5]

I emailed both threads to Scale Trains to review... so hopefully they can address it on future runs..

Update 16:31 Central... I got a response almost instantly.. they are aware and working on a resolution.

Thanks Ian - appreciated!  I can take this off my "to do" list (contacting ST about this).

Mark

[chessie system fan]

Do they really?
Yes, I saw the mention of this (very helpful for touch-ups thing) when I bough the GTEL Big Blow UP Turbine, but the Tru-Color UP gray and yellow paints shades were not even close.  Other Scale Trains models I bough don't seem to mention the Tru-Color thing.

I did some checking on their website, and some models say they match. For example, the Milwaukee SD40-2 page says:

"Paint colors match Tru-Color Paint color: TCP-011 Black and TCP-111 Milw Orange."

So not actual Tru Color paint, but "match." And I'm sure the primer color or plastic color affects color shade too.

Interestingly, the Chessie SD40-2 page doesn't list anything about paint matches.

[carlso]

Ian & Mark,

I have attempted to contact Tru-Color paint in Phoenix 3 times with no reply whatsoever. If I did not like the paint I would not buy from them and their lousy customer care. The dealer I buy from told me they do not reply to him either. Not a very smart way to do business.

Be well !

[delamaize]

This was posted on another thread that got locked because the OP and another poster were bickering like Children. 

Bob Gilmore deserves credit for his investigation and documentation of his fix.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/427105965735906/permalink/938079227971908/

[peteski]

This was posted on another thread that got locked because the OP and another poster were bickering like Children. 

Bob Gilmore deserves credit for his investigation and documentation of his fix.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/427105965735906/permalink/938079227971908/

Locked threads can still be read.  Just for reference (for people who totally avoid FB) I believe Bob also posted the info in that locked thread. See https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=57605.msg793370#msg793370. That thread also has some other useful info except for few posts at the end.