Has anyone converted a Del Prado Krauss-Maffei model to operational?

[nkalanaga]

Spookshow:  I had the predecessor to that SD45, with the plastic frame and two metal weights.  Great model, wouldn't pull it's own weight, if one could get it to run at all.  Absolutely horrible pickup.

I finally hard-wired it to a Minitrix F-unit, quite prototypical for the early BN.  It still wouldn't run reliably, and the F could barely drag it!

[OldEastRR]

In the photos of the HO locos, is it the cab or hood unit?

[Spades]

In the photos of the HO locos, is it the cab or hood unit?

The photo shows the initial order KM's.  I would say cowl units and if so SP's last cowl units purchased purchased.  The DRGW units were eventually purchased by the SP.

From the MY ESPEE  Modellers Archieves The first order was successful enough, for SP to go back to Krauss- Maffei and ordered another 15 incorporating upgrades developed with the six Prototype Units, and built with more American-sourced parts to the more contemporary 'roadswitcher' hood-style configuration.

[Mark5]

Spookshow:  I had the predecessor to that SD45, with the plastic frame and two metal weights.  Great model, wouldn't pull it's own weight, if one could get it to run at all.  Absolutely horrible pickup.

One of the first locos I bought back in pre-history was an Atlas (Mehano) SD45. Unlike the Con-cor iteration, it only had one powered truck (but a 5 pole motor). To help the pickup, I swapped out the traction tired wheels for solid ones. It could pull, but you'd need one hand to count the cars.  Thankfully, MU was the typical consist. These drives are primitive!

Eventually, I put it aside to find a better mechanism to power it (along with replacing the horrible handrails) - never really got back to it.



The Concor mechanism was a horrible choice to power that Krauss-Maffei! 

Mark

[OldEastRR]

The photo shows the initial order KM's.  I would say cowl units and if so SP's last cowl units purchased purchased.  The DRGW units were eventually purchased by the SP.

From the MY ESPEE  Modellers Archieves The first order was successful enough, for SP to go back to Krauss- Maffei and ordered another 15 incorporating upgrades developed with the six Prototype Units, and built with more American-sourced parts to the more contemporary 'roadswitcher' hood-style configuration.

There were only 6 of the cowl units made. What did the "hood" versions look like?

[Spades]

There were only 6 of the cowl units made. What did the "hood" versions look like?

http://espee.railfan.net/nonindex/km_photos/9004_sp-ml4000-john_rosser.jpg

http://espee.railfan.net/nonindex/km_photos/9016_sp-ml4000-john_rosser.jpg

From this linky, don't be afraid to try: http://espee.railfan.net/spml4000.html

[OldEastRR]

Aha. Cowl units had front doors and decks.

[randgust]

There is a survivor on the Niles Canyon, one of the hood units.

I actually saw this on the SP - as the 8799 'camera car' north of LA, on a 1972 Amtrak trip, and got a fleeting snapshot from my Instamatic.   

https://www.ncry.org/about/collection/diesel/southern-pacific-9010/

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Other than the PRR T1 'new steam engine' project, this has to be one of the more spectacularly difficult preservation/construction projects out there.

[Missaberoad]

For what it's worth, there is one such instance for sale on eBay right now (using a Con-Cor chassis): https://www.ebay.com/itm/146048693105

It's a shame it looks like the workmanship is top notch.
...but it's kind of a case of a guy trying to get the 10k worth of work he put into his 500$ car...

[Philip H]

It's a shame it looks like the workmanship is top notch.
...but it's kind of a case of a guy trying to get the 10k worth of work he put into his 500$ car...

The relisted opening bid is $150.  Looks like he's got about $25 in for the Del Prado shell; maybe another $25-30 in for the Drive (depending on what it is etc) and maybe $70 for the DCC decoder? So that get's you to $120 in parts . . . .

[bbunge]

There is a survivor on the Niles Canyon, one of the hood units.

I actually saw this on the SP - as the 8799 'camera car' north of LA, on a 1972 Amtrak trip, and got a fleeting snapshot from my Instamatic.   

https://www.ncry.org/about/collection/diesel/southern-pacific-9010/

/>
Other than the PRR T1 'new steam engine' project, this has to be one of the more spectacularly difficult preservation/construction projects out there.

The restoration is an amazing story.  Getting the Maybach engines working took an international team, including experts from Europe coming over to help.