well, this is all a lot to consider. was tim was opening the door as if to say he would take on such a casting job? i'm open to doing this, but as was rightly stated i'd need to talk to rob first to see if this would infringe on AZL's work ... AND everyone would have to remember what they are getting -- a kitbash. it's not going to be a production perfect model like AZL or MTL can make. a few things have to be allowed to get it here. understood? tim, do you (did you) have any worries about the motor heat affecting the thin resin on your shell castings. if that is not a problem, then it would greatly simplify things. so much to consider. i know it will dig my hole even deeper, but ... with only about 2 scale feet required to lengthen the sill (walkway) one could use the stock AZL mechanism without having to modify it. that would be a plus for something like this. well, we'll see. i haven't finished this one yet! dave f.
i took a lot of pictures off the rail photo sites, counted doors and looked up statistics. i also walked around the Rio Grande heritage unit in pueblo, co. spent about 1/2 hour with it. the plow was showing some wear and a thin chip of paint was about to come off, so i kept it to match the color correctly. it was "true" Rio Grande yellow (best match was Badger acrylic D&RGW yellow -- which i hate to use. floquil Rio Grande yellow is MUCH better to use and the next closest match). i was impressed that UP took the effort to match the paint to the original color. just recently john mui (shamoo737) sent me a marvelous reprint of a published article by "Diesel Era" on the SD70ACe complete with many measurements and good close up photos. john would have to tell you what publication, date, volume, whatever it was. i also believe Model Railroader did drawings at one point, but i may be confusing this loco with another. but i seem to recall that it included drawings of the GEVO, too. hope that helps. dave f.
I Gotta have one at all costs Thanks Dave for disclosing your scale drawings source. Now if John would tell us exactly what year and date he saw the drawings, my heart would stop beating so fast. Dave I will contact you off list. Waiting for Sgt. Tim to contact you could take days, as he is so busy.
Harald, its the July/ August 2007, volume18, number 4 issue of Diesel Era. The MR drawings is in the same issue where Jeffrey MacHan's suitcase layout was publish. I think it was Nov 2005 issue, but I am not sure. Randy, do you have the issue date?
I Gotta have one at all costs Thanks John for providing that valuable information. Now I will proceed to dig down in the archives.
Wow ! I go away from the forum for A DAY and I miss all this ? Jees . .. I can't wait to see that painted !! Taking notes ! Primo ! .
MR Nov 2004 I dug out that copy of MR. It is the November 2004 edition. Cover highlights a Rio Grande narrow gauge train starting across a tressle bridge with title "Rocky Mountain Railroading"! I was on a turnaround/shutdown of the Pascagoula, Mississippi Chevron Refinery when this edition came out. When I flipped the pages and found the GEVO vs. ACe article I was blown away. Huge photos and drawings of both locos. I was so proud of MR for doing that piece but I bet the author, Jeffrey Capps got scolded for going outside the Norm of MR's Boring mass wordage and Lack of detailed photos. He did good though. Ok, back to my rock I crawled out from under!!!! Hobo Tim p.s. David, if you want some cast resin copies I can make a RTV mold and cast them for you. I do have a concern about heat affecting the resin. I am wondering if making etched brass side plates like AZL has if this will dissipate the heat or retain it. I know some guys LOVE to run the #&@%$ out of their locos at shows and have heard of reports where people melt their shells (no offense MTL "F7's) but I have not really heard of anyone complain about heat with the AZL SD70's yet. Am I wrong? How about it?? Anyone experience heat from their SD70/75 while running it?????? I can probebly etch some side panels if it will help with the heat, that is if it is an issue!!!!!! Of course any casting of copies will have to be your call. Short Tragic Story: In March of 2004 I built what was Z scales first PS2 3 bay covered hopper entirely from styrene. Stupid me painted it, with a brush, then painted it again. Ugh!!! I wanted more and so did my newly found Z_Scale Yahoo group. I tried to strip the paint but the PS2 fell apart. I had learned to make RTV molds and home etch brass just to make more. My experience was Novice and my efforts futile!!! I would up making another PS2 covered hopper master some months later. Moral of this story is; So much work went into that first PS2 3 bay covered hopper all for nothing. I should have never painted it.
Dave, I don't think AZL will have any problems if you want to cast the ACe that you have created. It is SO different from our offering, even though the base is AZL. I personally have ethical problems with straight castings of locomotive shells being sold. I have never liked those who cast MTL's F7s shells and sold them. I would have problems with C44 shells being sold that were from AZL's work. Sorry Tim. But let's be honest, is it fair for a company to spend money on design, research, and manufacturing only to have a cast made and sold of their product? This just rubs me the wrong way. But, if casts are made for home use or for scratch building projects, I am okay on this. I also think the ACe is okay since it is far removed from the original. I would just ask that anyone creating shells with AZL parts just email me off list before you sell them. On another note, I have SO been working on AZL to do the ACe. Of course, I also want MACs... but you never know... AZL may go back to their roots. As for heat, the Faulhauber motors emit very low heat. I have never felt one overheat. Rob
Rob, are there any Dash-9's still left in the AZL inventory or are they all sold out? Personally, I would like castings of the Dash-9 to make a Dash-8 from, even if it's just a dummy instead of powered. Randy
Dave, your M-2 looks awesome! I would love to get a "kit" or two if this comes off. I'm curious, do you have anything in your collection that is actually plain old original stock? ;-) Tim, same for the Dash-9 parts castings. John, Tim beat me to the article list from MR. It has BOTH the EMD ACE and the GE GEVo. GE now has the first phase of a Hybrid locomotive based on the GEVo now as well, though it's not fully operational yet, it is making the rounds for publicity at times. Randy
NOOOOOOOOOOO, not to $600 for a Ace. Please say it aint so. I guess I better save up my dimes. Saving pennies its going to take forever.
Randy, Yes AZL still have C44s in stock. They are the ATSF version in 3 roadnames. John, not too worry, if AZL goes this route... think injection aka SD70 pricing! Rob
These are MINE!!!! Rob, the C44-9's that I cast are for my own use only. Not even Jeffrey White will be getting these. If I can't have the real thing I will make many copies and flood my rails!!!! AT&SF and BNSF in Warbonnet BNSF in Heritage I & II All 4 paint schemes!!!!!!!! Hobo Tim
Dave!!!! Dave, If you ever want to take on a slightly different yet similar scratchbuild, you can always build an SD90MAC. You can find all the details you need in the Railroad Model Craftsman May 1997 edition!!!!! Hobo Tim
thanks tim, looks like i'll be busy for a while. i'm going to make a shell to cast, now that the way seems clear. i'm working on the railings to etch. we'll see how that goes. i'm sure chris would help me if i get stumped on something. if i make the kitbash SD70ACe would you cast it? seems we would make a lot of people happy. you could keep the profits, i would just want an couple of shells in exchange. what do you think? dave f.
Sounds like a Cool Project Dave, Sounds like a Cool Project!!!!! You finish the master. I will need to buy some fresh RTV and resin for this project. The stuff I have is expired. All in all I think the Z community will sleep better at night!!!!! Just let me know when it is my turn at the bat!!!! Hobo Tim
An SD70ACe for Xmas I am extremely delighted to know the way has been cleared for Dave to go ahead and cast these brutes. I am completely deleriously happy. Daves model looks so good, especially the fans, and wow look at that squared up nose. Dave I hope you commision Tim to make enough copies so that everbody can get 3 or 4. I'm sure the demand will be that intense. A little correction is due on my part. I reported seeing the SD70 ACe's quite frequently on Norfolk southern's line. But that was a mistake. What I really was seeing was SD70m-2's. But they look so identical probably only a true true diesel guy could tell them apart. What is the difference?
