new type of Narrow Gauge Boxcab Diesel

[Mileswestern]

I thought you guys would get a kick out of this.

Here's my latest project, a narrow gauge Boxcab Diesel. The superdetailed MDC shell sits on a widened Kato GP7 Chassis. The shell was slightly modified to accept the lowered pilot endbeams.

This was for a client of mine and the "Devils Gulch & Helengon" apparently is an old John Allen name?

If you want to learn more about it, or have one built for yourself, visit: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.weatheringman.com/Boxcab.html">http://www.weatheringman.com/Boxcab.html</a><!-- m -->







If you want to learn more about them, just visit: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.weatheringman.com/Boxcab.html">http://www.weatheringman.com/Boxcab.html</a><!-- m -->

[Trucklover]

That looks pretty neat Miles, and the weathering looks great too!!

[Bigsteel]

thats really cool looking miles ,how much for a standard DC unit? what about a gauge member discount --josh

[Mileswestern]

The Standard-Gauge Chassis I have to use comes DCC equipped from the factory, so I can't really "undo" it. However, like all good DCC-equipped locomotives, it should run perfectly on DC as well without any problems.
(Unless you mean the HOn3 Version, which I can purchase either DCC or DC locomotives for you, just tell me which you need.)

THE GAUGE MEMBER DISCOUNT:
Order one of the boxcab locomotives, and I'll throw in a custom painted pair of crewmembers FREE! How about that?

[LiveSteamer]

Miles that looks great. Nicely done my friend.

[eightyeightfan1]

That does look good.
Wish I had use for one.

[nachoman]

very nice work! Have you considered taking some old athearn hustlers and converting them to HOn3?

[Mileswestern]

I could, I suppose. The shells for the hustler is rather antiquated and crude. I think MDC did an excellent on this 40+ year old casting IMHO, that's why I decided to re-release them.

I would only do that as a custom project. I'm scratchbuilding a more 3-foot gauge width (7-8 feet wide as opposed to 10' wide) centercab diesel locomotive. Not sure if I'll ever finish it, but it runs nicely.

[nachoman]

I believe Shaygetz has made some cool hustlers. There were many unique narrow gauge critters - and I think there would be a limited demand for them in HOn3. You could also try taking bachmann 70-tonners and turning them into HOn3. There were several similar examples running on a few US railroads - the SP, and the US potash come to mind.

[Mileswestern]

Shaygetz work is pure artistry, he has that special touch when it comes to antiquated models like that. I'd be better off creating new HOn3 diesel shells out of resin instead.

The Brass GE 50Tonners (they look like 70tonners, but they're smaller, and identical to SP's #1) are easy to come by, it might be worth making a resin shell for those too, I guess.

I'm willing to do custom work like that, I just need a serious customer. I don't have time or willpower to experiment on my own time, especially with so much client work on my table. If anyone here is seriously interested in having an HOn3 locomotive built, let me know.

[Ralph]

I LIKE it!
Ralph

[Drew]

That is a great looking model Miles!
You did a much better job than me...
This was my first venture into building a narrow gauge loco...and I started with a boxcab!



This one was HOn30, since it's built on an N scale diesel chassis... (I've always admired you guys that can re-gauge things like that!)
It involved a Life-Like FA-2, an old cheapo HO caboose, & a few sips of Jim Beam!

[Mileswestern]

Hy drew, that's pretty cool! It's nice see another boxcab with more modest dimensions.

[nkp_174]

I agree that those old MDC Boxcabs are still really cool locomotives. They are one of the few types of diesels that I enjoy (the others being Grandt Line's 23t boxcabs and NKP PA-1s).

I would guess that you sell more HOn30 than HOn3 models? I say that as I've noticed that HOn30 types...as well as the pre-Bman On30 types seemed to be far more interested in having gas/diesel power than HOn3 and On3 types.

[ocalicreek]

Great looking engines, all around! I've got one of these shells I received in a box lot of 'train stuff' from a neighbor. I had plans to put it on an early Bachmann Spectrum 44 tonner, you know the ones prone to cracked gears. I figured I could cobble together one working power truck and gut the other. Means it wouldn't pull much, but in service on Murdock's Landing it wouldn't have to pull but 3 or 4 cars.

The other plan for the 44 tonner was to again gut one of the trucks but leave the original shell intact. Then I'd either put sound in the gutted side, or open up the doors and put a dummy motor in place. Both are still under consideration, but after seeing how classy you can make one of these boxy things look, I'm tending toward the box cab. Either way it's on the shelf for a while yet.

As to the DG&H, yes, it was John Allen's narrow gauge branch, in HOn3. Cliff Grandt's companion line in On3 was the Hardscrabble and Great Divide. Not sure if there was a connection between the two, other than John photographing Cliff's work to aid in detailing. But if you look carefully...DG&H reversed is H&GD....hmmm....

Galen