Full Version: Decorated Atlas H0 bodies
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I read in the Atlas forum about the newly available decorated H0 bodies/shell of the master series for various diesel engines from some selected railroads. I understand that is a new offering from Atlas. Each shell is $35.
That looks interesting to me as a good money saver to get a new suit for a old engine or get a beef up for a Trainman drive.
I used that offering to get SP shells for RS11 and SD35 and some ATSF GP38 shells to beef up Trainman GP38 of CSS and make them fit my current layout.

You do not get new trucks of the master series and may (as in my case CSS/black to ATSF/silver) you have to paint them. An other point to observe may be the tank size. They are available too to make a fit.

I don't now why but they hard to find on their web side. Here a direct link from the Atlas forum https://secure.atlasrr.com/mod1/go.asp?Cc=HODECBODY. Be warned, the Atlas web site is close to down since some hours.
The shells arrived today.
The three Santa Fe GP38 have been installed on the Trainman CSS GP38 without problems. The large tank came with the shells and the trucks got painted silver. It is great to have three Atlas Master series GP38 on the layout for a real budget price.
The SP RS11 fitted also on the CNW RS11. I did a test only without painting etc. The SP SD35 does not really fit on the CR SD35. The misfit is marginal but I will need some more time I will take later. Looks like tolerances of different production series.
However, I am very happy with the option of buying shells only to change railroads or upgrade Trainman to Master series.

Some hours later...
The SD35 is ok too.I did convert the shell from Master design to Trainman design. That is glue the hood and the walkway into one unit, remove the complicated tabs and use the couplers for mounting only. That is much simpler and more robust design forgiving small tolerances. The Trainman work that way and they have no problem at all.

Five Master series Atlas engines with superb drive mechanics new on my layout for the cost of one 2285_

ps.You may ask how fit RS11 and SD35 into my layout? They do not fit (far to old) but I love them and could not resist to get at least the RR right Wink
Got a pic or two ?
e-paw Wrote:Got a pic or two ?

Those are the AT&SF GP38-2. The second from left is a "real" Atlas Master model. The others are CSS Trainman with AT&SF shells, black painted large tank (CSS has the small tank) and silver painted trucks.
[Image: Img_0197.jpg?t=1281182723]

and here are my former CR SD35 and CNW RS11 with new shells and gray painted tanks and trucks. The RS11 is a very old Atlas model with thick handrails. The CNW had the same handrails. Looks like Atlas is not doing "new things" but clearing their excessive inventory. The gray paint used is PollyS SP gray. Looks like PollyS and Atlas had not the same understanding of he color SP used... I will put some black wash on the trucks and tanks.
[Image: Img_0198.jpg?t=1281182868]

I did not install snow plows because the new engines are used for local switching and transfer jobs only. I am under the impression AT&SF and SP did in general install snow plows but made exceptions if engines are dedicated to local jobs in sunny areas like Houston and LA. The RS11 has the old foot boards as installed before 1966. They are not replaceable but integral part of the shell.

ps.My original home page, and therefor the links to all my photos in this forum, is still not available due to ongoing "maintenance"...
Reinhard wrote: " ... ps.My original home page, and therefore the links to all my photos in this forum, is still not available due to ongoing "maintenance"... "

Well, whether you are using your original photo repository for the photos you post or not, we all appreciate being able to view your fine model work through the Photobucket link ... or whichever photo site you are now using. I always look forward to seeing what you have been up to, as your railroad progresses along the evolutionary path that it is experiencing! Your fine layout is certain testament to the fact that ...
... a well done small layout always photographs BIG!
I would like to make a correction concerning the handrails of the RS11. the RS11 is not part of the Master series but it belongs to the Classic series. That explains the "classic" handrails.
So when will you start the weathering?
Gary S Wrote:So when will you start the weathering?

The ATSF GP38? Some time soon. The "real" Master series has gotten a black wash two weeks ago. The others will follow. ATSF engines look (at least on photos available in the web) well maintained. May be they were short on capital to invest in new engines but they got plenty of water and soap Wink

The SP? Don't know. Just black weathering on dark gray creates dark little monsters. A simple white wash does not give the right bleached out effect. And there is often massive rust that needs much more than some brown spots as I did it on the CF-7. And it is much more complicated to add rust brown on SP dark gray than on ATSF yellow. That is a project for the far future. At this time I know only some techniques that would ruin the engines. The proposed solution to do a basic repaint with a lighter gray shade is probable out of my skill. I will wait for examples done by masters that match my skill. At this time the gray guys are simple beautiful.
I know what you mean Reinhard. I'm reluctant to tackle my locos too. I need to find some old SF shells and try my hand at those first.
To me the biggest problem with trying to weather an SP switcher is the fact that for some reason when they start to rust the lettering on the side of the hood turns from white to red!