Another Diesel Conversion

[Ballard Southern]

When last heard from, the Ballard Southern  had converted an American Flyer/Lionel Baldwin S 12 to On30 by mounting the shell on an HO SD chassis.   That was successful, so I went looking for an SW 1...   

"... contacted MTH to see if I could buy an S scale SW 1 shell as a part but they are not willing to sell an engine shell unless you can prove you actually bought an engine and can show the damage to the it that makes it require a new shell.  I think they're missing a little niche market opportunity there."

I was able to locate an SW 1 by S Helper Service.   I guess I wanted an SW 1 really badly, as I bought the unit new just to get the shell.   It turned out to not be much trouble to reduce the overall size by taking the shell off the chassis base, where most of the mass was.  The electronics were mounted in the shell rather than on the chassis, and they had to be removed, as did the casting of the engineer.  However, that left the shell fitting quite well on an HO SW 9 chassis.  I had to put an extended coupler on the front end and will have to add a new deck, but otherwise, I have a nice looking small narrow gauge SW.   Pix at:

http://www.dickwightman.com/railroad/2012bs/diesels/sw1/swconversion.html

That gives me a GE 44 ton, a Baldwin S 12 and now an SW type.  My very loosely placed "somewhere between post-war and 1970's" diesel based narrow gauge operation is getting in shape to roll.

The conversions have been fun, but, man, Bachmann, narrow gauge existed in this period.  Please consider giving us something nice to work with.  Can't be that hard to develop a nice modern looking diesel shell that's a drop fit to one of your HO chassis.

Dick Wightman - Ballard Southern RR

[Kevin S.]

Dick,

The S-scale locomotives can be converted to On30, thus sparing you the expense of the HO scale chassis, making it a little less expensive.

I just obtained an SW with MRC DCC/Sound on ebay for less than $150.

It has several advantages as far as I am concerned using this approach. I mount my couplers at the On3 coupler height. The S-Helper locomotive, when equipped with the scale coupler, is the perfect coupler height with a KD-803 compatible coupler.

The shell will be set aside and the body will be a new kit from Mount Blue that is designed to be an end cab diesel.  My goal is for it to look like a tiny Alco.

Please be sure to post a photo when you are finished with your locomotive.

[Ballard Southern]

Kevin...  I don't know how to post pix direct here, but I post everything on the Ballard Southern web site:

http://www.dickwightman.com/railroad/2012bs/diesels/60ton/60ton.html

I did another one yesterday...  shortened a Baldwin S 12 and put it on an HO SW 9 chassis to get a nice looking little short generic switcher.

If you are not going to use the S line helper SW shell, I would love to get it from you.   You can email me direct at:  rwightman@mindspring.com

Dick

[railexpert]

Hello,

there are many conversions, for example at Mount Blue Model Company.
They have 3 wonderful conversions for Bachmann HO Alco S4 into fine On30 Diesels.
http://www.mountbluemodelco.com/products.htm

Or the British Smallbrook Studio, they have also conversions for US-Diesels
http://www.smallbrookstudio.com/page4.php

Have fun

Railexpert