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Has anyone ever used a P&D passenger pilot fixed onto a Lionel F3A?  I have a set of NYC Lionel F3s in the short lightning stripe, and just purchased a P&D passenger pilot and was wondering how easy it was to affix, and/or if anyone has photos of the install and hints to make it easier?

 

Thanks,

Mario

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I fitted the P&D Passenger Pilots to the MTH F7. I imagine the technique would be about the same.  I wrote an extensive step by step article on how to do this in O Scale Trains.  I'm afraid I can't recall exactly which issue, but it was published in the last year. I suggest you call OST and ask them for the issue.

 

Basically what I did was to cut out a piece of 1/8" ABS to match the MTH Pilot where it plugs into the shell. I drilled mounting holes in the ABS piece toscrew into the Lionel Shell.  I then glued the P&D pilot around that ABS, and then attached it to the shell.  I had to cut down the anti-climber on the P&D Pilot.  I did this for a 2 rail loco, so you will have to improvise a bit for three rail. It may be easier.

 

 

 

 

rdunni, the way I did it allowed me to conform the P&D pilot to match the curve of the MTH shell.  My guess is the same technique will work for the Lionel Shell

 

Ron H. I lowered my units as well.  The do look a whole lot more prototypical.  If you read the OST articles, you will see I made about a dozen other changes.

 

As for photos,  I am away from the computer that has most of my images. The one below is all I have access to.  I'll post more photos later.

 

 

1953

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  • 1953
Last edited by John Sethian
Originally Posted by John Sethian:

 

1953

 

This is exactly what I'm going for... these look great!

 

After purchasing an Atlas F2 with the included scale pilot, I knew that this was the direction I wanted to go for my fleet (except the F7s - but that's a looonnng story).

 

I figured the cab units would get these and the hood units would get spacers, which I may have to purchase a rapid prototyping machine for (there were several at the Trade Show I went to this week in Cleveland, and our rep in the area has a mini table-top unit one that does up to 5"x5"x5" for $1500).

 

You say the I need to lower the shell a 1/4" too?  Is it as easy as trimming the mounting lugs?  What about the smoke unit funnel? Isn't that tight fit between both the bottom of the shell and the top of the smoke unit?

 

I'll have to look up the article in O Scale Trains.

 

Thanks!

 

- Mario

Originally Posted by John Sethian:

I fitted the P&D Passenger Pilots to the MTH F7. I imagine the technique would be about the same.  I wrote an extensive step by step article on how to do this in O Scale Trains.  I'm afraid I can't recall exactly which issue, but it was published in the last year... 

 

 

Last year?

 

Try Issue #53 - Convert any MTH Diesel to 2-rail, May/June 2010.

 

Tempus fugit!

 

Thanks,

- Mario

Last edited by CentralFan1976

Mario, I'm afraid that's  not the issue.  That is for an older article I wrote on converting MTH diesels to 2 rail.  I'm afraid the OST index is not up to date. The article you want was in two parts, both with a title along the lines of "Make an MTH F7 look like an EMD F7".  The first part was for a generic F7, the second was for Pennsy Specific details.  As I said, the two issues came out within the last year

 

By the way, I did not lower these by 1/4", I think it was more like .100", but check the article to be sure.

 

Here is another photo I just found

1628 F7s over Duckunder

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  • 1628 F7s over Duckunder
Last edited by John Sethian

I have an ABBA that I was going to lower the shells 1/8th inch so I could mount the existing pilot. 

That works

 

 F3 17 actually sat a bit higher than the previous Santa Fe F7's

f317final

 

Here is what it looked like to start, again look at #17.

 

 

SFLayclose

 

rdunniii posted:

It can be done but they will not match up in the vertical plane.  the Lionel nose is circular and the PD hobbies pilot is parabolic.

That's also true.  I don't know how he has done it, but I've tried to 2 rail Lionel shells with Atlas chassis and haven't figured it out yet.

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Last edited by marker
ok, seriously!  Now you're just teasing me!  These look absolutely superb!
 
How about I send them to you, and the parts, and your trusty eye can do "that old black magic!" 
 
I'll have to find them!  I'm really interested how you trimmed the anticlimber!
 
Originally Posted by John Sethian:

Mario, I'm afraid that's  not the issue.  That is for an older article I wrote on converting MTH diesels to 2 rail.  I'm afraid the OST index is not up to date. The article you want was in two parts, both with a title along the lines of "Make an MTH F7 look like an EMD F7".  The first part was for a generic F7, the second was for Pennsy Specific details.  As I said, the two issues came out within the last year

 

By the way, I did not lower these by 1/4", I think it was more like .100", but check the article to be sure.

 

Here is another photo I just found

1628 F7s over Duckunder

 

Jerry

 

You got it!  Thanks for posting those.  #66 is a review of the MTH F7s. The other two gives the detailing steps, including the passenger pilot installation.   As I said earlier I do not have access to any of this stuff right now, so I really appreciate you doing this.

 

Please feel free to e-mail me (or post here) with any questions. 

 

Rex:  Good point about the state of OST's index.  They are going through a transition, as you might imagine, and I trust that they will restore everything soon.

 

Marker did you space down the fuel tanks?

No, I didn't feel it was necessary.

 

There are some caveats about lowering the shells on the body.  If you are going to do so, contact me off line.  I posted a number of times about the process and there are some issues.  A quick one is that you loose the smoke unit.  I never tried to see if it could be repositioned because I don't use it.  I now use the smoke unit board power for additional lighting control. 

CentralFan197 stated:

 

You say the I need to lower the shell a 1/4" too?  Is it as easy as trimming the mounting lugs?  What about the smoke unit funnel? Isn't that tight fit between both the bottom of the shell and the top of the smoke unit?

 

I am not concerned about the smoke unit.  My question is; how to you trim the mounting lugs?

 

 

Originally Posted by John Sethian:

Here is another photo I just found

1628 F7s over Duckunder

John and everyone, I'm going to do this to an Atlas o F3 CB&Q. I'm looking at p&d's website and wanted to make sure I got this same pilot. I have to make the order right because I live abroad and shipping is quite expensive. Could you please confirm me you the part numbers for the pilot and pilot door? I think they are: PDP 5141 and PDP 5140. Also, do you know if they make the details for the parts on the upper sides of the CB&Q pilot? They have a part PDP 5131 called Pilot brackets, are those it? Here is a picture if the engine. Thank you for your help!

CZPerry

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Santiago

 

I just saw your post.  Yes, the P&D parts I used were PDP5140 for the pilot and PDP5141 for the door.  I can't help you with the detail parts for the upper side of the CB&Q pilot.  P&D is very helpful, you might want to contact them directly.

 

By the way, here's another photo I found:

 

 

2115

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Last edited by John Sethian

if anyone would like a pdf of my OST article, I have permission to distribute it.  So just e-mail me

Bear in mind this is a combination of both articles on detailing and upgrading the MTH F7s, so you will have to wade through a lot to get to how I converted the pilots. On the other hand, some may find the whole article useful. I think I made over 50 changes. It has been awhile since I looked at it. But more than one visitor to my layout has commented how much they liked my Overland F units, and asked what sound system did I use.

I enjoy giving the answer

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