CNJ DRX-6-4-2000 project

Looking forward to seeing this develop.  Only saw one in real life once, resting and vfc rusting on  siding in jersey city.

Looking forward to the project also. Note, the Centipede Babyface is a different face profile. You may not care as you are willing to deal with the sidewall taper. Just wanted to let you know if it “doesn’t look right” against pics. I too wish someone would make these shells available, hopefully via 3D printing. First Person Scale Models is considering it for a summer project. If interested please contact him, the more interest the better chance it will happen.

A better modeler than I would have used something like a bandsaw or possibly a bladerunner to ensure straight cuts of the centipede shell. Not having access to a bandsaw, and Amazon jacking up the price of a bladerunner $30 made me decide to try and do the cuts with a Dremel using a right angle attachment. Using a square, I applied masking tape in hopefully straight, perpendicular lines to use as a guide for the Dremel cuts.

Went through 3 standard cut off wheels on the 1st cut. Switched to one of the larger, reinforced wheels after that, and it did the job on the remaining 2 cuts (there'll be another cut, but I need to figure out how long the center section needs to be before I make that one). Next up, some filing and/or grinding to ensure the cuts are straight and smooth, then they'll be joined together.

@Trainmstr posted:

Looking forward to the project also. Note, the Centipede Babyface is a different face profile. You may not care as you are willing to deal with the sidewall taper. Just wanted to let you know if it “doesn’t look right” against pics. I too wish someone would make these shells available, hopefully via 3D printing. First Person Scale Models is considering it for a summer project. If interested please contact him, the more interest the better chance it will happen.

Considering what I'm attempting, and the scanty documentation available on the prototypes, there will be no rivet counting. Other than folks online, I doubt anyone who'll ever see it will have ever seen the original (heck, other than photos I'VE never seen the original). The main difference that I can see is the DRX-6-4-2000 and DR-4-4-1500's noses don't start curving in until past the front of the cab side windows, where the centipede starts curving in right in front of the cab door. The rest of the nose profile might differ slightly, but considering there aren't any models in O scale of the others (and how many widely distributed models of things like RS-3s are incorrect), I'm not sweating it.

As it is, I'll be off a few scale inches on the space between the cab window and cab door, but I want to be sure to leave enough material so that the cab door still operates. If it were a plastic shell, I'd work it closer, but since a die-cast shell is more difficult to work with, I'm not sweating it. I'll be moving the running numbers back to the correct position, and filling in the holes where the centipede's number boards attached.

May take a crack at 3D printing the pilot, if that doesn't turn out well, I can always pick up a couple of the Lionel ones, even if I have to wait until November to get them half off. I've talked to Zach about purchasing his DR-4-4-1500 model, but it's currently in a very rudimentary state.

@necrails posted:

Looking forward to seeing this develop.  Only saw one in real life once, resting and vfc rusting on  siding in jersey city.

I suspect that's the same one that I'm modelling, 2004. Long after the other 5 were removed from service, it was still being used, though not fully operational. Think it stuck around until at least 1968.

This reminds me of my project from about 15 years ago...still sitting in a box. Combining the Weaver BF16s A-B shells to make a single BP20 passenger shark A-unit.  This was before Weaver produced the brass BP20. Of course, they were introduced right when I couldn't afford it (2nd kid). Anyway, I chickened out right at cutting the back off the A and the front of the B. So it waits...maybe I'll learn enough from watching your posts to get it out and restart.

Finished the cuts (at least on this shell), joined them together. Now  to remove unwanted details, and add in the correct details, an, of course, figure which direction to go with the other end.

Removing detail. While the sides are similar, the placement isn't, so much of the detail on both the sides and roof will be removed and then replaced. Thankfully a sanding wheel on the Dremel handles this fairly easily. Wish I had better pictures of the roof detail, but surprisingly almost no one seems to take pictures of the roofs of train engines!

Very interesting.  Nice work . Looking forward to seeing more of this engine.

Just a prototype for the roof louver detail, will actually be further back over the "center" section, but at the moment there's a big hole where it goes. Have to work on the rest of the roof detail. Basing it off of the Red Ball HO brass model, figure that'll be as correct as anything else out there. https://brasstrains.com/Classi...nted-1971-Run-Kumata

Also printed out a jig to see if I have the curve of the roof correct for roof panels I'll be printing. Looks great except for the corners, which will be adjusted.

Most of the roof detail has been modeled, will be tweaked as I see it on the locomotive. Shown are 3 of the 5 roof detail groups, group 4 and 5 are just 1 and 2 rotated 180 degrees. Each group will take around 4 hours to print, but I'll probably only do 1 per day.

And here it is printed. Broke while I was removing it from the supports, but it'll do for sizing. Also have to re-work the detail on the center box-like thing, as it isn't very apparent on the printed piece.

Okay, everything for the roof detail is done and scaled correctly. Just taped in place at the moment (2 panels will be repeated and reversed on the other end), the roof will need to be filled in and smoothed out for painting before it's applied. Glad it looks like Baldwin just riveted on 5 panels (of disparate size) on the roof! I have most of the detail removed from one side of the body (I'll re-add it correctly later). Donor shell for the other cab is on its way, will hopefully show up this weekend if the snow hasn't slowed delivery.

While researching, I discovered that the Red Ball brass has a fairly serious error. The small door in the side of the locomotive is located in the same spot (relatively, ie., on the "left" end no matter which side you view it from), and they have it towards the rear of the engine (the end without the air tanks) on both sides. Tricky, as I could only find one picture of the prototype's left side. This is why you can't blindly base your models on other people's models.

Once the entire shell is together and unwanted detail is removed, I'll move the running numbers back, drill for the marker lights, and re-shape the cab slightly.

Today's progress, it's now a double-ender! Even more incorrectly located detail to be removed (sigh!). I'm printing the headlight lenses, side grill numbers, and hopefully a cab side window that didn't come with one of the donor shells (if that works, I'll take a crack at the windshield). I've compiled a list of detail parts I need to design/print, including the undercarriage detail, there's still a ton of work to be done, but it's moving along!

Most body detail removed. Started designing undercarriage detail, first test print done (parts of the latch handles are missing, forgot they needed supports). Currently working on the "front" grouping with the air tanks. Probably dis-assemble the PA-1 "donor" this weekend, and figure where best to cut it to add the needed 3". Then once it's stretched, I'll finalize the undercarriage stuff and print that. Meanwhile, filling and smoothing the body progresses...

Tomorrow I see if I can reshape the nose to eliminate the centipede's taper (waiting for filler to cure). Meanwhile, back at the ranch, I've been playing around with builder's plates. This pic shows one about an inch wide, which is still way too big. Have ones less than half that size, but working on improving legibility (number and build date are incorrect on this first prototype, current ones are correct)...

Still working on shaping the cabs. Took a 1st shot at making a pilot, have the curvature down, have to tweak the size and placements of the arcs on the end and bottom. Hole for the coupler will be added after I get those right.

Pilot is ready to prototype (I've got another item in the printer currently, so it'll have to wait, rendered image provided until then). Apparently the thicker die-cast shell doesn't fit on a chassis made for a plastic shell, so that's going to need modified, hopefully I can thin down each side rather than have to cut things.

2" speaker from the "donor" engine won't fit in any of the undercarriage pieces, so I'll either need to find a smaller 8 ohm one, or relocate it.

Going to cut the chassis, and attempt to slim down the sides while I'm waiting for the printer...

I sent you an email with pics that I hope will help you. I’m assuming you’re going to replicate the second batch with the simplified (3) side vents. Don’t forget there’s a short door on each side, looks to be off centerline.