Building a new body for an Atlas (Roco) Shunting Locomotive

Way back in the 1980s, Scale Model Trains had two specific articles about converting or modifying the Atlas branded (Roco built) US outline Plymouth switcher. I was lucky enough to score four of these from I think Punchbowl Hobbies in Sydney in the latter part of that decade when they were getting out of the O gauge market. 

This is the concept drawing I did to help me plan and guide the build.
I'm adding and updating the build process, as best I can remember it through many dead ends and wrong turns, on my modelling site. 

I'm finally getting close to finishing the longest modelling project of my life. There's a little more to do on the model, such as prep, finishing and painting. I'm hoping to get that work completed this week during my broken shifts at work.

More photos shortly

To give an idea of the amount of work that went into this loco I'll present some side by side comparisons:From the front:


I still have to decide whether I want to model the loco with full skirts, which I am leaning toward, or leave it as is and finish off the steps front and rear. I rather like the detail of the wheel bearing caps and springs and may just leave it as is.

Continuing along the comparison path, this time from the rear:

The Original model (above)

The Modified model (above)

To give you and idea of the amount of work I did to get the gentle curve of the cab front right, here is a very poor scan of a photo taken during the build showing the now hidden gubbins that ensured the complex curves on the cab worked and also allowed me to skin the cab front in one piece.

Building the cab front (above)

Finally, I wanted to show the work, missteps, and the almost disasterous melt that took place while trying to speed through one section of the construction.

There was a lot of work to shorten, narrow and raise the body to a more UK style

I'll post more photos as I get close to finishing the locomotive. Aiming to have her completed, and painted before the end of July. DC only for the moment, but I am looking to install DCC sometime later this year as funds permit.  

An earlier concept drawing (1998), which I'll be using as the basis for the work on the remaining three units.


More on Wednesday.