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 Posted - July 28 2019 : 4:17:16 PM
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Those of you who subscribe to HO Collector magazine may recognize this model from the 3rd Quarter 2019 issue. In the article titled "Alco Diesel Timeline" author Tony Cook describes the shell of this model as possibly the first HO scale diesel ever offered to the mass market. Originally introduced in 1938, Walthers first offered the basic die-cast metal shell without a drive mechanism, it was up to the modeler to figure out how to power it. Eventually Walthers did produce a self contained power truck that could be purchased separately to make this model a fully functional locomotive.
Although crude by today's standards, it does capture the general look of an Alco HH600 switch engine. This locomotive started as an unassembled shell which I found on Ebay. To power it, I modified an Athearn SW switcher chassis and mechanism fit the shell. The original Athearn mechanism was also upgraded with "Blunt Truck" side frames and an Ernst slow motion gearing package.
For a prototype, I chose to model Penn Central locomotive 9411, the only HH600 that PC rostered. The real locomotive came to the PC when it acquired the New Haven and was never truely repainted by PC, receiving only a patch job to obscure the NH lettering. The only indication that this is a PC engine is a single mating worm emblem on the front of the hood and a PC locomotive number.
While the detailing of this model is not up to modern standards, this locomotive can still hold its own on a modern layout.
Proudly keeping Tyco Pluggers out of landfills since 2016
Edited by - Srenchin on July 28 2019 4:20:33 PM
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Posted - July 28 2019 : 7:08:59 PM
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One of the more interesting pieces of late. A true
piece of the early HO, and so beautifully rendered.
The paint scheme has a most interesting history.
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Posted - July 28 2019 : 7:29:30 PM
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quote:One of the more interesting pieces of late. A true
piece of the early HO, and so beautifully rendered.
The paint scheme has a most interesting history.
Originally posted by Chops124Â -Â July 28 2019Â :Â 7:08:59 PM
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Well you can thank Penn Central for being to cheap (or broke) to give the 9411 a proper dip job repainting.
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Posted - July 28 2019 : 8:10:17 PM
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For those of you who are interested in how I modified an Athearn drive for this shell, check out the following photos...
In this photo you can see the two screws that attach the shell to the chassis...
Here is a close up of the screws...
In this photo you can see how I had to cut off the ends of the Athearn frame...
In this photo you can see where the screw holes are located flanking the motor commutator....
In this photo you can see how I trimmed the sides of the Athearn fuel tank to fit on the Walthers shell...
In this photo you can see how I adapted the shell to the athearn frame, I used styrene plastic strips to provide a lip for the Ahearn frame to rest on. The half round pieces provide a location for the chassis screws to screw into to hold the two components together. I used CA super glue to hold all the parts of the shell together.
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Posted - July 28 2019 : 10:11:24 PM
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it do look like a NH loco cause of the colors
I know you added Kadees to it but what were the couplers like on it originally?
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Posted - July 28 2019 : 10:33:59 PM
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quote:it do look like a NH loco cause of the colors
I know you added Kadees to it but what were the couplers like on it originally?
Originally posted by microbusss - July 28 2019 : 10:11:24 PM
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The shell did not include couplers, back in the early days of HO scale model railroading there were several different competing coupler systems so Walthers left it up to the modeler to choose his perfered equipment.
That being said, I removed the original coupler mounting pads are replaced them with steps and pilot salvaged from an old Athearn switcher shell.
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Posted - July 29 2019 : 12:59:18 AM
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That is a nice bit of handiwork, Srenchin. Not only did I get
some interesting history of Walther's, HO, but also a
fascinating tidbit about the PC.
From a tip by
Top Train, I used an Athearn SW1500 chassis to power
up a dummy Varney Aerotrain. Lucky for me, the
entire mech was swallowed up by the shell, and
Top Train advised me to simply remove the rear
bogie and not saw the whole thing in half, which I
was just about to do!
What else do you have cooking??
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Posted - July 29 2019 : 08:34:39 AM
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Scott great work on the Alco 600. When I first saw that kit in pieces laying on a friends layout, I was wondering who the heck would want to build such a small equipment shed, or was it a air conditioning unit........ You did some nice work making the bigger Athearn drive small enough to fit that loco body. With me it would be Cut, cut, cut . Hit... hit ... HIT... HIT,,,,,HIT......hit hit hit hit. ah done!. Upon completion get my wife, go to bathroom. Wash the cuts. Have her heip me put on band aids. Go back to project cary it over and drop it in the trash can. Then think of something else I can wreck. Ah if I only had some talent. And in that last sentence that I would have been able to put the word still between I and only.
frank
toptrain
" It's a Heck of a Day " !!!
Edited by - toptrain on July 29 2019 08:47:38 AM
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Posted - July 29 2019 : 10:11:03 PM
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Excellent craftsmanship, Srenchin! Looks awesome.
"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven." - Matthew 5:16
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Posted - July 31 2019 : 01:23:01 AM
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Wow, great to see another one of these built up so nicely! I managed to acquire one about a year and a half ago, 100% original and intact, but it's currently apart while I rebuild the original power truck. Here she is before the tear-down:
--CRC
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Posted - July 31 2019 : 9:32:45 PM
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quote:Wow, great to see another one of these built up so nicely! I managed to acquire one about a year and a half ago, 100% original and intact, but it's currently apart while I rebuild the original power truck. Here she is before the tear-down:
Originally posted by PRR 4800Â -Â July 31 2019Â :Â 01:23:01 AM
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Wow, that model looks really nice! I have been tempted to purchase assembled versions of this locomotive in the past but it is hard to find one that is in good shape. I also wanted to make a model that I could actually operate as a switcher on my layout so I opted for a hybrid version.
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Posted - August 04 2019 : 12:40:01 AM
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quote:Wow, great to see another one of these built up so nicely! I managed to acquire one about a year and a half ago, 100% original and intact, but it's currently apart while I rebuild the original power truck. Here she is before the tear-down:
Originally posted by PRR 4800Â -Â July 31 2019Â :Â 01:23:01 AM
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HEY! I remember this engine! Was this the train show in Oaks PA or Wilmington DE?
I remember a guy who bought this engine in front of me and told me about its history, being the first engine Walthers ever made...
Good times!
Charles
If I can't fix it, I can fix it so it can't be fixed.
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Posted - August 04 2019 : 03:36:12 AM
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quote: quote:Wow, great to see another one of these built up so nicely! I managed to acquire one about a year and a half ago, 100% original and intact, but it's currently apart while I rebuild the original power truck. Here she is before the tear-down:
Originally posted by PRR 4800Â -Â July 31 2019Â :Â 01:23:01 AM
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HEY! I remember this engine! Was this the train show in Oaks PA or Wilmington DE?
I remember a guy who bought this engine in front of me and told me about its history, being the first engine Walthers ever made...
Good times!
Charles
Originally posted by trainman280Â -Â August 04 2019Â :Â 12:40:01 AM
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It was the Oaks show! Small world! I'm sorry but I don't recall who it was that was there when I got it, I told a bunch of people about it that day--are you the guy I talked to for a bit, said you were building a Branchline heavyweight kit or something? Who I run into occasionally at shows and I'm always like "hey, you again, the one other young guy out here alone"?
--CRC
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