Dear Mike, love the vid. I do remember when you were talking about these locos and their horrid running capabilities, a while ago. Great to see you were able to convert ‘m to the Kato chassis. Some intricate work you did there to make space for the decoders. Would have loved to see some stills of the milling work you did, but can imagine that to be hard task. If only for the sizes of the shells and the mill head definitely being in the way of any opportunity to catch in the frame. Beautiful how they run now! Cheerio
Very nice work! I'm not a huge Athearn fan - especially their trucks/couplers on rolling stock. I have a couple of their locos that so far have run ok. I put one of those split decoders in an old Atlas RS3 - ran beautifully and was really happy and surprised since it was the first non-drop-in decoder i installed. I'm always impressed when someone does these custom builds; very cool!
You must be proud seeing them running again , that's the fun of this hobby . About in the middle of their run they are passing near the back of your layout , with trees and the tunnel portal around 3:15 , this picture is beautifull !!! When will we see a little road test of the Mustang , can't sleep ....
Mike, it was nice to see you convert 2 locos with issues. I can't speak for everyone but at train shows I look for locos ( parts or repair) like bringing them back to life. As far as milling frames I use a dremel drill press I have a card board box to enclose the frame to catch the shavings. They look great on the layout. Pictures make a good reference point on the project.
Handsome work, Mike. I've done some mechanism swaps putting a Kato SD40 under an Intermountain SD40T-2 (I have an irrational affection for Tunnel Motors). Next up is putting an old Atlas GP40 frame (after buying spare parts from Atlas) under a vintage Kato GP38-2 shell. I have an Athearn SD70M that I like and hope it holds up! I also bought 3 Kato SD40-2 (ATSF Blue/Yellow) intending to dump the Intermountain mechanisms under some other Tunnel Motors (see above), but the Kato shells were far too nice to either mothball or sell!
Very impressive Mike. My experience with a CN decoder wasn't nearly as positive. I installed one in an Atlas RS3 and when all was said and done the motor blew in the unit. My local hobby shop tried to order me a new one, but it's been over a year and nothing. I ended up putting the custom painted Atlas shell on a Kato RS2 chassis and it looks and runs great.
Same here, two Ho locos one with QSI and the other Walters Mainline, no original parts available, but still searching, maybe aftermarket similar parts?
fascinating project with those F45's ! I will have to do a similar project to construct some Southern GP30's (high hood). Your locos look awesome running! Great vid Mike :)
Nice work mike these are sweet locomotives 🚂 👍 I think this is what I need to run with my El Capitan I believe, but in red and silver I think 🤔 great video like always 👍
@@seanpacificrailroad3700 And I have pix of the blue engines leading it and the Super Chief and others. I think they are a bad ass alternative to the red and silver warbonnets, too.
Good job Mike. Just a quick question, how did you get the shells to sit on there without coming off when you pick them up? I have 9 of these... costly project to do, but might be worth the investment 🤔. I also wonder, if the F45 uses the SD40 mech, would the FP45, as it's longer, use the SD40-2 mech?
you hurt my felling's with that broken gear story. I have a small feet of those Atheran F45 a Pair of BN and some ATSF Yellows and Blue units. I want to get 1dark blue Santa Fe billboard like you have. But when you say the gears crack. That puts another locomotive into the useless and broken pile. I have had to replace all the little plastic wishbone joints in my Atlas C630's . Come to fine out Atlas no longer makes that little wishbone universal joint that splits all the time. It is sad the so many locomotives fail do to cheap plastic parts.
@@N_scale It is not that simple, it is a size problem and a scale problem , resin is brittle and in the small sizes like that will crack or split much like the plastic parts we want to replace. I'm sure we have someone that has spent hours mixing resin to get the perfect mix of hardness and flexibility. At the moment I do not have the time to spend figuring this problem out. You are completely welcome to do it if you like. On a part like that, I will let someone else figure it out and buy it from them.
@@IMRROcom I saw on RAILWIRE forum that ATLAS will soon do or just did a model with the same design wishbone , so the part will become available in a few months I guess
This is What happens when a RC car company tries to make locomotives in the first run with 3 poles from when those f45s were new in real life; a mustang hot Rod car model car guy fixes them.
That looks like real delicate work on the locomotives Mike, nice work, it looks like they run great …
Dear Mike, love the vid. I do remember when you were talking about these locos and their horrid running capabilities, a while ago. Great to see you were able to convert ‘m to the Kato chassis. Some intricate work you did there to make space for the decoders. Would have loved to see some stills of the milling work you did, but can imagine that to be hard task. If only for the sizes of the shells and the mill head definitely being in the way of any opportunity to catch in the frame. Beautiful how they run now! Cheerio
Thanks Vincent . It was not the pictures but the time I took to do the builds .
Those are nice looking locomotives Mike.
I'm glad you were able to get them up and running.
Thanks David , It took me a while !!
Looking good Mike. Glad you got then fixed. Thanks for sharing. Dave
Thanks Dave , I love them !!!
Very nice work! I'm not a huge Athearn fan - especially their trucks/couplers on rolling stock. I have a couple of their locos that so far have run ok. I put one of those split decoders in an old Atlas RS3 - ran beautifully and was really happy and surprised since it was the first non-drop-in decoder i installed. I'm always impressed when someone does these custom builds; very cool!
Kato’s drives are so smooth! They are working on a Big boy. I can’t wait!
You must be proud seeing them running again , that's the fun of this hobby . About in the middle of their run they are passing near the back of your layout , with trees and the tunnel portal around 3:15 , this picture is beautifull !!!
When will we see a little road test of the Mustang , can't sleep ....
Thanks Louis and soon on Lisa , but the weather here has been horrible.
Mike, it was nice to see you convert 2 locos with issues. I can't speak for everyone but at train shows I look for locos ( parts or repair) like bringing them back to life. As far as milling frames I use a dremel drill press I have a card board box to enclose the frame to catch the shavings. They look great on the layout. Pictures make a good reference point on the project.
Thanks Will, I only do it when I need to !! LOL
Wow! Nice job! They look great and run well! Thanks fer sharin'!
Thanks Michael , Now Kato will come out with them !!
Handsome work, Mike. I've done some mechanism swaps putting a Kato SD40 under an Intermountain SD40T-2 (I have an irrational affection for Tunnel Motors). Next up is putting an old Atlas GP40 frame (after buying spare parts from Atlas) under a vintage Kato GP38-2 shell. I have an Athearn SD70M that I like and hope it holds up! I also bought 3 Kato SD40-2 (ATSF Blue/Yellow) intending to dump the Intermountain mechanisms under some other Tunnel Motors (see above), but the Kato shells were far too nice to either mothball or sell!
I hear you there !!!!
Great job resurrecting those two locos, Mike.
Thanks so much.
Very impressive Mike. My experience with a CN decoder wasn't nearly as positive. I installed one in an Atlas RS3 and when all was said and done the motor blew in the unit. My local hobby shop tried to order me a new one, but it's been over a year and nothing. I ended up putting the custom painted Atlas shell on a Kato RS2 chassis and it looks and runs great.
Glad you got it done !!
Nice job on them Mike, they run smooth and look good. Bob
Good looking locos!
Very nice work, they sound great. Looking forward to seeing more updates from the chair
Thanks Jeff , Mike
Nice job on the engines…..John
Those look and run great! Nice job.
Thanks Pedro !!!
Same here, two Ho locos one with QSI and the other Walters Mainline, no original parts available, but still searching, maybe aftermarket similar parts?
Nice work. Mike locomotives look nice 👀 👌
Thank You Greg.
Mike
fascinating project with those F45's ! I will have to do a similar project to construct some Southern GP30's (high hood). Your locos look awesome running! Great vid Mike :)
Thanks a bunch , I love them !!
Nice work mike these are sweet locomotives 🚂 👍 I think this is what I need to run with my El Capitan I believe, but in red and silver I think 🤔 great video like always 👍
You need FP45's
@@N-Scale thanks 🙏
@@seanpacificrailroad3700 And I have pix of the blue engines leading it and the Super Chief and others. I think they are a bad ass alternative to the red and silver warbonnets, too.
@@ScottJohnson4449 yep, I need to get a set
That seat is sensational - oh yes, the locos aren’t too shabby either 👍🏽
Thanks Tmothy. I love my throne !!! LOL
Hi Mike How makes that decoder. Thanks RL
TCS
@@troy.peters Thanks
lovely layout
Thanks Ian !!
You're a 45 run smooth and they look really fantastic nice job bike how many cars can they pull on the steepest part of your layout?
I would guess more than allowable on my railroad , Thanks , Mike
Hi ya Mike. Nicely done. Maybe one day you can take us all to visit your club layout. I, for one, would be very interested.
You all are welcome any Time
@@N-Scale 🤨
@@normanrowe2831 www.youtube.com/@southernnewmexiconscalersn4708
Nice work Mike look Great and run nice! (Dave).
Thank You Dave. I love them.
Mike
When You do things And Yes you Put Your Mind to it Anything is Possible That My Friend Is The Power of Model Railroading Mike.
Thanks so much Brother !!
It’s The Truth!
They look and sound cool Mike and your layout is coming on really well. Take care - Kevin
Thank You Kevin. I love them !!
Nice engines, and nice mod.
Nice video Mike!
Thanks so much Manny.
🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂
Nice video Mike
Good job Mike.
Just a quick question, how did you get the shells to sit on there without coming off when you pick them up?
I have 9 of these... costly project to do, but might be worth the investment 🤔.
I also wonder, if the F45 uses the SD40 mech, would the FP45, as it's longer, use the SD40-2 mech?
It is just a tight slip fit. I do not know about the FP45's
Nice to see them saved. Just a quick question Mike. How did the run before? There is a reason as was wondering it it would be worth making new gears?
Athearn F45's are suckey runners !!
@@N-Scale guess that may be a good reason to make a power then
you hurt my felling's with that broken gear story. I have a small feet of those Atheran F45 a Pair of BN and some ATSF Yellows and Blue units. I want to get 1dark blue Santa Fe billboard like you have. But when you say the gears crack. That puts another locomotive into the useless and broken pile.
I have had to replace all the little plastic wishbone joints in my Atlas C630's . Come to fine out Atlas no longer makes that little wishbone universal joint that splits all the time.
It is sad the so many locomotives fail do to cheap plastic parts.
Why don’t you 3d print the gears. That’s what all the kids are doing. Cmon you’re a smart guy.
@@N_scale It is not that simple, it is a size problem and a scale problem , resin is brittle and in the small sizes like that will crack or split much like the plastic parts we want to replace. I'm sure we have someone that has spent hours mixing resin to get the perfect mix of hardness and flexibility. At the moment I do not have the time to spend figuring this problem out. You are completely welcome to do it if you like. On a part like that, I will let someone else figure it out and buy it from them.
@@IMRROcom I saw on RAILWIRE forum that ATLAS will soon do or just did a model with the same design wishbone , so the part will become available in a few months I guess
This is why I no longer deal with Athearn and do not buy ANY Atlas Alcos
I have been watching just not much to say, other than more doing as you suggested.
Thanks for being here Owen !!
This is What happens when a RC car company tries to make locomotives in the first run with 3 poles from when those f45s were new in real life; a mustang hot Rod car model car guy fixes them.
LOL , Thanks Man !!!