Id for loco ????


Alco C415!

clc701-jt.jpg


http://www.trainweb.org/westernrails/wa/clc701-jt.jpg

Rotor
 
http://www.calclassic.com/alco/century.htm

IIRC...AHM was the only manufacturer in a plastic model.

This page shows it as a Lifelike.
http://www.tycoforums.com/tyco/forum/uploaded/obtrey/AlcoC415BN3.jpg

This page says IHC.
http://reviews.ebay.co.uk/American-HO-Diesel-Trains-A-guide-to-buying-in-the-UK_W0QQugidZ10000000001509635

IHC - Noted more for their steam locos than their diesels which are ex TYCO and ATLAS models. The diesels again are more train set types however they make a unique ALCO C415 switcher.
Click to expand...



Rotor
 
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ATT made it, then AHM made it, and IHC now makes it (I think its the same mold handed on). Life Like, MAY have had it, but I doubt it.
 
Have one downstairs (in pieces now, needs to be re motored) it's a LifeLike. I bought it new in the late 70's

Cheers Willis
 
Josh and Willis have it right. I bought several of these during the years I was an SP modeler. It was originally made by ATT. They were bought out by AHM when ATT went under. AHM was bought out IHC when they went under (see a pattern here? :)) IHC continued to make AHM diesel locomotives until a fews years ago but licensed a lot of their lines to other companies, including Life-Like. IHC now only has one diesel in stock, an absolutely awful high hood SD-24, which is good for the shell and not much else. They are being closed out for $25 if anyone has been panting away for one. :) IHC is now concentrating on making some pretty decent steam power. When Life-Like was bought out by Walthers, the C-415 was dropped like a hot potato.

The multi-company C-415 has used the same tooling for the shell since the day it came out. There have been a few mechanical changes but the original ATT model looks the same as the last Life-Like model on the outside. The main issue is the handrails, which are grossly oversized and need to be replaced first thing if your going for a close to scale model. There were also three different cab heights, low, medium, and high. There were different truck types, the Standard AAR Type switcher trucks and the ALCO Hi-Ad trucks. The HO model is based the model sold to the SP, with the high hood and standard switcher trucks. Even then, it doesn't include the correct SP light clusters.

You're in for a lot of kitbashing unless you need the SP style engine, lowering the hood and maybe changing out the trucks. As I said, even the SP units will need the light clusters added. The models also didn't include drop steps, MU cables, grabs, or any of the other small details that are common on today's plastic models.

The worst part was the drive system. The original ATT and most of the AHM models was powered by the infamous pancake motor on only one truck. They were barely able to move themselves and few cars and even then, they sounded like a cement mixer. The later models had two pancake motors, so they pulled a little better but were still very noisy and didn't run well. Almost everyone who was a serious modeler repowered them, mostly with can motors and Athearn drive shafts and universals. If the repowering was done right, they could be a pretty good running locomotive. I'd ask the guy selling his on e-bay if there's been any repowering done to it. Not trying to discourage you, Mac, because they can be made into nice models of unique engine, but it will take some kitbashing.
 
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