Scratch Building a Diesel Loco?


K

Ken Portner

Member
Lets's say I wanted to try to scratch build, paint and decal an HO GP38-2.

There is no way I have the talent to build my own shell out of sheet styrene or something (is that even possible?).

So where would I get parts for the shell (can, long hood, etc.) and where do you get frames, trucks, motors, etc?

Thanks.
 
Sorry guy but scratch building is just that! You build everything yourself with the exception of gears and motor.
what your discibing is assembling parts from different manufacturers.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
I dont think he was lookingg for a defenition of scratchbuilding. I would try ebay and search for atlas parts...lots of what you are seeking there...
 
GN.2-6-8-0 said:
Sorry guy but scratch building is just that! You build everything yourself with the exception of gears and motor.
what your discibing is assembling parts from different manufacturers.
Click to expand...

So what you're saying is only people who have access to a lathe, injection molding machine, etc can scratchbuild.

It must be a very very small group of hobbyists.
 
Ken, I would call that kitbashing, not true scratch building, but still a very respected skill in this great hobby. And it does require a goodly amount of skill.
 
Ken Portner said:
So what you're saying is only people who have access to a lathe, injection molding machine, etc can scratchbuild.

It must be a very very small group of hobbyists.
Click to expand...

I'm sure you're right.

Id like to see some examples of true scratchbuilds and how they were done. Anyone know of any websites dealing with that?
 
By some definitions espoused here, you couldn't use plastic sheets, as that would make you a simple Assembler. Really, what you need to do is to refine the petroleum and formulate the plastics. If you want to be considered a scratchbuilder.
 
Would this build be considered a scratchbuild or a kitbash.

http://www.dansresincasting.com/GE132%20ton%20PG1.htm

It was posted a few years ago on a different forum and several guys insisted that it was a simple kitbash as he used comercially available parts for the drive train.

For the Original Poster... Canon makes nice cab and hood components. Details East/west make good detail parts. There are several sites that sell motors. Frames and trucks will have to be canibalized from anything that matches or you will have to build them yourself
 
Last edited by a moderator:
A lathe? Milling Machine? Anyone here remember Jack Work? Carl Traub? These guys had articles in MR in the 50's and 60's describing in detail how to scratchbuild locos, both steam and diesel using nothing more than a power drill and a set of files.

A Lathe indeed!
 
Here's some photos from an RPM meet in 2009:
http://www.pbase.com/tracktime/image/113742644
http://www.pbase.com/tracktime/image/113741107
http://www.pbase.com/tracktime/image/113741105
http://www.pbase.com/tracktime/image/113741359
http://www.pbase.com/tracktime/image/113742563

More SDP45:
http://www.pbase.com/dh30973/lizsdp45&page=all

SD40X and lots more here:
http://www.pbase.com/dh30973/wpm2011

Very few can pull off a model like this first time but even fewer can do it if they don't try so as my boss's boss's boss's boss's dad says, Just do It!

For a GP38-2, Athearn is one of the best starting places, especially if you want an early GP38-2. There are a few other manufacturers but they sort of messed up some of the basic measurements so their models look a little off. If you can spare an arm and a leg below the knee, Athearn is coming out with a GP38-2 in their Genesis line sometime in the near future.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
A lathe? Milling Machine? Anyone here remember Jack Work? Carl Traub? These guys had articles in MR in the 50's and 60's describing in detail how to scratchbuild locos, both steam and diesel using nothing more than a power drill and a set of files.
Click to expand...

Ahh yes, Jack Work. Thanks to his articles I managed to scratchbuild the interior of my sawmill and build a few `dollar cars`
I would consider building a Geep using Cannon and Co parts on a framework of you own build to be at least partly scratchbuilding, but then I`m probably more liberal that way. Trying to draw a line between kitbashing and scratchbuilding is kind of fuzzy sometimes anyway.
 
Hello.

The guys who used to build things with lathes and files are in the minority. With the advances in injection molding and the overall improvements in the quality of the products, a lot of those guys simply open a box and put their finished products on the rails. Those of us who scratchbuild or kitbash anything do it because either we have little to no choice, or because the quality of what we want isn't there or is way too expensive.

If you're looking for a challenge and want the "feel" of scratchbuilding, I'd suggest a Railflyer locomotive kit. Yes, it will cost you a lot of money. Yes, it will be a lot of work. But you'll get in HO scale an exact duplicate of the full size locomotive.

Timothy Dineen
 
You must log in or register to reply here.



Back
Top