Gil,
I am going to leave the transmission casting, and do some modifications and cast-iron texture to it...I reduced it as much as I could without exposing the space for the worm gear....or without creating a LOT of extra work for me. I will actually also have to have a decent sized bulge/incursion behind the firewall, in order to hide the rest of the motor & DCC board. This would be less visible/noticeable/offensive in a closed cab version.....will have to see how it plays out with an open cab.
Was too hot to ride today, so I spent some time at the bench, building the rear pilot/frame and coupler set-up.
I wanted to mimmick the European buffer style link & pin couplers, yet have them fit the existing Bachmann Kadee box. In order to do this I modified a set of Foothill Model Works L&P couplers, by drlling out the existing pin hole to .045", and adding a piece of arced .020" styrene sheet to the face.
The pins I used are from PSC and come in brass and plastic. They are well suited/sized for 1/35 or 1/32 scale (and though oversized for 1/48, they could be used in 1/48 for all those whiners that complain about small and plastic pins). The pins are .280" long overall, with a .040" shaft. The pin near the buffer face will be replace in the end with a custom formed pin and chain assembly to macth those I have seen on an Indonesian sugar cane operation.
This is then completed end sill/frame assembly using the original Bmann coupler pocket, and the modified FMW coupler. Note that the Bmann coupler pocket has been drilled through top to bottom with a .045" dia hole, to also accept the coupler pins.
Next...the front sill/frame piece.
M
