Nn3 Diesel

[mosslake]

Hi...I happened to notice this on the Randgust site the other day

http://www.randgust.com/prod03.htm

The Whitcomb centrecab can fit a Z mech, making a Nn3 diesel.
Makes a quick way to have something operational until you get some steam power up and running....

[randgust]

I just finished another one of these as a custom build and it really works well. It's actually easier to fit in a Aztec GP7 Z mechanism than put in the regular Tomytec mechanism, and it runs just as well if not better. I had the customer ship me the GP7 chassis, fitted in in the frame, did brass handrails and a basic paint job. Customer will finish up the rest.

The prototype, if there is such a thing, is the Oahu Railways little centercab Whitcomb running on 3' gauge. This is a 65-tonner, which would be a 'big' engine by narrow gauge standards, but it certainly does fit the Z GP chassis well with virtually no changes on the mechanism at all other than cutting off the coupler boxes and filing the sideframes down to accept a sideframe that sorta-kinda looks like a Whitcomb one (off of my old GE 70-tonner kit).

http://www.randgust.com/DRGWWH07sm.jpg

[mosslake]

You'll have to make some Nn3 dump cars like the Plaster City RR cars and try the 70 tonner on the GP7 mech.

[randgust]

I see that RLW isn't selling their cast-metal little GE anymore.
https://www.republiclocomotiveworks.com/show_item.php?ID=475

Marshall Thompson has been GREAT to work with for me, and I'm not out to eat his cheese here.
Check out Marshall's page for cars. I don't have any Nn3 cars.

But, I've got a perfectly usable set of molds and resin castings for a GE 70-tonner that I did on the Kato 11-105 chassis before the Bachmann came out with theirs and since then it's been pretty much parked, although the resin part quality was excellent. I'm not sure how close that is to an Nn3 usable end-cab GE, but if anybody is interested in taking a shot at it, I'll do one on spec if a chassis is sent to me. The cab is a separate casting so that is easily lowered against the hood. Only pay for it if it actually fits, works and looks OK

https://www.republiclocomotiveworks.com/RLWpopup.php?p=https://www.republiclocomotiveworks.com/images/RLW2130-05.jpg&w=2210&h=1185&i=695

It looks feasible, but it would look like you'd want a shorter chassis than an F7, I'm not sure what's available in Z.

[randgust]

Completed unit Nn3 Whitcomb 65-ton, photo and finish painting by Ken Cemer:

http://www.randgust.com/Whit65Nn303.jpg

[mosslake]

Now that's nice!! kinda reminds me of the GE centrecabs on the D&S

[Intermodalman]

I might just have to get one of those, added to the list it is