Converting a 8-40C to a CW...

[CbarM]

I have 2 atlas gold 8-40C's and I have the proper cabs I need to make em become CW's. Before I do anything, is this a not so hard job, or am I gonna wish I never started?? Whats the best way to go about making the swap?

 

[diburning]

You're going to wish that you never tried. The walkway tread will get in the way, and the cab mount and battery boxes are different.

I'm not even sure if the shells are riding on the same chassis. If you want to attempt a swap, Atlas sells decorated shells on their online store for $30 + shipping.

 

[coastrider]

You're going to wish that you never tried. The walkway tread will get in the way, and the cab mount and battery boxes are different.

I will second that. I had a similar issue with poorly assembled 8-40w Rail power shell i bought off ebay turned out it was a 8-40B with a wide cab fitted it wasnt untill i was to well into rectifying all the problems from the build that i noticed two big differences on the conductors side (see photo) i eventualy just bought an unpainted new shell fromm e-bay for $20, still not sure what to do with the other shell either just paint it and hope no one notices or create a scarp line model from it.

Mike

 

[CbarM]

OK well thanks for the info guys...Im glad I didnt put this unit under the knife then, coulda been an ugly surgery. I went on the Atlas site just now n none of their links are working. I might try Ebay to see if they might have a couple of these. I am going to be looking for an undecorated one, did atlas make these in undecorated? They will be painted black with tan stripes, so a decorated model I guess wouldnt matter either...

 

[coastrider]

Item number: 250961201605
This is the one i bought from this seller, he may have the one your looking for.

Mike

 

[CbarM]

Ohh haha I was just looking through his site earlier tody and nothing for a CW shell. I think I will send him a message tho n see if he can get me a couple...

 

[diburning]

Here's the page on Atlas' online store for decorated shells.

https://secure.atlasrr.com/mod1/items.asp?Cc=HODECBODY

 

[ianacole]

From Atlas's home page:

The Atlas Online Store will be closed for upgrades starting on Wednesday, December 28, 2011 and will be down for approximately a week. We apologize for the inconvenience.

 

[diburning]

You can probably give Atlas a call to order them while the site is down.

The other thing though, is that when you do a shell swap, the ditch lights won't work on the CW since the frame of the original CW has the LEDs for the ditch lights built in.

 

[kenw]

I've got a partially started shell somewhere in the to-be-scrap bin somewhere attempting to do the same for the Bachmann Spectrum series. As others have said, the effort needed to get results as good as you can buy for very little $$ is insurmountable, at least to mortals. I applaude your enthusiasm, but have found that tackling impossible projects isn't the part of the hobby I enjoy.....

 

[CbarM]

You can probably give Atlas a call to order them while the site is down.

The other thing though, is that when you do a shell swap, the ditch lights won't work on the CW since the frame of the original CW has the LEDs for the ditch lights built in.

I suppose I could modify the "C" frame if I had to in order to wire ditch lights into the new "CW" shell...or is this another massive surgery project??

 

[diburning]

No surgery involved... pop off the ditch light housings, put in some small LEDs pop the housings back on, then wire them to the decoder.

 

[CbarM]

Ohhh...sounds just about as easy as makin an apple pie!! Sad part is I am not allowed in the kitchen anymore...apparently the cleanup was disasterous...