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….........…..--- Pt. 2 --- N Scale DDA35 & B Build ---

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NOTE: This is not an accurate build of a DDA35. I've tried to 'get close' but at almost 80 don't want to spend a ton of time on this. I need to get back to laying track, adding scenery and finally running a train or two.

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Time to plunge into this and hopefully not end up with two ruined shells (James Trains DD35 shell and an Atlas GP35 shell). I'm looking for another UP or SP GP35 shell to replace the one that I took off the Atlas GP35 chassis.

The goal is to cut out the flat radiator section in the DD35 and replace the area with a Fusion 360 designed flared radiator section like in the next image along with cutting off one end of the shell and grafting a GP35 cab on from an N scale Atlas GP35. Some worry here as I've never tried to design any part of a loco shell before.

I'll try and design the new section using some photos off the internet. It for sure won't be accurate down to the inch but hopefully will be OK for my tolerance of what is acceptable.

I did buy two of these shells with the hopes of one being a powered DDA35 (this build) and the second being most likely an unpowered DD35. I also bought a chassis from James Trains that the shell can sit on if you want an unpowered unit. It uses Fox Valley wheels/axles in James Trains truck frames.

Not sure exactly what these shells are printed from but they are not real brittle. I felt for sure that cutting close to the middle doorway would result in it breaking but it hasn't so far.

Took a few minutes to make the vertical cuts with the saw and even less time to make the long horizontal cuts with the Dremel.

I saw BadLand (on Trainboard and nScale) using one of the 8220 Dremels on one of his videos and decided to buy one. Took me awhile to decide as it wasn't cheap. I love it and it is now my go-to Dremel and my old one and shaft driven one pretty much sit now.

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Designed and printed some 4 ft. fan grills for the top of the loco as the new section there for the DDA35 has the grills in a different order by size between the 3 foot and 4 foot grills. Hopefully I can paint these with out clogging up the grill. I'll do a test run.

Moving past the point of no-return. I won't cut the end off where the cab will join until I replace the middle section with the flared one. It I cut it off now things might get a little flimsy.

You can find the print files for the 4 foot fan grills on my thingiverse.com account ( HERE ).

If you came into the build here you can go to the start of the build ( HERE ).

…. to be continued...

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