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Offline Bill L  
#1 Posted : 23 December 2022 00:25:27(UTC)
Bill L

United States   
Joined: 08/12/2021(UTC)
Posts: 84
Location: California, Sonoma County
I hope I posted this in the right section of this Forum. I would like to cut 2 Union Pacific ALCO PA bodies to combine to make a Marklin B unit. I bought the TRIX HO SCALE 22805 UNION PACIFIC ALCO PA AA DIESEL LOCOMOTIVE #600/601 on Ebay at a very decent low price (and I mean they were non-working and INEXPENSIVE). The TRIX and Marklin bodies are the same. The fronts were badly banged up, but the rear ends are fine, so this idea came up.

What is the best saw and blade recommended to use to make the cleanest cut of a zinc body. Would like suggestions from our kitbashing group with all your experience.

Marklin never ever made the B unit and I do not know why.

Thanking you all in advance.

Edited by user 23 December 2022 06:22:26(UTC)  | Reason: To clarify

thanks 1 user liked this useful post by Bill L
Offline kiwiAlan  
#2 Posted : 23 December 2022 00:30:46(UTC)
kiwiAlan

United Kingdom   
Joined: 23/07/2014(UTC)
Posts: 8,082
Location: ENGLAND, Didcot
I would have thought using a bandsaw with a very fine tooth blade would be the way to go. Leave the desired part just a tiny amount oversize then polish off any tooth marks with a fine glass paper.

However I haven't tried this sort of kitbashing, so I am sure someone will come up with a better suggestion.
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Offline Toosmall  
#3 Posted : 23 December 2022 12:35:24(UTC)
Toosmall

Australia   
Joined: 26/07/2021(UTC)
Posts: 609
Location: Sydney
I cut two Z gauge locos in half with a jewellers saw. No issues with cutting.

Wanted to create a twin engine loco out of interest. Have offset the motors 60° filing the ends of the shafts 50% to overlap at the correct rotational angle, and held together with a spare gear, to effectively form a 6 pole motor. It works really well and very smooth.

I used a couple of pins (old drill bits) to join the two halves together.

DSC_1772~2.JPG
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Offline EMD_GP7  
#4 Posted : 23 December 2022 15:42:13(UTC)
EMD_GP7


Joined: 23/11/2010(UTC)
Posts: 192
Location: U.K. Midlands
Originally Posted by: Bill L Go to Quoted Post
I hope I posted this in the right section of this Forum. I would like to cut 2 Union Pacific ALCO PA bodies to combine to make a Marklin B unit. I bought the TRIX HO SCALE 22805 UNION PACIFIC ALCO PA AA DIESEL LOCOMOTIVE #600/601 on Ebay at a very decent low price (and I mean they were non-working and INEXPENSIVE). The TRIX and Marklin bodies are the same. The fronts were badly banged up, but the rear ends are fine, so this idea came up.

What is the best saw and blade recommended to use to make the cleanest cut of a zinc body. Would like suggestions from our kitbashing group with all your experience.

Marklin never ever made the B unit and I do not know why.

Thanking you all in advance.


Hi. One problem of using 2 A-unit rears is that the B-unit is not symmetrical !
This is because it only has one engine plus radiator unlike the EMD "E" units which have two and are more or less symmetrical.
I built a trix Union Pacific ABA unit some years ago using a Proto 2000 or Athearn B-unit with the wires between the A-units extended but I sold it.
Below is a photo of a Marklin A-unit plus B-units from Proto 2000 ( Centre) and Athearn ( bottom) which may help you with your project.
I would suggest using a Razor saw to cut the bodies if you have no access to a bandsaw as suggested above.

PA_PB.JPG

The radiator air intakes are clearly seen on the right side of each unit.

Good luck with your project, Colin.

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Offline Alsterstreek  
#5 Posted : 23 December 2022 16:35:51(UTC)
Alsterstreek

Germany   
Joined: 16/11/2011(UTC)
Posts: 5,666
Location: Hybrid Home
Posts #100/101/102 in this thread might of interest in this context:

https://www.marklin-user...Marklin-ALCO-PA-1-models
Offline Bill L  
#6 Posted : 28 December 2022 03:37:59(UTC)
Bill L

United States   
Joined: 08/12/2021(UTC)
Posts: 84
Location: California, Sonoma County
Thank you for your input kiwiAlan, Toosmall, EMD_GP7, and Alsterstreek.
I will be making straight cuts, so I will look into a jeweller saw blade with a larger width and small blade thickness, that will give me a straight cut, I do not need to make any curve cuts here. Also, a higher number of teeth per cm will help.
A razor saw might work, I will look into that as well.
Thanks again.
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