 Joined: 08/12/2021(UTC) Posts: 141 Location: California, Sonoma County
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 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 08 July 2024 20:29:46(UTC)
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 1 user liked this useful post by Bill L
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 Joined: 23/07/2014(UTC) Posts: 8,482 Location: ENGLAND, Didcot
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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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1 user liked this useful post by kiwiAlan
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 Joined: 26/07/2021(UTC) Posts: 635 Location: Sydney
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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. 
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2 users liked this useful post by Toosmall
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Joined: 23/11/2010(UTC)
Posts: 193
Location: U.K. Midlands
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Originally Posted by: Bill L  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.  The radiator air intakes are clearly seen on the right side of each unit. Good luck with your project, Colin.
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2 users liked this useful post by EMD_GP7
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 Joined: 16/11/2011(UTC) Posts: 5,854 Location: Hybrid Home
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Joined: 08/12/2021(UTC) Posts: 141 Location: California, Sonoma County
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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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Joined: 08/12/2021(UTC) Posts: 141 Location: California, Sonoma County
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Reposting. Two A units were cut up to make the B unit. 
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4 users liked this useful post by Bill L
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