Atlas S-2: Initial Assessments & Starting 0604

With the prototype research done, let's take a closer look at the Atlas model and get started on the build!

As I mentioned last week, the Atlas S-2 with horizontal louvers provides a great start to modeling the first nine New Haven DEY-5 class switchers (0600-0608). And as I mentioned yesterday, the main visual changes will be to add a new cab and a different horn/whistle. But there are a couple of - thankfully minor - issues with the model itself. . .

The first thing I noticed "wrong" with the Atlas S-2 right out of the box was the position (and brightness!) of the headlight:

This causes the headlight to lose a lot of intensity through the lens, despite how bright this bulb is - so bright, in fact, that you'll have to blacken the inside of the shell to keep the light from shining through the walls of the hood(!)

Another problem - at least on the model I got - was that the cab fitment wasn't great.

The good news is that - like the prototype, the cab overhangs the frame a bit. But the bad news - as you can see in the top picture above - for some reason my cab flares out.

But these problems are no big deal at all. I plan to replace the cab with a new low-profile NH cab from my friend Mike Redden of NE Modelworks (5-piece kit, seen above), and I just figured out how I'm going to fix the headlight issue - but I'll wait and share that solution when I get to that point in the build.

Speaking of the build, let's get started building!

These are among my favorite pics - that fresh, new-to-you look and feeling you get when you first open a kit and lay out the parts.

Since it's an undec, you have to apply all the separate parts yourself and there are no instructions, per se - just an exploded diagram showing you where everything is supposed to go. So you'll become VERY familiar with all the parts - you really have no choice!

The pic above shows everything all laid out, including the extra parts I plan to apply (brass whistle, different lenses, and of course the low-profile cab).

Since there are no instructions, you'll want to install the most robust parts first and save the more delicate parts for later in the build. I decided to start by adding the grab irons. They're sturdy metal, so I figured they'd survive lots of subsequent handling. Thankfully, even though it's a "kit," Atlas already drilled all the holes for you - which is a BIG timesaver! Have some small drill bits on-hand though, in case you have to enlarge them at all (fortunately, I didn't).

Once the grabs were applied, I turned my attention to the cab. Given that it's a 5-piece kit itself, it warrants a post of its own. Which we'll get to next time.

Hope you're enjoying following along, and if you are - and especially if you have any special tips/tricks to share - be sure to let us know in the comments!