I have a kato built Atlas

yes if you want one you have

yes if you want one you have to make it yourself

im up for the challenge just not 100% sure how to go about it

Which slug?

Dear Tony,

Building slugs is not too difficult, but first I am prompted to ask, what kind of slug

http://www.northeast.railfan.net/slugs.html

are we talking?

- BNSF 3957 (slug mated with GP7u out of Hutchinson, KS)

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=984932

- IHB PB-series

PB1-3 = "complete rebuild"
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=409075

PB4 - onwards = "simple kitbash"
http://www.flickr.com/photos/fidenciomarbella/6773377682/

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/modelthumbs.aspx?id=IHB&mid=885&Page=4

- CSX "road slug" 2216 et al

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/locopicture.aspx?id=59648

- SP "TEBU"

http://espee.railfan.net/sptebu.html

or other???

Many of the above can be had quickly with not much more than:
- remove the cab
- replace with styrene, Cannon Co hood parts, or a spare shell

and possibly keep the existing drivetrain.
(the CSX slugs don't even need that,
just shave the cast-on details on some of the hood doors,
plate over some of the removed roof-top details, 
weather, and you're done... ).

The "lowered hood" units can possibly be had by rotating/remounting the motor to lower the overall mech profile,
and "slicing a few feet off the bottom" of the hood casting.

For "total kitbash" slugs such as IHB PB1, it's likely you'll be looking as repowering,
using either extreme motor/gearbox engineering
(check what some of the UK narrow gaugers have done in HOn30, 
http://www.nigellawton009.com/VeeTipper.html)

under-floor units such as those offered by Kato
http://www.modeltrainsnthings.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/kato-mechanism.jpg

of simply removing the truck worm and geartrain and accepting the slug as a "dummy" unit.

Short answer being, building a slug is not too difficult, as long as you know what slug you're aiming for in the first place...

Happy Modelling,
Aim to improve,
Prof Klyzlr

PS even for the "dummy" slugs, add a TCS FL4 decoder + SMD LEDs,
and it can have all the lights one would expect from a slug too...

Parts Dept. Slug

Which Slug

the slug im thinking about is (from your first link) CN #200

http://www.northeast.railfan.net/images/cn200a.jpg

some great info thanks for posting it

Part Dept Slug

very nice build

going more for the lower profile slug but the thread has some good info and tips on what you did with the shell

thanks

Target acquired, form a plan...

Dear Tony,

Great, now that we know what we're aiming for, we can start forming a plan of attack.

CN 200 appears to be based on a GP7, with the trucks and basic hood assemblies showing traces of their heritage.
However, the overall length looks suspiciously short for a full-length GP7 frame.

This prompts 3 possible ways-forward:

Powered unit: Kato (japan style, as linked above) mech with donor GP7 sideframes, frame and hood castings

Dummy unit: GP7 donor, shortened metal and plastic casting frames, cab removed
(with resulting short + long hood halves overall length matching the shortened frame),
geartrain removed from the trucks.

Dummy unit: GP7 donor body shell + plastic frame casting, on top of donor LifeLike SW1200 trucks+mech/metal-frame.

Happy Modelling,
Aim to Improve,
Prof Klyzlr

Maple Leaf Trains?

I noticed in the June News column that Maple Leaf Trains is offering an HO scale Canadian slug,  http://mapleleaftrains.com/index.php/locomotives/gp9-slug .  Perhaps too late for you, and not exactly the right model for your particular prototype, but maybe they could be convinced to do this or a smaller variant in N scale?

Target Slug

it does not have to be as short as the proto but i like that style

i was originally thinking GP7/9 so im on the right path there

want to make it an un-powered dummy unit

so now it sounds like i need to find a scrap loco now

trying not to break the bank on this project

thanks Prof

Maple Leaf

im really surprised nobody even makes a dummy slug in N scale

all the ones i have found were "bashed" to get one

Nike was onto something...

Dear Tony,

Given their ease of bashing from existing materials, and relative rarity/lack-of-following,
I can kinda understand why manufacturers would be loathe to go there...
(that Maple Leaf shell looks good, and it would make a great starting-point...).

Besides which, I just found on an impulsive eBay search:
- complete Atlas N scale GP7 shells inc handrails and frame casting for US$10
- complete working new B'mann N scale GP7s for $30
- and Atlas 2nd hand N scale units for the same ammount

Looks well-do-able from here...

Happy Modelling,
Aim to Improve,
Prof Klyzlr

Makes Sense

that would be my guess just not enough interest in N scale dummy slugs

i figured epay would have something

just dont do the fee-bay.....maybe i might have to setup an account

thanks again Prof

Slug

I have a sw1200 slug I picked up on Feebay.  It's an old and beat up N scale. Split frame design and set up for a light.

Maybe its not a true slug but a "calf" or a "cow". Not sure of the diff.

Picked up it and a mini trix 0-6-0 for 5bucks for the pair.

The shell doesnt look kitbashed but rather a factory item.

Needs new railings and a paint job.

Do a Google for "N scale SW1200".

Slug

yes poking around the web looking at protos of slugs i came across that setup

looks a bit to big for the slug im after

thanks

slug VS calf

Slug vs Calf

great explanation Prof

thanks

Haysi Railroad

somewhere

Somewhere here I have an N scale CNR slug I built a few years back, it must be stashed away in one of many boxes. I have no idea where to start looking. Here's an HO version of the same thing I still haven't finished after many years:

slug

very nice build

would like to see that N scale version if you could find it

Hey I'll see if it turns up

Hey I'll see if it turns up as I get the Chamber of the Sacred Rails back up and sorted out. I went thru a purge phase not long ago and have no idea what I kept or let go or for that matter bought... everyday is like my birthday now when I open a box!

surprise

you cant beat that

i know when i got back into N scale i felt the same way opening the boxes up

hopefully you still have it

Slug instructions

These are the best instructions I have found.  I also want to do a couple of CN GP7 slugs and am planning to use this method

http://www.cp-forum.net/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=585

Conrail MT-4 Slug

Very Nice

great builds

here is how far i am on mine

still needs work but we are getting there