Sheet Steel and Aluminium Foil

Dear ???

Sheet metal on diesel locomotives is usually in the 1-3 millimetre thick range,
("Canadian" or "Safety" cabs are reputed to be 1/8th inch sheet, which is around 3mm)

https://books.google.com.au/books?id=afTuqHUAAIwC&pg=PA62&lpg=PA62&dq=locomotive+body+sheet+metal+thickness&source=bl&ots=kLb-4yong-&sig=WN4Rqqn-M7YIdhzNZwkfUXml_Jw&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CC4Q6AEwA2oVChMI-LOB5_bGxwIVIp-mCh1Xlgpu#v=onepage&q=locomotive%20body%20sheet%20metal%20thickness&f=false 

Remember, 1" in HO is around 0.010",
and typical kitchen aluminium foil comes in at around 0.2mm or 0.007"
(which I have used previously to model an exploded steam boiler on a HO logging donkey,
rather effective at replicating munched-up sheet boilerplate,... ).

Happy Modelling,
Aim to Improve,
Prof Klyzlr

Thanks

for the quick answer.

The model says...

I just happen to have a couple CAD models of the real thing. Thicknesses are:

• 13GA (0.09in) for most doors
• 11GA (0.12in) Structural sheet and most upper structural pieces
• 7GA (0.18in) Side skirts, stairwells
• 3/8" Plate door in the safety cab
• 1/2" end platform plates
• 5/8" plate structural sheet in the safety cab nose, fuel tank body
• 3/4" plate end platform frames.
• 1" thick plate for the front and rear coupler pockets and face plates, fuel tank ends

Then you also have structural items like 1/4" thick angle, 1/8"-1/2"rectangular tubing and Wide Flange Beams.

Railpower shell

So an HO scale shell made by railpower would have a scale thickness of what 6" or so?  ROFL !!!

I love my Railpower shells... Maybe they just knew that modern guidelines would require thicker steel and unique design? 

That makes me question.... Which manufacturer will be the first to come out with the rebuilt cabs being used on old SD40s?

New Cabs for Old SD40s

Dear Kirk,

CSX SD40-3 "Wabtec" cabs are available via Shapeways IIRC...

http://www.shapeways.com/product/DLLPR4R3E/ho-scale-1-87-csx-sd40-3-wabtec-cab?li=related-items-solr&optionId=43236042

http://www.shapeways.com/product/LN9ED35LV/ns-admiral-cab-1-87-ho-scale-for-athearn?li=shop-results&optionId=43037901

http://www.shapeways.com/product/J4YCF6FK7/csx-sd40-3-cab-ho-scale?li=shop-results&optionId=42056313

Happy Modelling,
Aim to Improve,
Prof Klyzlr

why not wide cab?

So, not trying to derail the thread, but I am curious as to why the railroads chose a standard cab over a wide cab? It seems like the design for wide cabs already included all of the required safety features so, cost for R&D would be limited to mounting a wide cab to the frame. Since the wide cabs are already in production, all the railroad would need to do is order the cab. Certainly, these very same ideas where proposed, just curious if anyone knows what happened?

Are the "Wabtec" cabs all new steel or are they simply the original cabs that are reinforced?

Why WabTec?

Dear Kirk,

Believe the design logic behind the WabTec cabs and rebuild programs is available online,
(can't remember where I read it now, Google-time...)

but IIRC the "standard cab with a nose" form factor was deemed to give better viewing and access...

and yes, the WabTec cabs are IIRC completely-new ground-up cabs, not "rebuilds" of existing EMD cabs.
(a look at the overall dimensions and structural details gives the game away).

http://www.wabtec.com/railroad/WabtecLocomotiveProductCatalog.pdf
(Check page 46)

Happy Modelliing,
Aim to Improve,
Prof Klyzlr

Model

Sorry, that is the prototype dimensions that I listed. I did not scale, because I read the question as what is the prototype measure.