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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThis beautiful switcher model was actually developed as a TT scale model by Worsley Works of England<\/a>, but as it is an etched model it is just a matter of scaling the drawings up and it can be and now has been produced in American OO. This photo is from the Worsley Works website of a body in the process of being built up from the TT scale etchings. The money quote they give in their website from a buyer of the TT model is this: “……..the more I work on this etching, the more impressed I am with the design work. It has been amazingly easy to build this body kit and so far, I have soldered everything.\u201d It can be built up into an accurate model of an EMD SW8, SW600, SW900, or SW1200. More photos are here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As to the OO model, there is the question of how to power it and I have a good idea how it could be done. A very nice drive can certainly be worked out from an Athearn HO GE road switcher drive. I know they made the drives for this in a couple different styles; what we want is the version with plastic sideframes and bearings inside. SW trucks are 8′ wheelbase and the U-boat trucks are 9’4″. What that means for us is HO U-boat trucks scale out really close in wheelbase to OO SW trucks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You still need sideframes and I have a solution for that as well. The sideframes for the old AHM HO SW-1 are overscale and the wheelbase of these is a good match to the Athearn drive! I think that is the way to go; they are really close to dead on for OO.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For an even cheaper drive the AHM drive itself is workable enough mechanically and visually but you don’t have 8 wheel pickup and the gearing is a bit high.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Depending on clearances it may be necessary to use the front truck off the AHM SW-1 and only power the back truck with the Athearn gearbox. I do think it worth the trouble having worked with both drives myself, the Athearn gearing is better and you get 8 wheel pickup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Check with them for the price but the price I was quoted for the SW-8 etchings yesterday was very reasonable. Also, they take PayPal which will simplify payment for us on this side of the pond. For more on this model check their website<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n