Where are you guys getting 33’ for the length of a 44-tonner? The sources I’ve found have it at 28’ 4" wide, 12’ tall, and 9’ 6" wide. http://www.trainweb.org/DC/44Tonner.htm These dimensions are within an inch or two compared to Bachmann’s HO model. (USA Train’s specs have the length of theirs at 12 5/8". If that’s over the couplers, then it’s pretty close to 28’ over the body.)
In 1;20.3, that’d be 16 3/4" wide by 7" tall by 5.6" wide. The CMP model would then be very close in terms of length, but woefully low and narrow. Comparing the dimensions of the CMP model to the prototype 44-tonner (dimensions sourced as above), I get a scale length of 1:19, width of 1:27, and height of 1:23.
The stock 1:20.3 Bachmann 45-tonner is 15" long, about 7" tall, and 6" wide. The B’mann 45-tonner is based on a different prototype than the 44-tonner, so one would expect to find some differences, but the height and width are very similar.
When I “downsized” my B’mann loco to a more “reasonable” 1:20.3 size, I looked at average proportions of similarly-sized 3’ gauge center cabs from various manufacturers.
The resulting model was 15" long, 6.25" tall, and 5" wide. That’s a scale 25’ 4" long, 8’ 5" wide, and 10’ 7" tall.
Comparing the height of my model to the CMP model, its very similar. The difference–proportionally–is that there are no steps into my cab–the floor of the cab is the same level as the floor on the running boards (Common on Whitcomb and Davenport locos.)
The other questionable dimension relative to the CMP model being true 1:20.3 is the width. At 4.25" wide, that’s a width of only 7’ 2"–very narrow for a 3’ gauge locomotive, especially a modern diesel such as this.
Granted, none of this is anything that can’t be fixed by a razor saw, but it’s a lot easier to cut up a $100 plastic B’mann 45-tonner, both in a physical and spiritual sense.
Later,
K
I recently bought this locomotive from CMP as they are going out of business.
