The Worlds only DDA40X Diesel Locomotives in G Scale!

I had a fantastic time hosting Gary Lattrel and his One-of-a-Kind DDA40X’s on Thursday, the 16th of April, 2015. What a fun three hours we had! And hopefully this video will showcase how incredible these Locomotives really are.

Gary has built from scratch, two Union Pacific DDA40X Diesel Locomotives in G scale. Not only are they two of the most beautiful models I have ever seen, they are the only models of a DDA40X locomotive in G scale in the World! No other models exist anywhere that I am aware of. And these puppies performed extremely well that day; pulling a fairly long load around my layout.

Gary has installed AirWire for the control and batteries for the power, along with Phoenix Sound, which brings out the realness in these locomotives. The AirWire gave these DD40's very good slow starting and stopping, along with all the other features that AirWire provides. And the batteries lasted the entire 3 hours we were running on the layout.

A little background on the creation of these DDA40X’s by Gary Lattrel:

These two DDA40X locomotives were manufactured using sophisticated software for the design, and State-of-the-Art upgraded 3D printers to bring them to life. Being blessed with having a son in the manufacturing business that uses these sophisticated - high end 3D printers, Gary has pursued building many G scale train items over the years, using these incredible 3D printers with the help of his son. And these DDA40X locomotives is his latest endeavor.

Gary started off by buying an HO model of an Athearn DDA40X. He liked this model in HO for two reasons; first, because of the extensive amount of detail that Athearn used on that model; and second, because of the 1:87 scale, which is exactly three times the G scale ratio of 1:29.

Hours and hours and hours were spent by Gary going over every inch of that Athearn model to establish the size and shape of all the details that made up that model. A high end software program was used to calculate all of this data inside a computer. Gary said it was an arduous task. But once completed, not only did it provided a means to view the finished model on any 3D axis imaginable, but it also provided a basis for the printers to do their magic!

An FDM machine made most of the model using ABS plastic. This $400,000 plus machine is an extremely high-end 3D printer that uses paper thin layers of ABS plastic, laying it down in every direction, to form the body of the DDA40X. An equally expensive and high-end SLS machine, using nylon 12, made the side frames of the model. This same SLS machine also made the railings, which are all in one piece with no breaks, and is extremely strong. It also made the small detail parts like hoses, visors, MU cables, and light housings.

The motor blocks and wheels are from a USAT SD-70, with a custom pivoting wheel and motor as the fourth axle needed to complete the DDA40X’s wheel set. This very customized piece of engineering by Gary proved vital in completing the look of the model because DDA40X’s have 4 axles, and there is nothing on the ready to run market with 4 axles. It also provided the flexibility in transversing the many layouts that these models would travel on. To me, this is something that USA Trains should look into if they ever made these larger 4 axle locomotives. It was pure genius on Gary’s part!

Gary still has a few things left to complete on these models; glass in the windows - the lights in the back section of the locomotive and the strobe on top of the cab - some more stenciling - and a few more detail parts on the front and rear of the locomotives.

I hope you have a great time viewing these incredible locomotives, as they transverse the “ Palo Verde and Southwestern Railroad.” I know I did!