BNSF Dash 9 build...(Warning, lots of pics!!)

[wongsing]

Hey everyone, I have been quite busy with these since last year, but I am finally going to finish them up. I figured as much as I love to see other people post their projects maybe you guys would like to see what I've done. I even managed to find some progress pics up to this point. Opinions good or bad are welcome, and please be honest.

Okay, so I started this project due to my strong desire for a more "correct" BNSF dash 9. I then figured that due to the fact I would probably eventually want more I decided to go for 3 at once. For the most part, these could be done "assembly line style" although each loco will have slight differences as per their repective prototypes. The locos that will be done here are BNSF #'s 4807, 4878 and 4913.

You may notice my H1 Athearn RTR in the backround (this is NOT part of the build). Lastly guys, this is not my first build, but the first one I have ever posted a progressive build on so please bear with me...Thanks!


I started out using a leftover Athearn RTR chassis and two more blue box chassis that will be upgraded and repowered. The shells were purchased as part of a lot for a pretty good price but had pretty bad paint on them. With some of them being half stripped for someone elses unfinished project and missing parts, I had my work cut out for me...First, the bodies would need to be completely stripped and then primered as shown here...



Note the large gap on the side sill underneath the cab. This would have to be modified due to different runs of the Athearn body shells. Finding gullwing cabs was a chore in itself. Athearn said they had them in stock for almost $10 a piece!!!!

I decided that the radiator section amongst many other areas would need some help... I opted to use details associates etched radiator grille set. Here is how it came together...I only had to find one replacement radiator insert due to a bad cut! (oops!) As they say, "measure twice, cut once..."





Thats all for now. I will post more in a few!

-Rich

[wongsing]

Some of the things that were important to me and that MUST be added to these three models would be:

*Correct coupler cut bars - Railflyer prototypes

*Brass handrails with stachions from Smokey Valley

These items (especially the handrails) would be particularly time consuming-and totally worth it IMHO. I also knew I would definately have to add:

*Correct 4 window cab
*Low mounted air tanks
*Flush mounted windows
*Dash 9 detail set from Detailswest

Many more items were to be added but these were among the most important.



Here you can see that this was the first unit to see paint. Note the way that the cab had to be modified to fit into the sub base.



Here are all 3 locos at various degrees of completion...



In this picture, although kinda blurry, you can see the beginning of the underside details. The frame on these locos is so seemingly bare and who wouldn't want to see traction motor cables, piping and bracket details on the finished product?





Grabirons, sand filler hatches, plows and x-panels installed...



-Rich

[wongsing]

More cutting on the cabs for those window frames that would soon be installed (also a cut for the door for unit 4807) took place as you can see.



Not sure if anyone else has ever hard as hard a time with some stripes as I had, but geez! I couldn't get them to stay straight to save my life! I have very few bad sheets of decals before (especially from Microscale) but geez! This one had to have been the worst! I used solvaset quite sparingly on some of these decals and diluted as well due to their tendency to split, crack and completely melt...At any rate, I got them to cooperate and I was happy with how it was beginning to turn out.





Unfortunately, these loco projects would all stay like this until just last week when I got the motivation to pick them back up. All of the photos in this thread up until this point were taken last year in mid-November...I really didn't think I would ever get them going again.

-Rich

[wongsing]

Just this last week is when these pics were taken. Much progress has taken place and the closer I get to being done with these, the more motivated I am becoming to see the final product. What do you all think so far? More progress pics will be posted soon if anyone would like to see...







Cut bars and grab irons added...





Details have now been added to all three locomotive chassis (i.e: traction motor cables, brake chain beam pulley, air dryer and air

filters, etc.)





Opinions, suggestions and ideas welcome. I look forward to comments. Thanks!

-Rich

[gnsteve]

Nice work so far. I like all the pictures. They show off your detailing efforts.

Steve

[kpack]

Rich - Very inspiring! Looking at your work makes me want to pick up a couple of C44-9W's for myself. I like your attention to details and the additions you've made. Railflyer cut levers are great, and the etched grills make a big difference. Are you soldering or gluing the stanchions and handrails?

The only thing I see that could be improved is the 4-window installation on #4807 looks a little rough around the edges. Not really something I would worry about right now, you don't want to damage your paint work. It will probably not be noticeable once weathered.

Looking forward to more!

-Kevin

[wongsing]

Hey guys, thanks for the comments! I'm glad there was some criticism in there. I have been modeling for a long time, so my friends always just take a glance and say, "oh man, that looks pretty good..." Nice to hear, but I like to hear the truth from other builders out there.

Kpack, as far as the window frame on 4807, not really sure why that showed up in the pics looking so bad. I will try to fix it before I actually install the windows and before I dull coat these models. gh for Also, I will be gluing the stanchions in. I have tried to solder them before with not so good results. Maybe if I had a better soldering iron this wouldn't be such a pain. By using a bit of CA in the stanchion pocket, installing the railing and then alittle more CA on the backside as well as a drop in the side sill my handrails seem durable enough for careful handling. (my models are never touched by anyone but me or fellow model builders and never handled more than they need to be.)

There is still alot to do so far as you can see, but I would say 12 more hours of dedicated work should finish these. I am not on a time limit, but I would like to actually see these through before my next modeling hiatus... More pics hopefully this evening. Plan on installing the air reservoir tanks and maybe starting the other two sets of handrails....

-Rich

[diesel]

well, I can't see anything wrong with these... I didn't even notice the windows til I read kpack's comments (what's up man!) The Athearn model does have some panels on the roof that aren't on the prototype, at least BNSF prototypes. I'm not sure if you removed those or not. I'd have to read the post again that covers the different phases of -9s. (actually from your previous -9 post.

But like kpack, I'm inspired as well, I have 1 -9, Athearn factory paint almost totally detailed a few years ago, + 2 more that just came off the shelf to be stripped and worked & then 2 Katos, same. Where can I buy time to do those?

[wongsing]

Ok guys, spent the weekend doing some more on these...Now all three units have handrails on either side...They all are a perfect match too due to using a template! (Man, so much easier!!!)

Also, last night I applied my air reservoir tanks and details. I will not post pics of all 3 units because they all had the same work done.





Getting closer to the real fine stuff...Final detailing and assembly! Tired of seeing these units without windows, ditchlights, MU hoses, etc.

I will post some more pics soon! Thanks for looking!

-Rich

[garagefujimoto]

sweet pumpkins!

[lakeshore]

Hey what did you use for the 4-window sides? I've only seen "scale rail models" set but havent seen those around in a while...

[wongsing]

I used Detailwest part "BN-358 BNSF 4 WINDOW CAB AND WINDSHIELD FRAMES" For the 4 window cab sides. I am really glad that you guys like the pics of these. I am making alittle progress at a time and look forward to doing alot more tomorrow. Thanks again for looking!

-Rich

[zakc]

Looks great, you should be prowd of your efforts

[wongsing]

Still lots of work to get done yet, but getting there slowly. I have now added air reservoir tanks, rear handrails, and exhaust stacks to all 3 engines.











I have to bend the wire to form the front handrails on 2 of the engines still, paint touch ups to some areas that have been modified. As soon as my brass steps get here those will be going on too! This has been a fun project but man, I can't wait to have something to run on my layout.

Next up is more detailing. Stay tuned!

-Rich

[wongsing]

So very close to being done now and running out of detail parts to apply before finishing touches and weathering.







Any comments or suggestions are welcome. Thanks guys! Hope you enjoy...

-Rich

[icghogger]

Nice, VERY Nice!!

[dmfoamer]

I the ATSF A/C unit on 4878. very prototypical. Beautiful model. You can hear them idling away waiting for their next assignment

Frank Lovejoy

[antlorch]

Rich I am not a BNSF fan by any means but I think you have done an awesome job with these. All the extra detail work is paying off.Good job.

[wongsing]

Alright everyone, so during the process of working on these locos I couldn't help but notice the first BNSF Dash 9 that I ever added some details to. If you look at one of the first pics posted at the top of this thread in the near backround you will see Athearn BNSF #972. This unit was a RTR loco in Heritage 1 paint. I was not happy with the handrails (had to re-bend them in a few areas), not to mention a few others discrepencies as well. I figured this unit may be better off getting redone altogether otherwise it may be always subject to fill the scenery or a space on my shelf. Although it would hurt me to strip the beautiful RTR factory paint, it would be a pain to match after the same detail parts were installed to it like the others.

So, because there really hadn't been too much done yet, and what had been done I truly feel could've been better (my first set of Smokey Valley handrails on this loco really did turn out to be an eyesore IMHO) the answer was simple...Update this neglected BNSF 972 to BNSF 5016...


The unit currently has much work done already even after JUST starting it Wednesday morning. It seems that the 4th build of one of these is going MUCH smoother than before.

I picked BNSF #5016 due to this being the day my daughter was born (5-16-12) and not to mention, the prototype seems like a reasonably weathered and interesting loco.





In the picture posted above, note the orange underneath the yellow nose stripe at the bottom. Also notice how this unit has the large BNSF lettering on the cigar band compared to the other units.



Ok, now let me ask everyone's honest opinion, the large rectangular panel above the two "x-panels" on the roof is incorrect for these locos. Although the unit has already been painted, I don't feel that it is too late to remove this panel and sand smooth and then repaint, of course it would need to be done on all 4 locos!!! So, in everyone else's opinion, who would make an attempt to shave the panel off this late in the game and who thinks I should just leave it? The work that would go into correcting this could be alittle dangerous but I' on the fence of whether I think its really worth it or not.

At any rate, I am VERY happy with the way this loco is coming. It feels that this loco is really something special and has given me no problems at all yet with assembly. The 4 window cab came out beautifully as did the paint and decals so far. Everything was a first time go and nothing so far needs to be corrected for quality purposes. The others are coming out fine too I think, but there are a few small mistakes that need to be ironed out before the final product...(I've already been called out for the 4 window cab on 4807 being alittle rough - thanks kpack ) What do you guys think? Suggestions? This will not be the last dash 9 I do and this marks the standard of the next few I will be starting within the next month. Enjoy!

-Rich

[gnsteve]

Rich, your engines are looking good. In regards to your roof panel dilemma, I watch lots of these units roll past my work daily but I never get a top down view so I wouldn't have noticed. I see your problem as twofold: 1) you now know it isn't quite right, so you have to decide if it you bug you when you look at them and 2) you said these won't be the last dash 9s on the roster. Will you remove the panel on future engines? If so, that may tip the scale toward removal and repaint. There's my two cents.

Congratulations on your new daughter. I hope she and mom are doing well.

Steve