Get them done to run

[Deleted]

I keep going back and looking at Mr. Pacificwestern's finished SD40-2's. I am very inspired to try something that I have not done since before I knew anything about prototype modeling. I am going to seriously try a budget build. I mean really try.

I have a friend who has a number of undecorated Athearn SD40-2's from the original Blue Box release. Last time I talked to him a couple days ago be said he wants to sell them. I am going to buy a few of them and do very minimal stuff to them, but give them a good paint and weathering job. I want to get something finished to play with while I am working on my A-Fleet models. They will be for my Copper State Railway and I will have Highball Graphics do my decals which will give me a very good idea of how well they will turn out. Also two of the units will be the AZ centennial units so I can see how those will turn out.

So here is what I plan for them.

- NWSL code 88 wheel sets
- tsunami sound decoder
- DW coupler pocket filler piece
- DW plow
- DW horn
- DW air reservoirs (will not plumb them, just need something to replace the Athearn ones)
- Sergent couplers

I will keep the side sill mounting pins. I will strip the thick paint off the frames. These models will be for visual effect, not close up detail viewing. For the most part, I just want something to play with and the models will give me the visual motivation I need to keep me motivated to build my A-Fleet.

I'll tune up the motors and hard wire the power. I may upgrade the motors to the newer hex drive flywheels. I think those motors are friendlier to decoders.

[antlorch]

Brian that is some serious thinking,well to reframe from doing to much. LOL.

My first KP SD40-2 was a blue box but I did way more than you are planing to do. I didnt replace any parts with Cannon just added small parts.

The only thing I think you should add to your "not so detailed engines" are the AMB laser cut windows #230 and wipers. Those two items can take the "toy" look out of the blue box..

I wont give you anymore tips on this lol,good luck though..

[Deleted]

Yes, on my way into work today I was thinking of the AMB windows. I agree tht I must use them.

I have only two goals with these models.

1. Get something done to run with the local group.
2. Get something done to set in front of me while I work on my A-Fleet to keep me motivated.

As I stated in my post, these are not for up close inspection. More or less 3 foot viewing as they go by on the modular setup.

Tips are just fine. I may use them and I may not. As you can see, I will use this one.

[slowfreight]

If you use Sergeant couplers, it seems getting rid of the oh-so-delicate mounting lugs and pins might be a simple affair when you're busy body-mounting the couplers. Drill and tap a styrene block inside the body and screw it to the frame?

[deez]

Yeah those mounting lugs are hideous. Removing those will help alot.

[sgoti]

I can hear Bruce Springsteen playing in the background... ;D

Can't wait to see how this works for you, Brian. As a recovering perfectionist, I can appreciate the challenges in leaving some things alone.

As usual, thank you to the members here for showing us that our hobby can still be fun! (Ever wonder why Model Railroader quit putting that on their magazine?)

[pacificwestern]

Looking forward to seeing this project come to life.

Its really not that hard to make an old Athearn blue box loco come to life, and it can only take a few minor details to make them look good.

The SD40-2's were done moons ago without much thought to accuracy or believability and will receive a makeover eventually once I have completed a few other builds that are waiting in line.

Keep at it and I am sure the loco will look great.

[Deleted]

This project is harder to start than I thought. I have been so busy building my A fleet that getting started ont eh B fleet is not really there. I have to budget my time so if I am going to build something, I may as well build something that I originally want.

[Deleted]

Or you could quickly get the b fleet done then take your time on the a fleet?

Sent from my GT-I9100 using proboards

[cf7]

Now that I have a layout under construction, I have found it much more enjoyable to layoff the ultimate detailing jobs and build my stuff using the term "good enough". If I want to be able to enjoy both building the layout and building motive power and freight cars, something had to give.

I find myself enjoying the hobby more by not getting so worked up about some things.

[Deleted]

Oct 8, 2012 8:55:18 GMT -5 cf7 said:

Now that I have a layout under construction, I have found it much more enjoyable to layoff the ultimate detailing jobs and build my stuff using the term "good enough". If I want to be able to enjoy both building the layout and building motive power and freight cars, something had to give.

I find myself enjoying the hobby more by not getting so worked up about some things.

Ditto.

[Deleted]

I am sure I will get there too. No place to build a layout yet. When I do though, I should have all my motive power done. Freight cars will just be ready to run and I will weather them.

[shoofly]

Brian,
I'm liking the budget build premise more and more. As a teenage modeler when I started, I had a lot more time then funds. Articles such as the late Tom Busack's October 1985 Model Railroader Article "Athearn's SD40-2 - A Kitbasher's Goldmine" and his article on kitbashing a GP39-2 from an assortment of starting points pulled me into the modeler side of the hobby.

There is a big "gap" between starting out and jumping into the modeler side of things. Since this information, once prevalent in print, is now lacking, it's up to the forums to pull it together IMHO.

Some of these old articles are on trainlife. It's hard to get decent search results out of their search feature. Knowing the year and month seems to be the best way of finding the info. Hotlinking to the article helps too.

One of my budget builds is taking an old Atlas/ROCO GP40(the long hood doors look a lot nicer then RPP to me...others may have a different opinion) and using parts from a second hand SD40-2 to build either an SD38 or SD40. As for the frame, adjusting the SD40-2 wheelbase -3'. Yes it will take some work, but I have the frame and tools on hand to make the adjustment. Sure there are easier ways (and more expensive) to do this, but the premise, for me atleast, is to use things already on hand to save some cash and be less wasteful.

ChrisP

[pacbelt]

Sept 15, 2012 17:52:21 GMT -5 sgoti said:

.......As usual, thank you to the members here for showing us that our hobby can still be fun! (Ever wonder why Model Railroader quit putting that on their magazine?)

...Probably because they've become the advertising magazine, with breaks for biased reviews, and articles featuring their OWN layout!!! :/