Post by CP_8530 on Jan 7, 2013 3:25:45 GMT -5
You'll have to excuse my writing, it's nearly 3:30am and I'm a little tired...
I've had a friend purchase a pair of Proto 2000 BC Hydro SW9's. I'm not sure why, but Hobbycraft Canada (importers of Proto 2000 stuff in the Great White North) did up earlier SW9's instead of the proper SW900(RS) units the BCH's actually were. Probably because the SW8/900's hadn't been released yet. Notable differences include mainly the exhaust stacks and of course the trucks. Well, they rolled into the shop for some corrections to be made to make them closer to prototypical appearances, sooo:
This one (actually, both were) has been converted to Flexicoil trucks using Athearn Flexicoil sideframes on heavily modified Proto 2000 trucks. The pickup, electrical, and sideframe mounting systems had to be reworked to move the pickup strip to the insides of the wheelsets (for a more closer fit of the wheels in the sideframes, as opposed to m636(?)'s previous mod for CN units where the outside bearings pickups were left). It was a somewhat time-consuming process, but the results are quite nice.
In addition, the sill skirts at the ends were shaved back, a new M5 horn drilled and mounted on the cab, the dual exhaust stacks removed, holes plugged and filed in, and replaced with a single CN-style spark arrestor, the bell relocated forward, and some other minor touch ups including some silver on the side cab windows. Cab indow glazing removed for final lighting work. But, no full handrail package additions though. The paint scheme is basically stock with some touch ups.
Here's a before/after. I did 2 units in total, both were 908's so the second was renumbered 901 as per suggested loco numbers. Renumbering done with Gojo orange hand cleaner and some Microscale decals. This one still needs a bit of tinkering before the shop releases it for interchange delivery:
I've had a friend purchase a pair of Proto 2000 BC Hydro SW9's. I'm not sure why, but Hobbycraft Canada (importers of Proto 2000 stuff in the Great White North) did up earlier SW9's instead of the proper SW900(RS) units the BCH's actually were. Probably because the SW8/900's hadn't been released yet. Notable differences include mainly the exhaust stacks and of course the trucks. Well, they rolled into the shop for some corrections to be made to make them closer to prototypical appearances, sooo:
This one (actually, both were) has been converted to Flexicoil trucks using Athearn Flexicoil sideframes on heavily modified Proto 2000 trucks. The pickup, electrical, and sideframe mounting systems had to be reworked to move the pickup strip to the insides of the wheelsets (for a more closer fit of the wheels in the sideframes, as opposed to m636(?)'s previous mod for CN units where the outside bearings pickups were left). It was a somewhat time-consuming process, but the results are quite nice.
In addition, the sill skirts at the ends were shaved back, a new M5 horn drilled and mounted on the cab, the dual exhaust stacks removed, holes plugged and filed in, and replaced with a single CN-style spark arrestor, the bell relocated forward, and some other minor touch ups including some silver on the side cab windows. Cab indow glazing removed for final lighting work. But, no full handrail package additions though. The paint scheme is basically stock with some touch ups.
Here's a before/after. I did 2 units in total, both were 908's so the second was renumbered 901 as per suggested loco numbers. Renumbering done with Gojo orange hand cleaner and some Microscale decals. This one still needs a bit of tinkering before the shop releases it for interchange delivery:
