Post by rock on Jun 19, 2013 9:55:59 GMT -5
Last weekend I finally started a kitbash project that I have had the parts sitting around for a couple years: a GP8 for the Chicago, Central & Pacific. I decided to model an actual CC&P GP8 prototype, but one that was not painted in the red scheme; in my fantasy world, the CC&P lasted longer than it really did, so this unit is now painted and renumbered for the CC&P. Thus, my prototype is CC&P 1589, former ICG 7989, which was actually originally a GP7 built by GMD in London, Ontario for the Quebec, North Shore and Labrador. Here are some prototype photos, in ICG and patched for CC&P:
www.flickr.com/photos/53192745@N05/5086231893
www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=228168&nseq=0
www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1048202
www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1066229
donsdepot.donrossgroup.net/dr0604/icg7989.jpg
To model this, I started out with a dummy Front Range GP7. My plan is to repower it with a Kato drive and trucks from a Stewart F7. That should arrive today, so I will soon find out if my plan will work. I really like the Front Range shell and the detail that it has. I am using an Atlas SD24 cab and I cut out the cyclops window and replaced it with a spare window from an Athearn SD50 cab. I used a Detail Associates air filter and added some lift rings, a firecracker antenna, and a Nathan 5-chime horn that looked similar to what I saw on the prototype photos (it looks like this unit had both 3- and 5-chime horns at different times).
I cut the short hood down by simply removing the bottom portion of it. Judging by photos, ICG kept the upper portion of this hood, which meant I had to putty and smooth the number board area. Here are a couple photos from my initial shell work:
One of the tricky things I discovered as I went along this project deals with the nose area. Paducah created an infamous door into the chopped nose, which necessitated moving some of the battery boxes around, which then messes up the handrails a little. My original plan was to just redo the handrails in the nose area with brass wire and keep the plastic Front Range handrails for the rest of the unit. However, I noticed that Paducah also used more modern EMD 2nd-generation handrail stanchions in their rebuilds, including this prototype. Luckily, I had some Smokey Valley handrails stanchions on hand and started forming brass wire for this.
So now I just have to finish the handrails, then the unit should be set for painting. And hopefully the Kato powering technique plays out. Stay tuned!
www.flickr.com/photos/53192745@N05/5086231893
www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=228168&nseq=0
www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1048202
www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1066229
donsdepot.donrossgroup.net/dr0604/icg7989.jpg
To model this, I started out with a dummy Front Range GP7. My plan is to repower it with a Kato drive and trucks from a Stewart F7. That should arrive today, so I will soon find out if my plan will work. I really like the Front Range shell and the detail that it has. I am using an Atlas SD24 cab and I cut out the cyclops window and replaced it with a spare window from an Athearn SD50 cab. I used a Detail Associates air filter and added some lift rings, a firecracker antenna, and a Nathan 5-chime horn that looked similar to what I saw on the prototype photos (it looks like this unit had both 3- and 5-chime horns at different times).
I cut the short hood down by simply removing the bottom portion of it. Judging by photos, ICG kept the upper portion of this hood, which meant I had to putty and smooth the number board area. Here are a couple photos from my initial shell work:
One of the tricky things I discovered as I went along this project deals with the nose area. Paducah created an infamous door into the chopped nose, which necessitated moving some of the battery boxes around, which then messes up the handrails a little. My original plan was to just redo the handrails in the nose area with brass wire and keep the plastic Front Range handrails for the rest of the unit. However, I noticed that Paducah also used more modern EMD 2nd-generation handrail stanchions in their rebuilds, including this prototype. Luckily, I had some Smokey Valley handrails stanchions on hand and started forming brass wire for this.
So now I just have to finish the handrails, then the unit should be set for painting. And hopefully the Kato powering technique plays out. Stay tuned!
