Post by conrailpres on Dec 4, 2013 23:45:34 GMT -5
This one was definitely done on the cheap! I had almost everything necessary for this project on hand when I started. The only purchase necessary were some dry transfers for the new road number. Total out-of-pocket cost on this build was less than $10. If you don't count the "free" details from the parts bins, I'm still in for less than $50.
The starting point was the old Bachmann BQ23-7. It's a locomotive that will never win a beauty contest. But I always found them interesting - especially after their conversion to B unit status.
I wanted to keep this one quick and cheap as it'll just be an interesting run-through / interchange unit when the layout finally gets going again. It doesn't have to be the star of the show - just look good in a supporting role. Rather than repower, I took the easy way out and simply made it a dummy - not like it can power a train on its own anyway!
I also decided to settle on leaving those heavy hand rails in place. I'll keep telling myself I can live with those until I can't. For now there are other projects looming on the workbench and this old toy has at least been rescued from the scrap box.
Most of the project was weathering. Prototype photos helped a lot. There were only 10 of these, but no two were the same. There were even changes in the window patches / renumbering from one side of this locomotive to the other.
Here's a link to a step-by-step on the project: modeltrains.about.com/od/Detailing-and-Weathering/ss/Model-A-B-Unit-Locomotive-With-Character-The-Bq23-7b.htm
