Post by rock on Jan 29, 2014 10:37:13 GMT -5
As part of my alternate universe, I have a super regional railroad that I call the Iowa Pacific, which is basically the I&M Rail Link or IC&E with a few additions. This railroad has trackage rights to a customer on my layout, and I finally got around to deciding on the power that I want for this operation - the perfect modern EMD road-switcher for a branchline, the BL20-2. Similar to the real railroads it is based on, the Iowa Pacific roster is made up of all second-hand locomotives and they have a lot of old 4-axle first generation power for local jobs. Given that, it's a natural fit for them to pursue the BL20-2 to rebuild some of the older geeps into more reliable motors.
My fantasy Iowa Pacific roster shows that they have 19 BL20-2s; 12 from ex-SOO GP9s and 7 from ex-CGW GP30s. This model will be an ex-CGW GP30 rebuilt into a BL20-2. Since it is a fantasy build, I have a little leeway in departing from the true prototype. It was also built around 1997, 5 years after the three BL20-2 demonstrators, so it will look slightly different, but have the main defining characteristics.
I used Erik Bergstrom's article from the 1997 Model Railroader as a guide for this kitbash. His philosophy on the kitbash uses shells from an Athearn GP60 and GP38-2, which doesn't get the hood doors 100% accurate, but very close. For this, I also used an Athearn GP60 shell, but I had an Atlas Trainman GP38-2 shell laying around, so I used that for the rear. I also had some extra Rail Power Q fans, so I used those for the radiator fans.
For the chassis, I am using a Front Range frame repowered with a Kato drive and Kato trucks out of a Stewart. I have done a few other Front Range geep rebuilds with Kato parts and have really enjoyed the outcomes - it produces a smooth runner and the Front Range shell is fun to detail and work with. I accidentally acquired a Front Range GP30 frame (it was in a Front Range GP9), so that's what tipped the scale in favor of using an ex-CGW GP30 for this BL20-2. The GP30 frame is the same length as a GP7/9/18, but one truck is one foot further out from the center, so the BL20-2 will have the same length as the prototype demonstrators, just a slightly different truck center. I have also already installed the SoundTraxx Tsunami 567D Turbo sound decoder.
Here are a couple photos after getting the basic shell construction complete and a first attempt at fitting it on the frame:
Now that the hard part is out of the way, I can focus on details: grab irons, sunshades, coupler lift bars, snowplow, handrails, and refining the sill for the older style fuel tank fill. I think the most difficult step in kitbashing the shell is the conductor's side sill, where you have to cut out the blower duct and shorten the length.
My fantasy Iowa Pacific roster shows that they have 19 BL20-2s; 12 from ex-SOO GP9s and 7 from ex-CGW GP30s. This model will be an ex-CGW GP30 rebuilt into a BL20-2. Since it is a fantasy build, I have a little leeway in departing from the true prototype. It was also built around 1997, 5 years after the three BL20-2 demonstrators, so it will look slightly different, but have the main defining characteristics.
I used Erik Bergstrom's article from the 1997 Model Railroader as a guide for this kitbash. His philosophy on the kitbash uses shells from an Athearn GP60 and GP38-2, which doesn't get the hood doors 100% accurate, but very close. For this, I also used an Athearn GP60 shell, but I had an Atlas Trainman GP38-2 shell laying around, so I used that for the rear. I also had some extra Rail Power Q fans, so I used those for the radiator fans.
For the chassis, I am using a Front Range frame repowered with a Kato drive and Kato trucks out of a Stewart. I have done a few other Front Range geep rebuilds with Kato parts and have really enjoyed the outcomes - it produces a smooth runner and the Front Range shell is fun to detail and work with. I accidentally acquired a Front Range GP30 frame (it was in a Front Range GP9), so that's what tipped the scale in favor of using an ex-CGW GP30 for this BL20-2. The GP30 frame is the same length as a GP7/9/18, but one truck is one foot further out from the center, so the BL20-2 will have the same length as the prototype demonstrators, just a slightly different truck center. I have also already installed the SoundTraxx Tsunami 567D Turbo sound decoder.
Here are a couple photos after getting the basic shell construction complete and a first attempt at fitting it on the frame:
Now that the hard part is out of the way, I can focus on details: grab irons, sunshades, coupler lift bars, snowplow, handrails, and refining the sill for the older style fuel tank fill. I think the most difficult step in kitbashing the shell is the conductor's side sill, where you have to cut out the blower duct and shorten the length.
