Build Thread: NY&A GP38-2 268 - N Scale

[nyamodeler]

Hello everyone,

I am excited to show you guys my latest project, a build of NY&A 268, an ex-LIRR GP38-2. I am starting with an undecorated atlas GP38-2 w/o dynamic brakes, and superdetailing it up to a crazy level.

A few HO scalers here on this forum have done these in their scale, but so far I have not seen it attempted in N Scale. 

Some details I plan on adding or changing are:

 - a new, larger anti climber
 - chessie system plow on front pilot, modified with notches to clear third rail
 - weed cutter plow on rear pilot
 - BLMA air hoses
 - ditch lights, front and rear
 - shorten fuel tank
 - shorten exhaust stacks
 - BLMA 5 chime air horn
 - BLMA wire grab irons
 - new handrails, scratch-built from wire
 - relocate the left air tank
 - scratch build ASC box
 - BLMA etched fans
 - Lift Rings
 - BLMA Spartan cab doors (open)
 - Curved fan grab iron on long hood
 - Angled air filter box 
 - Atlas Blomberg B truck sideframes

I left out the marker lights, I might attempt them if I am feeling adventurous, but for the time being I will leave as is because they are so small. 

I will begin posting photos of my current progress in my next post. So far I have installed the plows front and rear (I will explain the fabrication of those parts later), installed the MU hoses, replaced the fans, and installed the anticlimber, grafted off of an atlas B23-7. 

And, for a photo of the prototype:



I think that's it for now... I am crossing my fingers that I can get all of these goals accomplished without destroying something. 

-David

[ednadolski]

Looking forward to following this. The pilot handrails should be interesting, as it looks like they do not have the safety chain in the center. Are you thinking of using the GMM stanchions? Unless you can find some of the old Sunrise ditch lights, you will have too scratchbuild those. IIRC someone had printed ditch lights on Shapeways, but I've never tried those myself.

Ed

[nyamodeler]

Jan 10, 2015 0:41:46 GMT -5 ednadolski said:

Looking forward to following this. The pilot handrails should be interesting, as it looks like they do not have the safety chain in the center. Are you thinking of using the GMM stanchions? Unless you can find some of the old Sunrise ditch lights, you will have to scratchbuild those. IIRC someone had printed ditch lights on Shapeways, but I've never tried those myself.

Ed

I have considered using the GMM stanchions, I also have some leftover stanchions available from my TEBU kits. I think I will end up scratchbuilding the ditch lights, any good tips on FO's and such?


-David

[ednadolski]

Here is an example of ditch lights with the 402 SMD LEDs (for myself, I would go with the pre-wired ones):

www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=34488.0

HTH,
Ed

[stevef45]

i tried to solder magnet wire onto 0603 leds and it turned out badly, the 0402's are even smaller. I just bought a bunch of prewired sunny white ones from i think it was ledbaron on ebay about a year ago, 30 of them i think. I also bought a monsterled kit from ebay, it is a great kit for the price. All prewires, has the clear rod for adding to the headlight housings and comes with resistors.

[rscott417]

Looking forward to this project too, it reminds me that I really need to get mine painted.