W&LE 2645,2650, and 2703

[redneckwes]

I hope this is the correct forum for this thread.

These just might be the three ugliest high hoods ever posted to the DD. I used to be pretty good with an airbrush, but I've never been much with a razor saw.

I started these unit's almost five years ago intending to do 2662 and 102. I dug them back out recently to try and finish them as W&LE 2645,2650 and 2703. 2703 was the only one of Wheeling's ex Southern 35's to ride on EMD trucks.



They suffer from every flaw inherent with their origin, RPP shells, ancient LBF high hoods, RPP fans. Just sitting on milled down Athearn frames at the moment. They are definitely going to be 3 foot locomotives, but I'm doing what I can to make them at least look the part.

I have nose bells,drop steps and windshield wipers on the way for them. Already have the decals, 2645 and 2650 will be in Tuxedo stripes. If I ever get around to doing a second batch of these I'd like to move up to Cannon cabs and better details. I am notching the pilots, and I'm going to attempt to bend correct style cut levers for them.

[Randy Earle]

Hey, that's great....that's what the Cheap Build board is for. I have more fun with the cheap builds than I do with the extravagant ones. Brian Banna even did a cheap build and loved it.

[icghogger]

Excellent start, Wes, and you got a plan.....keep 'em going, Brother!!

[redneckwes]

The noses are one piece, and pretty crude. So they match the RPP shell pretty well. The noses come with the foreword part of the sub base attached which I removed.

I don't think these have been made in a long time, but I snagged a bunch for $1 each.

[danielsokyrail]

Looks like you have a great start there. Where did you find the LBF nose kit at and are they still avaible?

[redneckwes]

Andy,

You are right, I.I.R.C. one of these was in a Front Range package.

Daniel,

Train shows over the years, and a Hobby Shop in Springfield OH. But those were more than $1.

[redneckwes]

I debated posting this in the H.H. Section, But I'm new to the board. So I sort of figured that this might be the best spot. They are definitely going to be cheap builds! I definitely intend to make them look decent, but my skills are a little rusty.

2645:
Shell, RPP GP35, $7 from someone years ago on another E-mail list.
Nose, LBF $1 from a train show
Chassis, Scrap box.
Drive, $15 Salvaged from an Athearn GP7
Sideframes, $2 From a U30B Dummy I bought at a swap.
Decals, $8 W&LE and Southern sets from Microscale, but these will be spread over several locomotives.
Misc is going to be another $10, plus I need to find some handrails.

Might be out the door for about $40, most of which was spent several years ago!

When I build 102, I'll put her in the HH forum.

[jmlaboda]

Never dreamed that these NS cast-offs would have seen use as long as they have, let alone with DRGW-inspired paint no less. Glad to see them in modeled form but miss the red and yellow that the WE use to use. Nice models!!!

[redneckwes]

Thanks,

These have been kind of on hold for awhile since I went back to college. But I did get a bag full of Atlas detail parts to doctor them up when I get back to them.

[redneckwes]

Question for the group, what is the current choice in GP35 handrails? Bachmann seem to be difficult to get, as do the Athearn RTR rails. Otherwise I'll probably use the old style Athearn handrails.

[hotshot3305]

One of the best things you can do for each of these models is to to replace the thick RPP steps with brass steps from A-Line, part number 116-29235. Try doing this to one model and see if it doesn't vastly improve the looks of your model.

Bob

[zakc]

Looks good, can't wait to see them in paint.

[redneckwes]

Two of them are in paint, and about 80% decaled. They are just cheap builds, I don't have the funds or skill to make them like I would like. But they are going to be fine 2' models.

I have Atlas bells and steps for them somewhere.

[redneckwes]

Slow progress, but after an extra year and a half sitting around, it is progress.  Still a lot of decal work to do, then dullcoat and  details that I can touch up after they are installed.  Not pretty, but it's also my first nearly finished model in quite a few years.

[redneckwes]

Fun with photoshop.

[redneckwes]

Some details, waiting for a little touch up.



All that's left to do is window glass, an engineer, MU hoses and a couple more grab irons.

[Randy Earle]

Great job! I forgot I took this years ago.

[spike]

I have one just like it; RPP shell, Athearn drive, and Cannon high nose. This is a junker for my freelance. I say we got it cheap because we were power short. I might cut out the stack, and replace with a filter box, and new stacks. Some rebuilt GP35 cores to GP38s.

[redneckwes]

Found this old pic from the 90's, 2650 and I crossed paths once at Carey Oh.



Now I can put the front flag on, all the pictures I have found online don't show it.