Post by rock on Nov 22, 2010 15:26:24 GMT -5
Back in February 2010, I started working on kitbashing a B18-7, a locomotive featured in the Dash 7 catalog but never built. Then layout construction got in the way, but now that I am at a stopping point on the layout, I am getting back to this project.
According to my proto-lanced Rock Island system, GE built 20 B18-7s, delivered in 1981, which reused Blomberg trucks from trading in its remaining GP18s leftover from the geep Capital Rebuild Program of the late 1970s. Since my Rock Island already had 28 U18Bs from 1976, these fit right in.
I started with an Intermountain U18B and put aside the shell and detail parts, except for the fuel tank assembly. The B18-7 is about two feet longer than a U18B because of the extended end walkways, so instead of relocating the coupler pockets, I decided to use long-shank couplers to get the extra length and measured the kitbashed sill appropriately.
I used Atlas B23-7 and B30-7 parts for the shell. The sill is a B23-7 with anticlimber cut down to the length of the B18-7. I made the cut where there is a shorter distance between handrail stanchions shown on the B18-7 drawing. The hood is a B30-7 minus four engine doors, which is the perfect length and also exactly matches the drawing on the GE Dash 7 handbook. I cut out the front four engine doors and reglued the shell together. The cab is from a B23-7, a later phase with only two side windows, and the "silencer" stack is from the B30-7, also showing a later phase Dash 7.
Here are photos of the motor after the work on the kitbashed shell:
And here are photos as it is now after adding some putty and painting:
Next up are decals, then I can get to final assembly.
According to my proto-lanced Rock Island system, GE built 20 B18-7s, delivered in 1981, which reused Blomberg trucks from trading in its remaining GP18s leftover from the geep Capital Rebuild Program of the late 1970s. Since my Rock Island already had 28 U18Bs from 1976, these fit right in.
I started with an Intermountain U18B and put aside the shell and detail parts, except for the fuel tank assembly. The B18-7 is about two feet longer than a U18B because of the extended end walkways, so instead of relocating the coupler pockets, I decided to use long-shank couplers to get the extra length and measured the kitbashed sill appropriately.
I used Atlas B23-7 and B30-7 parts for the shell. The sill is a B23-7 with anticlimber cut down to the length of the B18-7. I made the cut where there is a shorter distance between handrail stanchions shown on the B18-7 drawing. The hood is a B30-7 minus four engine doors, which is the perfect length and also exactly matches the drawing on the GE Dash 7 handbook. I cut out the front four engine doors and reglued the shell together. The cab is from a B23-7, a later phase with only two side windows, and the "silencer" stack is from the B30-7, also showing a later phase Dash 7.
Here are photos of the motor after the work on the kitbashed shell:
And here are photos as it is now after adding some putty and painting:
Next up are decals, then I can get to final assembly.
