GOOD-NUFF
Road Foreman
Locomotive Engineer/Conductor
Posts: 54 
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Post by GOOD-NUFF on Mar 13, 2011 11:24:06 GMT -5
Greetings! I rescued this "fix-er-upper" from one of my foamer friends for $50 (see: www.modelrailroadforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=21791 )   She already has the Ph.II cab and flared rads from DLH Locomotive Works. Here's where the "rescue" part comes in. 1. Paint: It looks like he brush painted most of the locomotive (and it's NS. Not one of my favorite RR's). 2. Flared Rads: Overall, he did a good job hacking/whacking the stock flat rads in preparation for the flare-kit. But, there is some putty work/filing to be done. 3. Cab: Ewwww. Bring in the file/putty. Time for a complete frame-up "extreme makeover" from NS 2600 to GOOD NUFF colors! In accordance with the rules of "Cheap" (less than $100) and "Rescued" (see 1-2-3 and the pictures above), I'm limiting the amount of details on this build: Details West235-299 Detail Kit for Athearn Genesis -- For UP SD70M Diesels 235-300 Detail Kit for Athearn Genesis -- Auxilliary Details for SD70 - All Roads 235-266 MU Cables -- 3 Cluster, All Roads 235-276 Radio Antenna -- Can Type 235-236 MU Cables -- Double-Ended Receptacle & Two Receptacles 235-301 Ditch Light -- Late Style w/Lenses 235-302 Air Hose -- Locomotive Drop Elbow Style The bottom line: Locomotive: $50Detail Parts: $27.32Grand Total: $77.32Stay Tuned! Bry |
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Post by ranchwagon on Mar 13, 2011 15:18:11 GMT -5
Looks like a great project, keep us updated!
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GOOD-NUFF
Road Foreman
Locomotive Engineer/Conductor
Posts: 54
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Post by GOOD-NUFF on Mar 13, 2011 15:19:01 GMT -5
I placed the locomotive shell into the alcohol bath and something unusual happened... The paint starting coming off instantly! I only kept it in there for a few minutes and used the toothbrush to take off most of the black. However, the white on the side sill and the front of the cab didn't budge much. I'll dip it again later tonight.  |
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GOOD-NUFF
Road Foreman
Locomotive Engineer/Conductor
Posts: 54
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Post by GOOD-NUFF on Mar 15, 2011 18:51:41 GMT -5
I ran into a minor stumbling block. I took the cab over to my Father's house to start adding the grab irons from a donor SD70M when I noticed a number of the pilot holes were drilled incorrectly by DLH. Lets start with the front of the nose. The top two grab irons on the front of the nose were drilled correctly. The third and forth ones from the top were not. The distance between the second and third grab irons is not the same distance as the distance between the first and second. Also, the pilot hole on the right side of the third grab iron is considerably higher then the pilot hole on the left. The pilot hole on the right side of the forth hole is slightly higher then the pilot hole on the left. I'm not done. Lets move on to the sloped area on top of the nose. If you are looking at the front of the cab, the pilot holes on the right hand side of the nose are drilled farther forward towards the front of the nose then the pilot holes on the left hand side of the nose. Also, the pilot holes on the right hand side of the nose are not parallel with edge of the nose. But wait, there's more. Looking at the top of the cab down, there are pilot holes for the grab irons above the front windshields. The pilot holes on the left hand side of the cab are not parallel with the edge of the cab, but the right ones are. Big Al from MONSTERRAILROAD said it best in his how-to video ( ): "You have to do a lot of work to these (meaning the DLH cab and flare kit)". Time to spend some quality time with the calipers and body putty. I'm wondering if anyone else has had this problem with DLH cabs. Bry |
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GOOD-NUFF
Road Foreman
Locomotive Engineer/Conductor
Posts: 54
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Post by GOOD-NUFF on Mar 16, 2011 17:11:16 GMT -5
I ripped out the caliper and did some measuring. The top two grabs on the front of the nose are evenly spaced in every measurement. I did some putty work before dinner and I am ready to install the grabs.
Oh and my detail parts came in. Let the fun begin!
Bry
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GOOD-NUFF
Road Foreman
Locomotive Engineer/Conductor
Posts: 54
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Post by GOOD-NUFF on Mar 16, 2011 21:38:39 GMT -5
Howdy, I spent some time on the cab tonight. I installed all of the grabs and the sunshades.  Tomorrow, I'll do some final sanding then install the antenna's, sand hatches and wipers. Then it's on to the plethora of detail parts on under the locomotive. I do have a headlight conundrum: dieseldetailer.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=help&thread=7875 (PROBLEM SOLVED! Thanks!) Enjoy! Bry |
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Smoke
Chairman
The Ski Train!!!!
Posts: 753
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Post by Smoke on Mar 17, 2011 10:39:37 GMT -5
I'm wondering if anyone else has had this problem with DLH cabs. Bry I bought one of those cabs and when I saw the quality of the casting I was disappointed, and pretty much gave up on saving the cab. I haven't really even bothered with it because the quality is so low. If I could find a way to get some blueprints for the SD70M Phase II cab, I could create the an accurate cab. For now I have rough dimensions from a model...  |
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GOOD-NUFF
Road Foreman
Locomotive Engineer/Conductor
Posts: 54
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Post by GOOD-NUFF on Mar 17, 2011 13:24:29 GMT -5
Did you buy the cab during the DLH-era? I've heard some horror stories about the companies that marketed the cab/flare kit before DLH took it over. Might try sending the cab back. Even though I had to do a little work to the cab to make it "worthy", it was well worth the effort!
Bry
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GOOD-NUFF
Road Foreman
Locomotive Engineer/Conductor
Posts: 54
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Post by GOOD-NUFF on Mar 17, 2011 21:52:31 GMT -5
I managed to install 2 detail parts on the underframe this evening (Over the course of 2 hours mind you).
I spent most of the time looking at the part, looking at the instructions, looking at the underframe, looking at the internet, scratching my head...
More tomorrow,
Bry
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Smoke
Chairman
The Ski Train!!!!
Posts: 753
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Post by Smoke on Mar 17, 2011 22:20:42 GMT -5
Did you buy the cab during the DLH-era? I've heard some horror stories about the companies that marketed the cab/flare kit before DLH took it over. Might try sending the cab back. Even though I had to do a little work to the cab to make it "worthy", it was well worth the effort! Bry I bought it about a year ago, so it was definitely when DLH was selling it. the thing that really turned me off was the louvers and the latches, both of which were weak IMO. I don't have much time right now otherwise I would start chopping up other shells I have and replacing the parts that I don't like. |
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Post by sd45longhoodfoward on Mar 18, 2011 17:36:06 GMT -5
isnt the cab a fire cab? if so i was reading somwhere recently where the company was retooling to re make a fire cab i wll post the link to the article when i find it
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Post by sd45longhoodfoward on Mar 18, 2011 17:43:11 GMT -5
have you tried the smokey valley wide cab? for the ds 60 m,s i saw a kit and dont know it can be easily modfied or not for the project i may even have one i my auction box i won a box of parts all kinds at an auction here in VA for 35.00 the bob is 14x18and full top to bottom of DW DA SV Cal Scale PRECISION SCALE Athearn &Atlas parts I will look tonight take pics and post them for ya
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GOOD-NUFF
Road Foreman
Locomotive Engineer/Conductor
Posts: 54
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Post by GOOD-NUFF on May 14, 2012 21:02:42 GMT -5
Work will resume on her tomorrow!
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