Via P42 in Blue with 3rd nose headlight.

[c415rock]

Hi Guys,

Here is my latest GE Build it is Via's P42 #919 painted in Blue with the third nose headlight and see thru grill work on the rear from S&S. The unit is painted with Model Masters IMP. Japanese Army Green 2115 ( thanks to Mark R for the tip on the gray) and Tru-color VIA Blue TCP-95.

Now come the tedious part cutting out the stripe from the Micro scale sheet from the gray back ground.

Erik

[OSR_182]

Looking good Eric.

This is one project that I've wanted to try for a while but have backed away from due to the complexity of the paint and decals (I don't like masking curves!) Looking forward to see how this one turns out. Doe you plan to use an LED for the "triclops" headlight?

Cheers,
Peter.

[efram]

You don't have to mask the grey. The microscale set comes with the yellow striping printed on the grey shape. You can paint the entire shell in the teal blue and get to decaling.

Erik- can I suggest something for this unit?

[c415rock]

Hi efram,

Yes go ahead make a suggestion, I am always open to suggestions.
I will not be offend.
Erik

[efram]

If you look at pictures of the prototype, the windshield is two piece and the post between the glass is blended with the carbody. I've never liked the way the Athearn casting captures this look. There's an obvious seem between the post and the carbody. It may be too late at this point, (since the unit is painted,) but if you're ambitious, I'd suggest making the post with styrene and using putty to blend it into the unit. Waddya think?

[stevef45]

Do you have any close ups of the grill work? I've done 2 models and can never get it sitting flush with the car body.

[c415rock]

Hi Steve,

Over the next couple of days I will get some photo's posted up for you. I have done several of these grills on Amtrak units, I will post some of them as well.

Erik

[stevef45]

Thanks. I've got several packages of them and want to do the rest of my P40/42 shells but I can never get them to sit properly without the plastic being hacked up. If I remember after work i'll post a pic of one shell I did with them installed.

[stevef45]

Well here is a decent pic showing the grills installed in my custom bashed P42 B unit.

Here's another one, this shell isn't finished. Actually my custom ABBA setup isn't finished. I need to repaint the pilots and plow as the paint was nowhere near matching the shells. Then eventually they'll get dcc and lights.

[c415rock]

Here are some updated photo's of the unit as it comes along.

There are close ups of the grills for Steve and I took efram's suggestion to add the windshield center post. I am glad I did this what a difference it makes and all my P42 from here on out will get this done to them.

All the decals are hand cut out, which I think makes for a much better looking model. As always I look forward to your guys feed back.

Erik

[m636]

Very nice work. I like your work you done on the rear grills. well done. I also like the SD45 in the the back ground with the wide air intake and the SDP40.


Éric

[icghogger]

VERY Nice Work, Erik!!

[efram]

I am so happy you took my suggestion, you did a great job! Wait til you install window glazing, it'll look as good as on Overland model! Keep up the great work.

[tamaman]

Nice work!

[stevef45]

yea i can't get my grills looking that good. Are you mounting from the inside of the shell?

[c415rock]

Hi stevef45,

No I am not mounting the outside grills from the inside. What I do is drill out several holes, smaller than the area where the grill will go.
Then I take a X acto knife to cut it out and then take a file to remove the high spots.
Then sand the area to fit the grill.

If you have any other questions just ask.
Hope this helps.

Erik

[Mark R.]

Looks great Erik !

What's the story behind the proto-type blue color ? - as opposed to the usual aqua ?


Mark.

[c415rock]

Hi Mark,

From my research the blue comes from the original aqua units fading bad due to bad batches of paint.
So some one at the shops noticed when the faded units were coupled up the LRC cars they almost matched the blue on the cars. So it was decided to repaint the units or touch them up with the blue on hand, because it was cheaper than trying to paint match the aqua green color.

Since then the the shops found out the bad paint issue and the new rebuilt F40ph renaissance units were the new test bed for the aqua green paint. So now all the units are being painted back to the aqua green color.

This is just different info I found on several web sites explaining it all. I take no credit for this info just passing it along.
So if it is not correct, please some one correct me.

Erik