Post by digitalfreight on Nov 28, 2008 13:29:31 GMT -5
With the advent of newer and more detailed models many of us detail nuts are challenged to find new and creative ways to make very good models better. However, it is also nice when you discover, that one of your 'oldies' is still a goodie, if not better in many ways than the factory model.
Case in point was one of my first diesel detail projects the FRV #2402. Purchased by the newly formed Fox River Valley Railroad to help manage freight traffic on the old CNW Air Line and lines to Green Bay from the Fox Cities (Neenah, Menasha, and Appleton), this unit was frequently on the primary train from Green Bay to Chicago (via Milwaukee) called the PRGBA and GBPRA - Proviso to Green Bay manifest and vice versa. Often coupled with ex-Southern SD-35 #3500 and FRV SD-24 #2401 this engine made for a colorful consist and noisy train as they growled slowly through Wisconsin.
Recently, with the introduction of the newly retooled Atlas, we have an excellent example of what can and isn't done when factory requirements must be met. It must be stated that detail wise this model is excellent. The detail that is now added on, that was once molded on, especially the rooftop air tanks and piping, as well as the fan details etc. that are standard fare today, make a lot of our old task of cutting apart and re-assembling a proper model obsolete.
picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/lOMjRaQZ6MQT6b1VOTgMqg
However!, this is where it gets fun for us modelers. There are several things that the factory could not afford to do, which must be done to represent an accurate model of the #2402. The primary headlight, is not an SP style headlight, but rather the standard EMD (Details Assoc.) and must be moved from the top of the high hood to below the number boards.
picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/fDK1gZHtAVfVQv5hzWHlAA
Roof detail to be improved includes replacing the one chime horn with a three chime horn, the addition of a prototypically sized fire-cracker antennae in the proper location and a cab mounted beacon.
picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/C5RP05n5s9wpJZKg0krYQg
Now, just to give a couple of nods to the factory model again, I spent hours fitting the Atlas SD-24 shell to an Athearn SD-9 walk-way to gain the proper louvres. The radiator intake grill was also painstakingly removed and replaced with the SD-9 grill for accuracy as well. Neither of these moves would be necessary starting new today.
But, to give us detailers the final upper hand (which is why we're so into this!), you just can't duplicate weathered paint from the factory. The FRV painted the SD-24s and their two painted GP9s in colors that reflected their heritage and Itel connections. The tops were pretty close to GBW red, their sister ITEL railroad, and their mid-sections were painted a golden CNW-like yellow.
The factory model looks like some of the pictures I have of the unit from early in the life of the FRV, but these units faded and dirtied very quickly. The red went from candy apple to grungy signal red and the yellow faded even faster from classic CNW yellow to zito-ish yellow.
Here's where modeller's shine. We can keep adding detail but eventually our factory friends can catch up. But it may never be economical to give a brand new model an old paint job. Now, it must be said that the paint I put on the #2402, wasn't the best I've ever done (I'm learning all the time), but the effect of starting with weathered colors, adding some modest soot, darkening the louvres and putting some road dust on the trucks takes this unit from the toy store, to the right of way.
picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/y9iR6iNGoNd30yUY1BzYFg
Last but certainly not least, we can take these elements and animate them with lighting that brings them right into reality. This particular unit was given a flashing beacon lit front numberboards and head lamp.
picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/nrZe31G56nXbplBPS_8rjA
The best of all worlds of course is to make use of modern advances in the hobby and put our hands to work, making the good, great. I recently released this unit from service on the Michigan version of the Green Bay northern, to the Wisconsin fleet of a gentleman located in Duluth. He dropped the old detailed shell on the new retooled drive with DCC lighting. I'll invite him to share a picture of what happens when old meets new.
Thanks to Diesel Detailer for the opportunity to wax philosophic about our hobby. I really enjoy this forum and since this is my first post, I'll look forward to any discussion this generates.
Next up for me will be a pictorial of the GBW RS-11 #309. Once again, here's a model 'they' can't do. Low-short hood RS-11s just aren't around in enough numbers. It took forever, but man was it worth the time!
Blessings to all, Mike in Ann Arbor
picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/p16J_v4ln03gp9OMqDlPrQ
picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/5jZsiSR612ViGoulsHGmXA
Case in point was one of my first diesel detail projects the FRV #2402. Purchased by the newly formed Fox River Valley Railroad to help manage freight traffic on the old CNW Air Line and lines to Green Bay from the Fox Cities (Neenah, Menasha, and Appleton), this unit was frequently on the primary train from Green Bay to Chicago (via Milwaukee) called the PRGBA and GBPRA - Proviso to Green Bay manifest and vice versa. Often coupled with ex-Southern SD-35 #3500 and FRV SD-24 #2401 this engine made for a colorful consist and noisy train as they growled slowly through Wisconsin.
Recently, with the introduction of the newly retooled Atlas, we have an excellent example of what can and isn't done when factory requirements must be met. It must be stated that detail wise this model is excellent. The detail that is now added on, that was once molded on, especially the rooftop air tanks and piping, as well as the fan details etc. that are standard fare today, make a lot of our old task of cutting apart and re-assembling a proper model obsolete.
picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/lOMjRaQZ6MQT6b1VOTgMqg
However!, this is where it gets fun for us modelers. There are several things that the factory could not afford to do, which must be done to represent an accurate model of the #2402. The primary headlight, is not an SP style headlight, but rather the standard EMD (Details Assoc.) and must be moved from the top of the high hood to below the number boards.
picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/fDK1gZHtAVfVQv5hzWHlAA
Roof detail to be improved includes replacing the one chime horn with a three chime horn, the addition of a prototypically sized fire-cracker antennae in the proper location and a cab mounted beacon.
picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/C5RP05n5s9wpJZKg0krYQg
Now, just to give a couple of nods to the factory model again, I spent hours fitting the Atlas SD-24 shell to an Athearn SD-9 walk-way to gain the proper louvres. The radiator intake grill was also painstakingly removed and replaced with the SD-9 grill for accuracy as well. Neither of these moves would be necessary starting new today.
But, to give us detailers the final upper hand (which is why we're so into this!), you just can't duplicate weathered paint from the factory. The FRV painted the SD-24s and their two painted GP9s in colors that reflected their heritage and Itel connections. The tops were pretty close to GBW red, their sister ITEL railroad, and their mid-sections were painted a golden CNW-like yellow.
The factory model looks like some of the pictures I have of the unit from early in the life of the FRV, but these units faded and dirtied very quickly. The red went from candy apple to grungy signal red and the yellow faded even faster from classic CNW yellow to zito-ish yellow.
Here's where modeller's shine. We can keep adding detail but eventually our factory friends can catch up. But it may never be economical to give a brand new model an old paint job. Now, it must be said that the paint I put on the #2402, wasn't the best I've ever done (I'm learning all the time), but the effect of starting with weathered colors, adding some modest soot, darkening the louvres and putting some road dust on the trucks takes this unit from the toy store, to the right of way.
picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/y9iR6iNGoNd30yUY1BzYFg
Last but certainly not least, we can take these elements and animate them with lighting that brings them right into reality. This particular unit was given a flashing beacon lit front numberboards and head lamp.
picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/nrZe31G56nXbplBPS_8rjA
The best of all worlds of course is to make use of modern advances in the hobby and put our hands to work, making the good, great. I recently released this unit from service on the Michigan version of the Green Bay northern, to the Wisconsin fleet of a gentleman located in Duluth. He dropped the old detailed shell on the new retooled drive with DCC lighting. I'll invite him to share a picture of what happens when old meets new.
Thanks to Diesel Detailer for the opportunity to wax philosophic about our hobby. I really enjoy this forum and since this is my first post, I'll look forward to any discussion this generates.
Next up for me will be a pictorial of the GBW RS-11 #309. Once again, here's a model 'they' can't do. Low-short hood RS-11s just aren't around in enough numbers. It took forever, but man was it worth the time!
Blessings to all, Mike in Ann Arbor
picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/p16J_v4ln03gp9OMqDlPrQ
picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/5jZsiSR612ViGoulsHGmXA
