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Post by mandealco on Aug 29, 2012 14:47:59 GMT -5
Hi There has been a lot written about the LL C-424. Like many I was pleased to see this when Hobbycraft produced it a few years ago. As time has gone on, I have looked at some of the small errors in the model and finally decided to correct the ones that bothered me. The frame is the obvious one, but I'd become unhappy with the cab roof profile, the radiator, air tanks, and the lack of the feather edge at the top of the short hood. Using Atlas C-628 parts, these errors can be corrected, though I chose to make my own air tanks. The prototype for the model shown here is one of the GE-Hornell rebuilds of the early '80s. The phase I style is correct for these former E-L units. The first photo shows the comparison of the standard LL C-424 with the main changes.    Cheers Steve Modelling NJ in NZ  |
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Post by jmlaboda on Aug 30, 2012 7:45:40 GMT -5
Steve... how did you make the grills on the rebuild? The model looks quite nice overall!!!
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Post by Randy Earle on Aug 30, 2012 10:11:57 GMT -5
Steve, I usually don't pay much attention to N Scale items, but your ALCOS had me sitting up and taking notice. Very nice job!
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Post by mandealco on Aug 30, 2012 19:55:15 GMT -5
Hi
The only change to the way the shell sits on the chassis, from the original Life-Like model, is the addition of a dummy underframe. This frame can be done several ways. This one was done with 90 degree angled styrene, which is glued to the underside of the walkway, as close to the inside edge as possible. Some have used small "I" beam styrene. The bolsters are just small blocks of styrene with a bevelled end. The braces behind the pilots aren't quite right, but will look better once painted and weathered.
Cheers
Steve
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Post by icghogger on Aug 31, 2012 17:55:07 GMT -5
Excellent Work, Steve!!
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Post by Mark R. on Sept 3, 2012 16:45:51 GMT -5
Having done several similar projects in HO, I know what goes into a project like that. My hat's off to you for doing it in N Scale !!! My eyes just can't do small stuff like that any more !
Mark.
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Post by mandealco on Sept 3, 2012 18:06:06 GMT -5
Hi
Thanks for the kind words guys. Mark, my arms became too short a while back for me to see what I was doing, you know what I mean. Then my wife bought me an Optivisor, and all was good again. Worth the investment if your eyes are letting your modelling down.
Cheers
Steve
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Post by jmlaboda on Sept 4, 2012 6:08:22 GMT -5
One thing to mention... don't forget the bulge on one side of the hood up close to the air intake... it was a mod that was found on D&H 451-series but not the GNWR financed rebuilds in the 461-series, and also found on the D&M C425ms... rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=2139806rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=2669795rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1082252Its worth noting that the D&H 451-series units (and I suspect the D&M units as well) had several upgrades that were applied at the time of their rebuilding that were developed by the Master Mechanic of the D&H (can't remember his name). His extensive history with ALCOs lead to some valuable experience and the upgrades that were done helped to make the engines a bit more reliable than the original product. |
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Post by m636 on Sept 4, 2012 10:35:38 GMT -5
Wow. Alco's are looking good in any scale.
Éric
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Post by Randy Earle on Sept 4, 2012 11:28:21 GMT -5
I had read one time that some of these were phase 1 units with the flying numberboards in the rear, and Hornell cut them flush.
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Post by mta224 on Sept 4, 2012 13:38:34 GMT -5
First,great looking alco.
Second,how DID you make those intakes?
Lastly,the chief mechanic was George W Hockaday,AKA "Mister Alco".
Anthony
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Post by poweredby251 on Sept 4, 2012 21:11:38 GMT -5
The D&H/GNWR C-424m's, along with the D&M C-425m's and GBW C-424m's were all part of a GE rebuild for resale program of old Corail units of various heritage and mixed body styles. The GBW found that an extreme reworking of these units was needed to make them as reliable as their original Alco fleet. I'm sure the D&H and others found the same need for modifications as well. John One thing to mention... don't forget the bulge on one side of the hood up close to the air intake... it was a mod that was found on D&H 451-series but not the GNWR financed rebuilds in the 461-series, and also found on the D&M C425ms... rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=2139806rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=2669795rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1082252Its worth noting that the D&H 451-series units (and I suspect the D&M units as well) had several upgrades that were applied at the time of their rebuilding that were developed by the Master Mechanic of the D&H (can't remember his name). His extensive history with ALCOs lead to some valuable experience and the upgrades that were done helped to make the engines a bit more reliable than the original product. |
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Post by mandealco on Sept 4, 2012 22:01:05 GMT -5
Hi Guys
The Hornell rebuilds have varying improvements and modifications, likely due to customer requirements. IIRC, the GBW units were rebuilt in kind with 16 cyl prime movers. They had some improvements, but not the bulge on the RHS. The D&M C-425Ms were re-engined with 12-cyl prime movers, and they had the bulge. I can't remember whether or not the D&H units received 12-cyl engines, but I suspect not. They did receive the chopped rear eyebrow look, which the G&W units may have kept.
I will post photos later, that I took in June, that show a former D&H unit and the 321 I'm modelling. I wish I had taken more photos while there, though the most important one I wouldn't have been able to get anyway, the top of the radiator!!!!!! The radiator profile is quite different, as you will see in the photos, and not what was there when rebuilt. Another GBW change has been the removal of the dynamic brakes from the 3 that are in Lakeville, which you will also see in the photos.
The air intake grills came from an Atlas B30-7 shell. I cut sections from the radiator intakes then put some thin styrene strips round three edges. After looking through all the parts I had, these were the closest. The rebuilds were done by GE, so they likely used similar materials.
Thanks
Cheers
Steve
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Post by mandealco on Sept 5, 2012 3:49:25 GMT -5
Here are some photos to illustrate some of the points in previous posts: LAL 423 is a former D&H C-424, it has the sawn off eyebrow number boards and the RHS bulge.   The photos of former GB&W 321 show the missing dynamic brakes - hatch on roof is lower than normal and the 3 car body openings along the top side of the hood are see through, normally the dynamic brake resisters would block this view. Also notice the gap between the radiator and the walkway, much bigger than normal and the lack of the side seam on the edge of the radiator panel. This is where the shutters have been removed. (info from a member of the Reading T&HS who own former GBW 522) Looks like my model needs a new radiator, minus the shutters. Oh well, something different to add.   Thanks for looking at my Alco, must get a couple of others finished that appear half finished in other topics in this forum. Cheers Steve  |
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Sept 7, 2012 21:22:30 GMT -5
Steve,
Simply beautiful work. Very well done. You also have done the one thing that a lot of modelers overlook. Fit and finish.
PM me you rmailing address. I have something you may want to play with and see if you can use. I'll send you a few frets. I have a bunch I made and will nto be doing anything with them, so you may as well see what you can do with them. I made them for the Atlas century locomotives, but I am sure you can adapt them to your 424 fleet.
Brian
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Rudy Garbely
Chairman
Modeling Conrail from 1976-1979 in HO scale.
Posts: 1,073
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Post by Rudy Garbely on Sept 27, 2012 19:22:23 GMT -5
One thing to mention... don't forget the bulge on one side of the hood up close to the air intake... it was a mod that was found on D&H 451-series but not the GNWR financed rebuilds in the 461-series, and also found on the D&M C425ms... rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=2139806rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=2669795rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1082252Its worth noting that the D&H 451-series units (and I suspect the D&M units as well) had several upgrades that were applied at the time of their rebuilding that were developed by the Master Mechanic of the D&H (can't remember his name). His extensive history with ALCOs lead to some valuable experience and the upgrades that were done helped to make the engines a bit more reliable than the original product. The CMO at the time was Fred Cheney, who also had a fair amount of involvement in the rebuilds. He just passed away last year, but before his passing, I had a chance to talk to him about his time on the D&H. He said that the C424m's were rebuilt to almost exactly match LV C420's internally, including wiring and some LV modifications (he didn't remember what they were exactly). |
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Post by mandealco on Sept 28, 2012 4:34:25 GMT -5
That's some great info Rudy. This is what I enjoy reading, the little things that help all the pieces go together. The why's and how's. Thanks.
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Post by Randy Earle on Sept 28, 2012 21:19:28 GMT -5
I have one of these also.  |
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Post by mandealco on Nov 23, 2012 2:49:35 GMT -5
Hi Guys Picked her up from Steve4Painting today. Still a few small things to do, lenses, winter window glass, class lights, oil stains, but nearly done.      Not great photos, light not the best and I don't like flash. More over the weekend. Cheers Steve |
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Post by antlorch on Nov 23, 2012 11:18:21 GMT -5
Very nice Steve. I wish they had these details out when i was in N-Scale. I might not have switched scales. The details make it look awesome. And the Z couplers finish it off.
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