GN 1914 SD39

[bdhicks]

My latest project is an SD39, GN 1914.  While Great Northern never owned any SD39s, BNSF did re-letter their SD39 fleet to GN when they were getting ready to sell them off since BNSF wanted to free up their numbers for other locomotives.  Mostly this was just patch-and-stencil jobs, although a few shops got creative and reworked the B to a G and painted over the SF.  1914 was working the hump job in Minneapolis, and it seems that someone there had an extra Rocky stencil lying around, giving it a unique paint job.

I showed off my current progress at the San Bernardino RPM show over the weekend.  I've gotten pretty far along so far, I mostly need to handle all the stuff on the ends of the walkways and the underframe details. 



I started out with an Athearn SD40 and cut it down to the walkway.  The long hood was made using the Hi-Tech Details sides, a Plano hatch for the radiator fans, and a bunch of Cannon parts.  On the cab roof there's a Details West A/C unit and antennas, BLMA RCL stands, plus a bunch of hand-bent wire.
Since I needed to redo most of the ex-RPP dynamic blister anway, I tried a trick I heard from Elizabeth Allen at BAPM last year: using cut-down Cannon SD50/60 dynamic grills for a see-through dynamic intake.  It's a decent stand-in, although it looks like the part is pretty much sold out everywhere now, so I just have enough to finish this model.

[icghogger]

Lookin' Good, Brian, Lookin' Good!!

[pacbelt]

Looking AWESOME!!!

[m a y o r 79]

Wow thats outstanding. A work of art worth leaving like that to show off all the scratch building!

Cant wait to see it painted.

[diesel]

this is also a rarely modeled unit. I know shoefly did one. I remember someone doing 3 SP units as well, but other than that...

Nicely done and I can't wait to see this in paint. This is on my chicken list, but it's a big fav. This summer I will just start practicing with the long hood scratch building before I start one.

[slowfreight]

That's a cool project. Can you thin the RPP pilot face while you're at it? I'd hate to see so much work go into it and still have the thick pilots.

[diesel]

ok yes, thin the pilots, paint it then sell it to me ; )

[bdhicks]

While I appreciate the advice on the pilots, I had already made peace with not fixing those.  Besides, this project has had enough detail creep and I really just want to get this painted and decaled.  Speaking of which, the model is currently in pieces and primered up.  Here's some of the last pictures I took before I started disassembly:

[antlorch]

Brian this thing is just killer. Great work on everything. Get some more shots of it primed and as paint goes on.

[bdhicks]

Almost done:

[kasskadesub]

I noticed your technique on the see through dynamic brakes.  Very impressive!  I am working on 2 espee sd39's and have had an issue with my dynamic brakes.  I am developing a technique to produce a see through dynamic grill.  I will pos updates when I get that point.

Cheers,

[bdhicks]

Finally got the lights and windows in, and brought it down to the club.

[icghogger]

Excellent, Brian, she really turned out Great!!

[Deleted]

was it very hard to use the Hi-tech sides I have never done a unit like this but it looks cool and since I'm modeling a freelanced version of the ATSF as a base I need several sd39's thanks was thinking of starting with an sd40 or sd38 again thanks

[dekon]

Nice!

[bdhicks]

The sides were pretty straightforward to use. Unfortunately one of mine was missing the groove on the back to line up with the placement lines on the Cannon hood blank and end, so I had to line up that side by eye.

For a starting point, I suggest using a Kato SD38 or SD40, or waiting for the new Athearn SD40. The existing Athearn models are ex-Railpower shells and are not accurate (to the extent that I had to cut the frame weights to get a properly-scaled body to fit).