C&O 5713 Chessie GP7

[dtinut]

Here is something I just finished up the weathering on. I picked this unit up at a train show in Maumee OH, for 25 dollars, but it was missing the end railings. I got it home, and took it apart to check it out, and it had a Digitrax decoder already installed. I found a spare set of end railing, and modified them to be like the photo I found on the net of same unit had. I then milled a slot in the frame to represent where the side sill had been cut away, and touched up the paint. I added new coupler boxes, and sunshades, made a bell bracket from sheet brass with a Kato bell, brass sunshades, lift rings, a new horn, and spark arrestors. I have a lot of time in it, but less than 40 dollars.





Here it is paired with the other one I did a couple years ago.


Regards,
Brian Everett

[RunningExtra]

Brian,

Great job on that one, the weathering is on the nuts!

[cf7]

Brian - Good job, especially like the frame mod!

[keiffer]

Very nice indeed!

[Randy Earle]

Really nice Brian, they look great! What did you use for the spark arrestors? They look like what I need for my NKP SD-9.

[dtinut]

Randy, the spark arrestors are DW SA-124 parts. I modified them after installation, becuase they just didn't seem to really replicate what I was looking for or pictures.

I ground off the part that sticks out at the top on each side, so they are smooth on the outside.
I then ground down the V part in the middle about halfway down. I used a couple of cutoff wheels in the dremel to do this work. I then took a leftover piece of KD roofwalk, sanded the bottom to thin it down a bit, and cut it to fit, and glued to the the top. Really looked for a good top down photo of one of these, and finally remembered someone gave me some detail shots of one of the Chessie SD18's, whcih showed the roof details, and these were on it. The top piece I made from the KD roofwalk is really just expanded metal, but I decided what I used would suffice since I didn't have anything in the scrap box which was better.

In regards to the cheap build, I suppose I cheated, because I used my mill to do some work on the sill, but it could also be done with a drill/dremel. I have become so accustomed to using it for removal of details I want to change, it is one of the more valuable tools I own.

Regards,
Brian

[CIOR]

Brian, those look familiar....LOL, I've got them also.
I found a picture of the 13 that showed the original side mount horn location with a square plate.
It was hard to do with just styrene.
Did you just fill the holes with putty?

Looks good!

[dtinut]

Matt,

To fill in the horn holes (rectangles) I cut some .060" styrene into wedges, and then used MEK to melt them into the body. Let dry, and using a single edged blade - start slicing off the excess.
I still ended up using a little glazing putty to finish them, and painted the blue areas using Polly Scale ATSF blue, which is the best match to the Atlas blue I have found so far.

Brian

[CIOR]

ATSF Blue.....hhmmmmmm, will need to file that one away.
Since I am going to model the C&O in Chessie era, I figure that will be helpful!

I was wondering how you filled the hole. looks good!

[icghogger]

That is one amazing piece of work, Brian, Excellent in every respect! Also, Kudos for sharing the details of how you did it!

[CIOR]

I would like to have Brian do a weathering clinic on the Chessie units...... That is top notch in realistic weathering.

[dtinut]

Hmm, I suppose I could put one together.
I just grabbed a Kato SD40 which I painted awhile back, and the only weathering on it currently is the trucks, and it is basic. It is next on the bench for weathering.

Regards,
Brian

[CIOR]

Feb 9, 2009 15:43:25 GMT -5 dtinut said:

Hmm, I suppose I could put one together.
I just grabbed a Kato SD40 which I painted awhile back, and the only weathering on it currently is the trucks, and it is basic. It is next on the bench for weathering.

Regards,
Brian

If its a Chessie SD40, I will be needing that lesson.
You have certainly pulled off that dirty dusty appearance very well on the Chessie engines.
Nothing says it better then words.

[dtinut]

I have a Kato Chessie SD40 also, but I want to renumber it, and all all the right details.
It needs the rock pilot, and rear pilot (DW), MU hosses, bell, horn, antennae, and a couple other additions, then it will get the weathering treatment.

Brian

[CIOR]

Feb 13, 2009 21:06:15 GMT -5 dtinut said:

I have a Kato Chessie SD40 also, but I want to renumber it, and all all the right details.
It needs the rock pilot, and rear pilot (DW), MU hosses, bell, horn, antennae, and a couple other additions, then it will get the weathering treatment.

Brian

Do a clinic.....that would help me...LOL, seriously, go for it.

[graftonterminalrr]

That's one good looking "Cheap Build."

You have the satisfaction of knowing it looks better and is more accurate than anything straight from the box, and cost much less besides.

[reddawg]

Sweet work!
Been looking at doing a pair of the C&O's "Canadian" GP7's (only difference from the others is the presence of a winterization hatch)..one in the "Merger Scheme" and one in Chessie paint.

Dave C

[chessie4155]

Brian, Those are just horrible looking, you really need to get rid of those Chessie Geeps, and I would be more than happy to take them off your hands!!! ;D Naa man just ribbin ya... ;D they look Awesome , ,I agree with Matt , do a "How To" on weathering, I could use it too..
Just to make things a little different, I sometimes use Dark Blue instead of ATSF Blue... but thats just me

[icghogger]

Brian, that is one fine job! Excellent attention to detail....and the work on those spark arrestors tells me you may be cheap (build), but you ain't easy ;D

[stewarttrains98]

WOW what a deal and what a great looking loco you have.