Help Needed - First Time Attempting to Model/Detail

[mjrodg3n88]

A new guy here, so hello everyone and I hope this is in the right spot.irst, this is O, not HO... hopefully thats okay here and people can still help! Next, I have to say that I know this is not "scale," I know that this may not be worth it, I know that no matter what I do to it, it wont be true prototypical, and that is perfectly okay with me. I want to give this detailing a shot on this cheap diesel, I think it'll be fun, challenging, and definitely rewarding. I also have to say that I do not know all of the terms for different parts of engines, rolling stock, etc. (I didnt know what stanchions were until the other day) so please excuse my lack of correct terms and understanding.

This is a Lionel loco that was originally in the NASCAR paint and repainted to CSX by its previous owner. It currently runs in conventional and the Trainsounds sporadically work. I'm thinking of pulling the motors and Trainsounds to make this a dummy as it will be rolling with my MTH Railking engines. I would like to create my own pilots and stairs, also remove all factory handrails and add the correct (or close to it) stanchions and handrails, safety chains, and hoses.

I've never done anything like this before and the closest I've came to it was putting together 1/24 platic models back in the day so any help will be greatly appreciated. I have NO idea where to start here and I'm hoping that the people here on this forum will guide me through it.

With all of that, where do I start?

Thanks in advance,
Mike

[mjrodg3n88]

Anybody? I know a newbie with not a lot of information is probably difficult to help, but we all have to start somewhere, right?

[Deleted]

If you are really serious about this and I must say you really are in for a lot of work. As you said though, we all start somewhere.

First I would suggest getting the O-Scale Precision scale Diesel catalog. It is catalog #9746. Go to their web site at www.precisionscaleco.com/ and click on the catalog button.

I have never seen a catalog, but Des Plaines Hobbies has a large selection of O-Scale detail parts. It is under their own name. You can get stanchions from them. I do not know about the end platform center stanchions, but definitely the side stanchions. Des Plaines Hobbies also has a few other parts you would want to get. I think if you contact them and request an O-Scale detail parts catalog, they may send you a printed copy.

P&D Hobbies in Michigan also has a decent selection of parts.

The only thing I can refer you to for building your pilot plates and step wells is to get an HO scale model and use it as a reference and scale it up. Or if you live where you have access to locomotives parked for the night on a siding, you may be able to go measure what you need.

The model you have is not a GP38. I have no idea what Lionel was trying to make, but it has two fans like a GP38, but also a turbo exhaust hatch somewhat like a GP39 but not really. For a GP38, you have an oil bath hatch which does not have the raised box where the turbo exhaust hatch is on your model. An oil bath GP38 would have a blanked plate bolted in place of where the turbo stack is. A paper filter will have a raised rectangular or angled hatch in this place. Weaver O-Scale makes a so called GP38 with this raised hatch. If you can find one of those, you can use it or scratch build one yourself from sheet styrene. But, the PAF box (Paper Air Filter box) is going to change the length and tapers of your DB blister (Dynamic Brake blister). The blister is the part of the roof that extends out over the engine room compartment.

If your prototype does not have class lights, then yes they should either be plated over or removed and filled smooth.

You have your work cut out for you on this one. It is not a GP38. Lionel does some kooky things. But I have to agree again, we all start somewhere and learn from each model we build.

[mjrodg3n88]

Brian,

Thank you for your information. With that, I changed models, I will not be doing this to the Lionel CSX model and will now doing it to a Weaver scale Lehigh Valley GP38-2.

With this new one, I need to find new cab-mounted horns as these ones are missing. Also, I will need to replace a couple of the brake cylinders on the trucks. I found many horns on a couple of the detail parts sites, but have NO idea which ones are correct for this model. I'm assuming that I will have to model the brake cylinders out of something, since they probably do not make them?

I'm still doing something with the pilots though. I guess I could try going the route you suggested. This one is a little more detailed with metal stanchions and cylindrical handrails, along with actual safety chains.

Another question... What would I do with the couplers if the pilots are fixed? I know there'd have to be a hole in the pilot for them, but I'm talking about how to get them to pivot?

Thanks again,
Mike

[Deleted]

Just so ya know we're here

on the horns you could go onto one of the prototype websites like rrfallenflags.org or rrpicturearchives find the road your modeling

and compare the catalog parts pics if they have them with the real pics to get close

O scale is out of my league for detailing