CSX 7826, C40-8W

[analogbeatmaker]

Hello everyone! I'm finally working on my next diesel and would like to create a thread on it here. I've posted it in a couple places so if you've already seen it I apologize. Anyway, I flicked the proto myself on one of my irregular trips to downtown Nashville. Here it is:





The model I'm starting with...an Atlas Silver Series:





The breakdown:





As you can see from the proto flick, the radiator is not original. This is the main detail that made me want to model this loco...and the fact that I had the exact model of this loco at home already. First I removed the middle walkway section and thinned it to a more prototypical thickness:









Followed by cutting brass/styrene to build the framework for the vanes and grilles:













And a little dry fit to see how it is looking:



I am having to use the factory grilles as opposed to the better looking DA ones I ordered because the DA ones aren't long enough. The DA ones are also made out of stainless steel (why oh why detail makers?!?!) so I can't even graft two together by soldering. Ok...back to the bench!

[antlorch]

Looking good so far, did you look into Plano and see if they had something close for the grills?

[analogbeatmaker]

Jan 11, 2016 17:30:48 GMT -5 antlorch said:

Looking good so far, did you look into Plano and see if they had something close for the grills?

Thanks Anthony! You know, it's been a minute since I ordered the detail parts I have but I'm fairly sure I looked at all the detail manufacturers including Plano. If you happen to see something somewhere and think of it, drop me a link.

[analogbeatmaker]

A bit more progress. The radiator section needed a new base for the vent structures to sit on. As you can see from the photo, there was molded on grillwork and nuts/bolts that are not on (or at least visible) on the proto I'm attempting...plus that stuff made the vents I scratched sit too high. I just filed them off.


Then I made a new base out of brass.


Here's everything dry fit again...much better.


The rear of the unit had several issues as well. The depressed area in the middle that the sanding cap was in was too shallow and long, the flag holders were solid chunks and there were two little bolted on access panels right under the numberboards that had to come off.


The exhaust stack was way wrong as well. I made a new much thinner surround from styrene, shortened the Hi-Tech stack I had (because it was way too tall) and capped it with a Tony Sissons brass flange.






I also cut out the other grilles that are being replaced with photoetched grilles or scratched vanes.






More to come...

[drudge]

Nice! I like where this is heading

Do you plan on using the stock Atlas sander lines or will you be replacing them?

[analogbeatmaker]

Jan 13, 2016 20:34:35 GMT -5 drudge said:

Nice! I like where this is heading

Do you plan on using the stock Atlas sander lines or will you be replacing them?

Thanks Drudge! I don't know yet. I wasn't impressed with them when I pulled them so I probably will.

[drudge]

If you want to get rid of those sander lines,I'll take them off your hands. I need them for a Dash 8-40BW project I'm working on. Ironically, I have purchased many of the same parts your going to use on this project. Your project will be a great one to follow

[analogbeatmaker]

Jan 15, 2016 20:09:57 GMT -5 drudge said:

If you want to get rid of those sander lines,I'll take them off your hands. I need them for a Dash 8-40BW project I'm working on. Ironically, I have purchased many of the same parts your going to use on this project. Your project will be a great one to follow

Thanks, I hope you enjoy following this thread! as for the sander lines, I don't know yet and I'm a ways off from working the underframe. I'll keep you in mind though and once I know if I'll need them or not I'll let you know. More than likely I'll be cannibalizing them.

[analogbeatmaker]

A little more progress. The pilots were all wrong. Here is the front pilot which had these very chunky pieces of plastic that were supposed to represent flat, bent steel pieces and the ditchlights were not even close. Therefore I filed all that off! This pic shows that and one of the brass pieces I made to represent the flat, bent steel pieces.


Here are the modified ditchlights. I cut the metal housing down and made styrene braces to hold them.


This is a pic of the scratched cut levers and it also shows the styrene braces on the sides and bottom I added. I used .010 wire to represent the bolts holding on the bottom plate.


Here I remove the A/C unit.

[drudge]

Looking forward to seeing the P/E A/C unit from Tony on there:)

[analogbeatmaker]

Jan 17, 2016 3:00:02 GMT -5 drudge said:

Looking forward to seeing the P/E A/C unit from Tony on there:)

Me too! It's a nice photoetch kit for sure.

[analogbeatmaker]

A little more progress...

Cutting the bottom solid part out from underneath the step.


Grilles.

[simulatortrain]

Looking good so far Nick!

[analogbeatmaker]

Jan 18, 2016 16:46:14 GMT -5 simulatortrain said:

Looking good so far Nick!

Thanks Adam!

[sd45longhoodfoward]

Sweet!! Brother

[m a y o r 79]

Lookin good.

[analogbeatmaker]

Jan 19, 2016 18:44:09 GMT -5 sd45longhoodfoward said:

Sweet!! Brother

Thanks Terry!

Jan 21, 2016 21:56:15 GMT -5 m a y o r 79 said:

Lookin good.

Thanks Mike!

[analogbeatmaker]

So, I've made a bit more progress on this build. This is a detail I was going to just modify by cutting the base off (leaving the tread plate top step) and replacing with a thinner support. However, I had this photoetched step that came with the step kit so I used it instead. I don't have a photo from above to tell which would've been prototypically accurate but I like the see through tread better so I'm going to use it...might need to raise it a bit though.


The fuel gauges that were molded on from the factory were not correct at all. Here's a side by side of the factory one and my first attempt at scratching one.


Here's my final versions.


Micromasking the LED's into the ditchlights.


Step prep.


Finally, a few pilot pics. The rear one is almost complete (just missing the spare knuckles themselves) and the front is partially done. Waiting on a plow and then I'll be applying the airlines, grabs and said plow to complete it.

[drudge]

Looking good!

[analogbeatmaker]

Feb 4, 2016 9:12:42 GMT -5 drudge said:

Looking good!

Thanks drudge!