Old builds

[rdg5310]

I see that the old build section was removed. That's where I was going to post this. But, since I decided I should at least make an attempt to finish these, this was the right spot. They were slated to go the Timmonium Maryland show in 1997. Unfortunately that's when the dreaded burn out hit and we moved that same year to our current location.





The slug is a Bachmann shell. The 40-2 Athearn. I have the frame for the 40-2 complete. As you can see, I still have to put the air tanks and piping on. A little unconventional to do the tanks last. But they were painted along with the plows for both. I just have to add them. The shells are not sealed yet either. At the time I was using a modified Athearn frame for the slug. Now that I get can get a nice chassis from either proto or Kato for the GP30 slug. I can have a better matched running set. I've been leaning more toward the Proto chassis at this time. I plan on adding DCC to these also. I'm also kicking around the idea to update these and add the white cab roof before I seal and start the weathering process. What do you all think? I did this matched set because every time I went railfanning either at Sandpatch or cumberland, I would always see the pair. These will be the "I need a break from the other projects...project". ;D So this will be a slow update for me.

[Randy Earle]

Those units look great Ron. I had moved this board to the Photo Gallery, but moved it back again.

[RunningExtra]

Ron,

Those are phenomenal, great job!!!!

[icghogger]

S-W-EEEEEEET!!

[riss2509]

Very nice! My cousin works for CSX out of Ottawa, IL. and used to run with these in his consist alot to Chicago on his train. The kid now has a nice cushy job at the Blue Island dispatch center!

[redp]

May 12, 2009 23:48:13 GMT -5 riss2509 said:

Very nice! My cousin works for CSX out of Ottawa, IL. and used to run with these in his consist alot to Chicago on his train. The kid now has a nice cushy job at the Blue Island dispatch center!

I wouldnt call a job in the dispatch center cushy.
P

[riss2509]

He dispatches for 1 of CSX's VERY slow lines, says he is bored most of the time. But, he did say he misses being on the freights, but does not miss the winter on them!

[DRLOCO]

As far as the white roof treatment--that white paint doesn't seem to stick--I think they used Sears Weatherbeater!
You'd probably be better off to weather the engine first, THEN white patch the roof. You could then flick some blue paint matching the CSX Blue below to simulate the white paint fading off--as well as a lot of Black oil spots from the turbo stack on the GP40...those white spots get dirty fast...

CSX thinks those white patches keep the cabs nice and cool in the summer--in lieu of giving us air conditioners...
Ugh.

You also may want to re letter one side of the slug under the cab where it says "RD. SLUG" so that it says "TU_RD SLUG" like the ones I run around here...someone got creative!
Nice models, by the way--I like the slugs...they're nice and quiet.

[rdg5310]

Thanks guys for the comments. When I first did these engines (1997), Microscale didn't have a decal for the slug. From what I can tell, the set that I was using #575 has been updated since. I did order that decal and I do hope it contains the road slug decal. When I'm done with the minor mods to the shells and get the frames done, the first order of business is to weather them. When I'm done, they'll look nothing like you see in the pics. I heard that the engineers would prefer the slugs as lead units if possible for the same reason you stated. Can't blame you on that. ;D