Upgrading Hood Doors for Late Phase U23Bs & U30C

[rock]

I have been working on some late-phase U-boats that have the single-latch doors, which Atlas does not make, for my free-lanced Rock Island. The U30C is a prototype, built in late 1973 as an XR series. The U23Bs are fantasy units built in 1976 (instead of the GP38-2s) and they also would have the newer door latches similar to later MoPac and Conrail units. I didn't strip the paint off the U30C shell because I am going to paint it in the blue/white scheme with the paint starting to fade off in some areas, revealing the original paint scheme. One U23B will be painted in the blue/white scheme and one will be painted in the newer "Rock Lobster" heritage scheme, as if it was recently rebuilt (hence the AC, ditch lights, and plated over windows).

For the U30C, I used a C30-7 shell for the revised doors. The C30-7 doors match the the U30C perfect for the engine compartment and just behind it, but I had to fudge a little for the doors ahead of the engine compartment. For the U23Bs, I used B23-7 shells and only cut out the engine compartment doors and the doors behind it and cut out individual latches from the B23-7 for the doors ahead of the engine compartment and clipped off the old double latches, filling them with putty.

Here is where I am at right now:





Next step is painting!

[icghogger]

Nice chop-shop work, Rock!! Would love to see some close-up shots of the doors and latches to see how they turned out.

[Randy Earle]

Great work, the guy that runs High Tech was making GE stuff for a while, maybe you should put a bug in his ear. He's a member here but rarely checks in.

[diesel]

WOW, that is great hood choppin! I think doing that kind of work around the doors is among the most tricky!

[rock]

Thanks! I'll get some close-up shots soon. Also, I'll be sure to check in with High Tech.

I should note that I used a Dremel for the U30C to cut out the hood doors, then tried an Exacto knife on the U23Bs. I liked the exacto knife better, even though the initial cuts took a little longer, I didn't spend as much time filing the edges.

[carlmarsico]

How about the IMRC U18B with centered door latches?

www.intermountain-railway.com/ho/html/44450.htm

If I remember correctly, the long hoods are separate from the walkway/sill, where one could cut out whole sections of the hood vs. just cutting out doors, and they do have better radiator detail than the Atlas U-boats. (However, the IMRC cab is crap and really has no use)

I was thinking of doing a turning one of my spare Atlas U23B's into a late U30B by splicing a pair of these long hoods on to the U23B walkway sill. I'll be sure to post it, if I ever get around to it...

CJM

[rock]

Here are better views of the upgraded U23Bs after paint.

[ranchwagon]

Very nice work, Eric! Those look great, I'll be watching for them finished up!

[rock]

Here's the finished Rock Lobster U23B:

[dmfoamer]

very cool paint scheme alot of really nice work on those units

Frank Lovejoy