Post by TX&GC on Nov 21, 2010 19:19:51 GMT -5
With the V&AL being a "modern" electric road, I've had to do some experimenting with making modern electric units. I'd cobbled together an FP-45 into a Electric unit, and gone on a limb to make an E-33 into a completely different locomotive... More on those 2 projects later.
In the early 70's the V&AL reshopped a lot of it's E-33's through Fred's Locomotive Shop for overhauls, upgrades, and most noticeably, a nose job. The 4605 is the only unit I have done so far, but I will be finishing the rest of the fleet... at some point (exception being the VGN "heritage" unit.)
This was the first time I took a saw to an "expensive" unit (not some tycho, or a war-weary Athearn) I learned a few important lessons here. First of all... "Square" to the eye does not mean square to the body... Directly to that... 'tis better to take of a hair less, and sand down, than "just enough", flub it and now have too much off one side... All in all, ok for a first shot. Glad the V&AL had a "dip job black" for a while.
Didnt take too many shots of the project, but I will for the next time. I had to completely disassemble the front half, since I had to remove about 1/4" of frame. I didn't want little metal shavings winding up in the gearing.
My next shot will incorporate the lessons learned with the addition of ditch lights, and DCC (and possible sound, at least in one unit... it's a shame, because these units sound VERY prototypical operating on a DCC layout with no decoder...)
i144.photobucket.com/albums/r175/firehound4035/Virginia%20and%20Alleghenny/Freds%20Locomotive%20Shop/E-33-2%20Project/DSC04703.jpg
i144.photobucket.com/albums/r175/firehound4035/Virginia%20and%20Alleghenny/Freds%20Locomotive%20Shop/E-33-2%20Project/DSC04704.jpg
(Note in these photos the glue was still wet. No I have not put in a windshield yet... that's got me stumped. The headlight was re-installed in the nose once the glue dried. Any suggestions for the windshield would be appreciated. Otherwise I will probably just use some clear sheet plastic.)
i144.photobucket.com/albums/r175/firehound4035/Virginia%20and%20Alleghenny/Freds%20Locomotive%20Shop/E-33-2%20Project/DSC05460.jpg
In this shot is a glimpse of the "new" unit... hasn't progressed much...
(sorry, I dont know what happened to the links... y'all will just have to click 'em)
In the early 70's the V&AL reshopped a lot of it's E-33's through Fred's Locomotive Shop for overhauls, upgrades, and most noticeably, a nose job. The 4605 is the only unit I have done so far, but I will be finishing the rest of the fleet... at some point (exception being the VGN "heritage" unit.)
This was the first time I took a saw to an "expensive" unit (not some tycho, or a war-weary Athearn) I learned a few important lessons here. First of all... "Square" to the eye does not mean square to the body... Directly to that... 'tis better to take of a hair less, and sand down, than "just enough", flub it and now have too much off one side... All in all, ok for a first shot. Glad the V&AL had a "dip job black" for a while.
Didnt take too many shots of the project, but I will for the next time. I had to completely disassemble the front half, since I had to remove about 1/4" of frame. I didn't want little metal shavings winding up in the gearing.
My next shot will incorporate the lessons learned with the addition of ditch lights, and DCC (and possible sound, at least in one unit... it's a shame, because these units sound VERY prototypical operating on a DCC layout with no decoder...)
i144.photobucket.com/albums/r175/firehound4035/Virginia%20and%20Alleghenny/Freds%20Locomotive%20Shop/E-33-2%20Project/DSC04703.jpg
i144.photobucket.com/albums/r175/firehound4035/Virginia%20and%20Alleghenny/Freds%20Locomotive%20Shop/E-33-2%20Project/DSC04704.jpg
(Note in these photos the glue was still wet. No I have not put in a windshield yet... that's got me stumped. The headlight was re-installed in the nose once the glue dried. Any suggestions for the windshield would be appreciated. Otherwise I will probably just use some clear sheet plastic.)
i144.photobucket.com/albums/r175/firehound4035/Virginia%20and%20Alleghenny/Freds%20Locomotive%20Shop/E-33-2%20Project/DSC05460.jpg
In this shot is a glimpse of the "new" unit... hasn't progressed much...
(sorry, I dont know what happened to the links... y'all will just have to click 'em)
