My project SD35

And my next project. Already replaced the stacks. Ordered the rest of the detail parts I need as well

And another with the hand rails finished. 

They are all crappy cell pics but eh. Someone may wanna see it. 

Very very nice. Keep it up.

Ron H

Thank you! Was wondering if anyone was interested in this little project

I'm following and enjoying seeing your progress updates, too.  

I'm definitely interested in reading about the gp15-1 work, especially all the extra detailing.  I have a two rail version sitting on my desk now that I'd like to spritz up.    They definitely would benefit from the added frame detail.  It's kind of empty in that area.  I like how you list out the extra part that you are using.  That's very helpful.

Jim

Sweet. When I start the fixed pilot conversion on my atlas SD40 I'll do a full write up from beginning to end on the steps if you guys have interest. I still have a SD40. GP15 and GP35 to convert. 

Finished fabricating the antenna stands out of brass sheet today. Along with all the assorted conduit and such. Also fabricated a fire cracker antenna and added the PSC Sinclair antennas. Will post pics when I have time. Working 60+ hours a week and family obligations leaves little time for modeling 

Prototype pic of the antenna stands. Cab roof looks awesome now. Love the look. Gonna fabricate the ditch lights out of brass rod turned and detailed as well. 

really LIKE your brass challenger beautiful engine

Alan

When I see the SD35 stock it really makes me aware of how much fixing the pilots adds to the overall look.

@ repair technician,thank you . Love my challenger. It's so massive. Can't wait to get the legacy electronics in it. She runs smooth and will only get better with the command control 

Well the SD35 is close to being done...just waiting on my new iwata air brush to get here to finish her up. So I turned my attention to the next engine on the chopping block....a Atlas GP15. So farther only thing I have done is replace the disappointments that are the molded exhaust stacks with some hand fabricated aluminium stacks cut from k&s tubing. As well as mount a PSC air conditioner to get her looking a little better up top. 

And the stacks. The harbor must Grey isn't a exact match for the atlas paint I see now. Waiting on some badger model flex to get here 

Next step is yank the pilots off there. Toss the lobster claws. And get  all the cast details ground off  and smooth. Then fabricate spacers. Add PSC mu hoses. Cut levers. Simi scale draft gear after filling the massive pilot holes and Kadee 805's. Then I will do all new handrails using music wire and PSC stanchions. Then all the lift rings will be removed and replaced and antenna stands fabricated to replicate its prototype as close as I can...here is some proto pics 

It's gonna be fun! And I'll start a new thread when I dig into it! 

theteejmiester posted:

Hello all. Long time member,but never really posted much. Didn't have much o scale till recently. Anyways this is my current little project. As you all can tell its a atlas master SD35 in PRR colors I have been building to represent George's creeks railroads  SD35 rebuild. 

So far it has had the pilots fixed. Kadee 805's installed. Full length hand rails. Overland models plows on each end. Pilot holes filled. New coupler lift bars and a semi accurate drift gear fabricated. PSC mu hoses and stands. PSC horns ,air conditioner,lift rings, modified cab windows. 

 

What's left to do. Finish the details on the rear pilot. Fabricate a antenna stand. Replace the windshield wipers.  I want to run some I beam down the side to simulate some frame details. Strip the PRR decals and reletter as soon as I can find someone to make the decals I need. And finish the sliding cab windows . New figures. Wire the motors in parallel to slow er done a bit more and then a nice weathering job. 

Anyways. Let me know what ya think. I will be doing a UP GP15-1 conversion soon. Any interest in a detailed write up on the fixed pilot conversion let me know and I'll try to make it happen!!!

I would like to know the details. I have a few mth and Lionel Diesels that would look a lot better with fixed pilots and full length handrails. Looks great so far!

David

Can do.I have a four day weekend coming up and one of those days will be nothing but model building. I'll take some pics and get em posted ! 

Antenna stands and such are just about done. Excuse the horrible cell pic.  

That's nice! Were do you get these little add on detail parts? 

Well the horn and air conditioner and Sinclair antennas that are mounted under the stands are precision scale parts. Both antenna stands are scratch built. The conduit is .028 brass wire. And the holders are precision scale .028 lift rings. I get all of my parts from P&D hobby or Des plains hobby. 

Any other questions feel free to ask. 

Oh and the firecracker antenna is scratch built as well. 

Atlas has antennae stands on their Santa Fe gp60's but last time I checked the stands were not available as separate parts.

The antenna stand is available.  Atlas Antenna Stand

Here's the box stand behind the A/C unit plus piping. Piping

GP60 Atlas

Yes. I scratch built mine to match a specific prototype. But the atlas stands would be much easier for most. Save on the bloody fingers after the brass got me��

I've never seen the Atlas version in person.  Sometimes their castings are a touch on the thick side.  Brass may actually be the best choice.

Awesome, how did you fix the pilot and do the full length handrails?

The pilots were fixed using a .125 piece of styrene cut to shape. Then it was attached to the top of the pilot using epoxy and then shaped to the correct contour. Then the pilot faces were ground smooth and all gaps filled with tamiya putty. Then I drilled and tapped the frame for 2/56 machine screws using the factory holes as a guide for placement. After this I built the coupler mounting locations up using styrene to the correct height. Then mounted the Kadee 805 using the same 2/56 screws. Then filled the pilot holes and attached it to the frame. The hand rails are hand bent .032 steel music wire. I'll do a write up soon 

Here is a pic I forgot I had. Shows in in the raw 

Okay. First things first. Thank you to all that gave feedback on my thread about choosing a proto freelanced paint scheme. As some of you know I chose to go with the western pacific orange and green scheme. Well there was a few things on the pilot of the SD35 that I grew to not like. First was the draft gear box. Didn't like the first go around. So I stripped it and started over. Figured while I was at it I would start the paint job. It's been a couple days and I have it well on its way so I figured I would post some pics of it torn apart. Let me know what ya think. I love the orange and green. Gonna get the dry transfer numbers on her tonight, and finish the long hood end. Put some sliding windows in the cab and get her back together. 

I decided to go back to the stock atlas mu hoses. I have decided I like them better than the PSC parts. 

I also took the opportunity to fill all of the holes in the frame from the factory shorty atlas handrails. As well as modified the pilots for better access to the coupler lift bars. Per FRA rules. I also picked up some aluminium rod to turn and fabricate the ditch lights. And some brass angle for the stands. Will let ya'all know how that turns out. Till then let me know what ya think! I have thick skin so be honest. 

Man oh man we are 3 rail scaling!!!!

Great work.

Wow, impressive detail work!

Finished the rear hood up and got the number boards and such back in. This shows the orange a little better 

Oh and a good little trick to mask the lights and small stuff that you don't want to remove it rubber cement applied to the part and then removed after its painted. Works like a charm 

theteejmiester posted:

Finished the rear hood up and got the number boards and such back in. This shows the orange a little better 

I'm a fan of the stripes on the ends.  I was hoping to see them on the rear end, and possibly on the nose and pilots.  In my opinion, you can never have too many stripes.

Your model looks great though.  Keep it coming.

I do like chevrons a lot. But thought it would be too busy,I dunno . Maybe on my SD40 I'll try it and see what it looks like. Thank you all for the comments!!!!

Got the dry transfers on this morning. Keep in mind the cab is just set in place. That's why there is a gap. Gonna get the rear pilot done a little later

Also mounted a rear 3 chime horn a la the Florida east coast practices. Let's me add more roof top details which I love 

Man the upload quality hasn't been the greatest on any of the pics I have taken indoors. Gonna have to drag er outside on the diorama to get some decent pics 

Did this loco get finished?

I could be wrong but I think he switched over to 2 rail

Laidoffsick posted:

I could be wrong but I think he switched over to 2 rail

Nuts.  That's a loss.  Our 3rd Rail isn't prototype but what you loose there is gained many times over in reliability and prototypical signal circuits.  I'm here to run trains, not clean rail endlessly.