'Sprucing up' a Williams Dash-8 diesel

Sam, that sure made a huge difference. Good work.

Ron

Sam....good job!  I have done this on several Williams locomotives.  As an example, the E-units were a little high and so by cutting off the dimple on the frame that holds the motors a little high, I was able to lower the locomotive so that it was more prototypical...  I have Williams locomotives that are several decades old and are still running...

Alan

Looks great!

Nice mods.  If I understand correctly the entire effort wasn't all that difficult.  You're right about the silver, it makes a nice impact when details are more easily seen.  WTG!

Bruce

Looks great Sam! The silver really makes it pop!  

Nice work Sam, This could make a nice article with some step by step photos, thanks for the idea and photo.  Nick

I too like the Williams units.....and agree they need a little help.

This started as a Conrail unit.

The fuel tank on my unit was split down the middle....cast in two parts. So all I did was add a thick strip of plastic between the two parts. I painted the trucks and tank a semi gloss black.

I also modified the hand rails on the ends. I cut the center out. I later added small chain across the gap. Looks better than a solid rail to me.

Same mods on this WbB unit.

Do you folks use liquid paint mask? The examples \ results are terrific.  I just bought a Williams EP5 I want to redo into an Illinois Terminal unit. I am a bit hesitant...I cant find any articles on re-painting O gauge stuff. Again its the same old story..lots of pictures of layouts everywhere nut no "how to" articles. I bought the paint masking liquid because a airplane modeler swears by it.

Looks good Sam.

My original post when I did these mods I detailed my method.

As for masking I use Tamiya masking tape for the paint break and it is backed up by Suretape light tack tape.  The Tamiya needs to be burnished to form a good seal.

I use spray cans only so most folks could replicate my work.

I am about to start a new WbB repaint and improvement job....if there is enough interest and/or the OGR powers think they'd be interest in an article...I could try. 

Thanks

PS.....liquid mask...I don't like it. I tried it....very difficult to get a REALLY clean straight line over loco bodies with all the panels and details we deal with. A nice smooth aircraft body??? Maybe work OK there. 

Thanks for the sage advice. I think an article on this would have a huge audience based on the subject of posts here.. there are a lot of folks doing this kind of thing. Ill check out the tape.

Beautiful adaptation, Sam. It sire came out very nice.