Building my CN/G&M Dash 9-44CW

[Catt]

Bought this big beast the year Athearn brought them out.I changed my primary scale (to N scale)the next year and this got put in a drawer and more or less forgot about it.Earlier this year I joined a multi scale club and decided I needed some real power for it.

While I was digging through the HO locos I still owned I discovered this way in the back of the drawer.I test run it and it ran like a new loco so this project got started.In 1997 there was a article in Model Railroading about building one of these.One of the sources for the cab was H&D Hobby Distributing inCalgary,Alberta,Canada. I did a Yahoo search not expecting anything good,but they are still there and they still have the cab.

Anyway here arec a couple pictures to show what I've done so far.First step was to remove the AC unit as these locos didn't have it ,or it was mounted somewhere else.Like the one in the origonal article after I removed to AC I made a cover panel from .005" styrene to save a lot of putty work.



Here is a pic of the cab setting in place but otherwise untouched.I like the big GEs but I think they would look better if GE had adopted this cab for all of the big locos.Except for some mods to the air tanks and the cab,all the modifications are on this (pictured) side of the loco.

[Green_Elite_Cab]

Very cool. I wonder why they got rid of the AC unit?

[tomustang]

Very cool. I wonder why they got rid of the AC unit?

Canadians don't need cold air machines?

[Green_Elite_Cab]

Very cool. I wonder why they got rid of the AC unit?

Canadians don't need cold air machines?

Perhaps, yet Canadian Pacific runs right down into Philadelphia, and it might be to hot here for our Northern Neighbors! About a week ago it was ridiculously hot.

[jwb]

The air conditioner, as I understand it, is for the computer, not the crew. This is why NS went to air conditioners! The A/C on a comfort cab is under the floor.

[Tyson Rayles]

Catt please quit working in the wrong scale!

[Catt]

Mike,I have done the same loco in N scale.I still need to remove the AC from the N scale version,as of yet I have not found a glue that work on the Delrin (handrails) plastic.

[Tyson Rayles]

Building something in the right scale is no excuse for building something in the wrong scale Catt! Kidding aside if you scuff up the parts of the handrail where the glue will go gel type super glue should work.

[Sumpter250]

Catt,
Here's another "wrong scale" C&NW Dash 9, with an SD50, SD60. All kitbashes. The 50/60 started as SD40T-2's, the Dash 9 started as a Dash 8 40C. The Dash 9's ( the first of them ) had just arrived on the C&NW, which is why I chose to model it at the time.

[Tyson Rayles]

Great looking locos Pete!

[Catt]

Pete, I agree with Mike those are nice locos.On the subject of Dash do you know that the first Dash 9s on the CSX roster were built using Dash 8-40CW bodies?

[Sumpter250]

Pete, On the subject of Dash do you know that the first Dash 9s on the CSX roster were built using Dash 8-40CW bodies?

That I didn't know. I'd have to do some research to be sure, but I believe the -9 bodies were about 18" longer than the -8 bodies, but i think the wheelbase was the same.
C&NW 8601 - 8730 were, I believe, the first Dash 9's
My model's first train show run, was at Trainfest '94 :o :o a little over 17 years ago :o :o

Time flies when you're having fun!!!

[Catt]

The only HO Dash 8 I have is a Bachmann but it is a ball park figure 18" shorter than the Athearn Dash 9.I wish I could aford one of the ATLAS Dash 40 Cs. There is definately a difference in the wheelbase.One of the guys at club one with sound and it looks and sounds soooo good.

I like my Bachmann but it does not have any lights (the lite board had a short so I removed it) As far as I am concerned it runs as good as any of my KATOs.I need to find the end railings as the ones that were on it are lost in the mist.

My information on the CNW units is that they were indeed the first Dash 9 bodies.

If ATLAS ever has their DASH 8-40C shells in their store I will buy and another Athearn DASH 9 and make a NS DASH 9 40C.

But first I think I will finish this DASH 9. :mrgreen:

[Catt]

Must be about time for a small update.

This is the current fate of the shell,between the resuin cab and the long hood there are 40 #80 drill holes,and as you can see no radiator grilles.



These are the holes I cut into the radiator grille,not a job for the faint of heart unless you have a spare panel.I did not have one.The DA Etched grille kit will be filling those holes ,probaly tomorrow.

[Catt]

Couple more progress pics.First one is the DA grilles installed.Makes quite the difference.There are more grilles to install but every place I have put them they just look wrong.



Rear grabs mounted I think I will add one more at the top.