GEC's Layout Progress

[Green_Elite_Cab]

Diesel Project updates-

Conrail GP18 #7499

I have done some work on my ex-LV GP18. this involved adding the winterization hatch, air-filter box, and removing the shroud from the forward fan (the dynamic fan kept its shroud). I also just picked up a horn kit, a proper roof bell, and some LV decals that match the GP18 just prior to Conrail. I will of course, paint over the LV markings a little, and see how well i can dab it off to give it that really weathered patchy look.

The only thing I'm waiting to do, is add a few more details, and determine a color mix to match the "brighter" Lehigh Valley Cornell red found prior to the Conrail merger.

There is another challenge in that the LV fuel tanks were smaller than the stock model one. I could try and cut it short, but it runs very close to the motor mounts, so I might just live with the over-sized fuel tank. I'm considering getting the grills from Plano models, since I've liked the parts I picked up from them so far.

NJ DOT Commuter diesels

I haven't done to much with these lately. The CNJ GP7Ps will probably be on hold until I know exactly how I want to approach them. There are quite a few detail options out there worth considering.

My First E8 was being held up until I could visit the prototype #4253 to get some more detail shots. I could not find any guidance on the installation of the PRR style lift lugs, and because of these lift lugs, some of the grab irons were moved. By visiting the real thing, it let me take multiple shots and see for myself about how it should be approached. Though 4253 isn't EXACTLY the same as it was 30+ years ago, these details didn't change. Once I add these details, the model should be ready to paint.



My second E8 I have not yet begun. I had originally planned to make it Conrail 4014, an Erie-Lackawanna patched E8. Indeed, this unit was the second place in the E8 paint poll. However, as much as I like 4014 (and I do want a model of it eventually), I wonder if it makes sense to match. Though 4014 spent much of its life hauling commuter trains with the NJ DOT E8s, and there are plenty of photos of it with a more typical NJ DOT E8. However, does the Blue/red/silver go well with the gray/yellow/maroon?

There are plenty of other NJ DOT E8s worth it. #4248, an E8 I originally planned to do because it retained its batten strip sides, was also used by Metro North briefly for trains into Grand Central Terminal (despite fume concerns!)

Finally, my GP40P project is stagnated. I need to finish the frame on that thing, but its getting a pain in the but drilling and tapping this thing. I just gotta push through it. Hopefully, I can solder a plate in there to keep everything straight without getting in the way of the trucks or drive train. I did order the Plano SD45 radiator grills, which should be EXACTLY what the GP40P had. They also look cool since they are etched metal, which is a plus.

I began cutting out more of the GP40 base shell, though I need to get prepared to add the proper cannon & co doors. This is the first time I've tried something like this, so it does make me a tad nervous! Still, I should be able to plan it out, and I have the scale drawings in HO, so I just need to take it easy and do it step by step. If I do it right, it will be a VERY awesome kitbash.

New Haven FL9

Well, I put it up for a vote, and it looks like the New Haven paint won the game. Given the disappearance of the Floquil/Pollyscale paints, this might be an opportunity to try the "Tru-color" paints being offered. They have a New Haven Red-Orange, and I assume Reefer white and Engine Black will do the trick for the rest of it.

The only scary part will be masking the thing for airbrushing! Fortunately, this model is nearly RTR, and so a decoder, headlight and some Athearn window pieces will be all I need to finish it off. I can probably add some of the other minor details later.

Metroliners

The decal set necessary for my Arrow IIs also included decals for the Bachmann/IHP Metroliner MU in Penn Central paint. Though I could go ahead and repaint my Bachmann cars, I might wait and see about the Walthers Metroliners. I have been saving up, and I want to pick up a trainset. I worry however, that Walthers will release a Penn Central set in the future.

The prototype cars were delivered only a few months before the Penn Central Merger. In fact, they never earned a single revenue dime while the PRR existed, doing only test runs. From 1968 to 1979, the majority of the Metroliners remained in their Penn Central era-paint, with a few having Amtrak patches. Enough Metroliners had been repainted that you could see one or two Amtrak cars in a given consist, but more often then not, the Metroliners trains were all Silver, All Penn Central consists.

This is particularly problematic for the club cars i want to model, since few ever got Amtrak paint before 1979, and those that did were rebuilt. After the 1979 rebuilding, the un-rebuilt metroliners didn't last long. Unfortunately, the Walthers model does not reflect the rebuilt cars either (I'd take a set of those in a heartbeat).

a full Amtrak trainset would be easier to acquire, but it would be unrealistic. The PRR set is closest to the PC paint job, and is cool, but its an insanely expensive set (over $1000 for a 4 car set with sound and figures installed). Unless someone buys a few sets and splits them up, the PRR Metroliners will not be available seperately, so if I wanted some to make PC car from (or even just to have the PRR painted versions), I would HAVE to buy the set.

I would feel pretty dumb if I bought a PRR set, only to see a Penn Central one come out in a year or two. I could feel save with a few Amtrak coaches and Cafe, but my train set wouldn't technically be realistic since i've NEVER seen a full Amtrak consist before 1979.

The final option would be stripping and repainting an Amtrak model into a Penn Central one. That one is probably the cheapest alternative if they don't make a future PC run.


NJ DOT commuter coaches, Amtrak core kits

This is another one on hold. I need more cores before I move ahead. the kits i purchased from NKP Car Co have their own cores, but they don't have the underbody details. At the URHS open house, I photographed one of the Ex-PRR 21 Roomette sleepers-turned-coach, but unlike last time, it was not in a position for me to see the other side well. I really want to avoid improvising on the underbody if possible. The same goes with roof details.

If i were smart, I would have picked up the Walthers ones when they were available undecorated as part of the Broadway Limited. I picked up the car sides for these, but in hindsight, there is a strong chance they'll re-run these broad way cars again (after all, we're seeing some ATSF and GN reruns!).

The cores are getting trickier than I though they would be. Getting the parts to line up perfectly has proven particularly difficult, and I'm thinking I need to find some proper tools to get the model line up properly.

Ultimately, for some of these cars, like the 3400 series Le-Pub cars, this is the only option. once I get these MU cars off my plate, I'll get back to these.

Well, that about covers it....

A super long post, I gotta break these downs into smaller ones over time!