GEC's Layout Progress

[Green_Elite_Cab]

Check out this <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/247-246">http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/247-246</a><!-- m -->

Those are the ones I bought originally. Unfortunately, I couldn't bend it to fit. Luckily though, the bells are separate parts, so I'll just make my own bell support, and use the bell casting from the kit.

Anyways, here are some pictures-

NJ DOT/ CNJ GP7s # 5681 and ????

Apart from the bell, the more "obvious" CNJ spotting features are applied to this one. I plan to model this one first, and then either take lots of video or pictures of the second one being built, which I think might be neat.







A typical CNJ/Conrail commuter train would be populated with many former western railroad long distance coaches, such as these GN 44 seat AC&F cars, which are exact matches to the kind CNJ used (they only need patches and NJ DOT decals)



Here is a close up of the long hood end. Custom Finishing makes these metal castings. They are designed for the Atlas GP7, which is sloped back more so than the P2K model. This was noticeable by eye, and would probably look bad in photos, so i had to shift the castings so that the ends were straight across.

I instead glued the "center" edges as close to flush as possible with the end of the body shell, and then slid in some styrene sheet. I filled the gaps with squadron puddy.

the "sides" of the castings don't seem like they poke out as far and look fine. Worst case scenariom I file down the sides of the castings and polish them, and add brass Plano EMD latches in place of the molded in ones.

The Shortline products class lights weren't to difficult to apply, though I might want to get a few fresh #17 blades next time, since shaving off the original class lights was a little tricky.



Here is the other problem, the cab signal box. If you compare the model to the photograph above, it seems clear that the CNJ adjusted its handrails slightly to make space.

The triple-strap cab signal box i have by Detail associates is a little large to fit in this space. Its also to large to fit under the deck. I know some other manufacturers make the cab signal box, and perhaps they are smaller.

I'll first try to shorten the cab signal box slightly, so that it can fit under the deck piece.

The handrail might require some fancy gluing, or I might even just use metal handrails. If there is enough space to fit the cab signal box, and leave the handrail, I'll just accept that slight inaccuracy.

Otherwise, this is straight forward, I'll just cut a hole in the side of the shell. The deck is solid beneath it, so i shouldn't have to add any stryene or anything.




You can see that the box doesn't fit under the deck piece, but only barely




Right now, I'm just waiting on the intake grills, and I plan to make a trip to Sattlers this week to see if they have any of the other detail parts I need instock.


NJDOT E8s #4253 and ????

Just like my GP7s, I have two P2k E8s. The E8s tended to run in pairs, and would normally swap trains with GG1s at South Amboy for the trip south to Bay Head NJ, on the New York & Long Branch. That said, these E8s could occasionally be seen pulling a train on the NEC, either in place of a GP40P or for whatever reason they were needed.

The first one will be #4253, thought I am unsure how I will paint or number the next one. Ideally, I would like the details to reflect an ex EL unit if possible.

I gave 4253 a coat of Platinum mist, which is the typical silver paint used by Amtrak, NJ Transit, and other "silver" trains. It is a little gray, and I'm not sure if Platinum mist is the exact silver they used on these E8s.

I might try and paint it a different silver, such as Floquil old silver, and then see how it looks. Ultimately, this locomotive will be largely dark blue, as the silver is only a stripe down the sides.

Ultimately, because of the nature or the stripe, I need to paint the model before I install all the details, because the strips cut through the front "lift hooks" installed by the PRR on this particular unit.

However, the other reason I gave it a coat of paint was to look for imperfections, and I was VERY suprised.

It seems as though only one area had scrapes I didn't like, and you can't even see them in the photo. The sides are totally smooth and the doors and windows filled in perfectly. This was my biggest fear in modeling these units, because I was concerned that I wouldn't be able to achieve such a smooth surface!








Most NJ DOT E8s were rebuilt by the Illinois Central's Paducah shops, which is why the front doors and side windows and panels were removed, being replaced with a solid side.

A one (#4248) retained its side pannels, though its windows and front door were still blanked out. This one ended up leased to Metro North, running DIESEL powered trains into Grand Central Terminal. Apparently, one or two diesels down there didn't suck all the oxygen out of the terminal, but I'm sure it filled the whole place with diesel smoke.

#4248 is the one I'm considering as the second E8. 4267 seems to be frequently paired with 4253 in photos, but it has a variation of the stripe scheme that most found unattractive.

There were actually a wide variety of E8s on the New York and Long Branch. On top of the NJ DOT ones, you could find Conrail E8s leased to NJ DOT in every imaginable paint scheme, as well as the US DOT E8, a former B&O unit, also leased to NJ DOT.

It makes one wonder if its better to match the paint schemes, or to go for more variety?

Conrail Ex-LV GP18 #7499

I haven't really accomplished anything new with this unit, but I think my other pictures got broke.

Incidentally, I found some reccomendations on achieving the proper "Lehigh Valley" red used by the railroad's later locomotives, since most LV Cornell red paints don't match.

I'll probably add the new fancy intakes and a few other details that need to be installed prior to painting, and then give it a good coat of red paint.

The only serious challenge now is going to be cutting the fuel tank back. This area also cuts through the motor mount locations, so this might be difficult. I could just leave it alone, but I know it can be done since I saw a guy model a different ex-LV GP18. If only I could remember how he told me he did it!





So, here is the whole crew! Between these and all my MU car projects, I'm going to be busy!