I got the Athearn F45 I ordered in the mail today.
I got home unpacked it, promptly trotted out the Zona saw and started hacking the shell into bits.
Why, you ask?
Well it was because it was decorated for Amtrak.
No that's a lie.
It's because it is a blue box.
Another lie.
Here's the real reason.
Steve
If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough!
What do you guys think?
Looks like you're having fun with a little hackin' and hewin'. Building skills is what it's all about, but I always kinda liked the FP45 cab. In any case I happen to have an Athearn undec FP45 shell that's yours for the asking if you ever want to change direction.
Regards, Peter
Thanks Peter,
I am going stick with the spartan cab, I gotta figure out the back deck, I changed it to one off the shell I stole the cab off, when I remount ed it I made it too narrow.
I might order a 40-2 shell to hack off the porches.
I also have to shorten the front end somehow, probably by slicing down the cab. I don't know for sure yet.
One of my unfulfilled planned project ideas was to merge an FP45 to an F7 front to produce a loco that looked like the following Australian CL class loco as freelance "could have been.
http://donsdepot.donrossgroup.net/dr0404/anrcl5.jpg
My idea was to paint it in a D&H tpe scheme similar to Bill Mclanahan's T&RGW. I read later that Amtrak wanted to use a similar design for what became the SDP40F but EMD would not supply Bulldog noses as the last of those was supplied to Australia for the last CL class in late 1972.
To make it, I would have put an FP45 shell and the F nose to replicate some of the lines of the CL but now there are brilliant models of the CL and its rebuild variations... just not painted in D&H scheme!
Other projects and life got in the way anyway, but maybe one day!
Good luck with the rebuild and the shaping,
Cheers from Australia
Trevor
NWP SWP What do you guys think?
Ugly but good practice.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
NWP SWPI got the Athearn F45 I ordered in the mail today. I got home unpacked it, promptly trotted out the Zona saw and started hacking the shell into bits. Why, you ask? Well it was because it was decorated for Amtrak. No that's a lie. It's because it is a blue box. Another lie. Here's the real reason.
.
Normally when someone posts a picture of a project, especially an unusual one, they give a description of what the project is so that the viewer understands what they are looking at.
Stating that you got it home, unpacked it, got out the saw, started hacking it into bits, then showing a WIP photo and calling it the "real reason" does not help anyone understand what you are trying to accomplish. The Amtrak and Blue Box "lies" only add to the confusion. Not sure what you were going for with that.
So... what are you up to? Is this supposed to represent a Field Repair of a locomotive that was damaged in a crossing accident? Is it a piece of motive power that is unique to the NWPSWP? It it a platform/test bed for a manufacturer to try out a new prime mover? Is it just for practice to build up your modelling skills?
Are you planning to run the finished model on your club's layout? If so, you better give some thought to decoder installation. That can be tricky on the Blue Box locomotive frames.
Please let everyone know what this project is all about, otherwise your post seems random and confusing.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
OK let me clear this up a bit.
the unit is special to the NWP SWP, they're rebuilds with Spartan noses for better switching visibility.
Also it's practice cutting.
It will eventually receive a decoder, it appears to have a newer RTR frame, I don't know for sure.
And I know it's ugly Rio Grande, I gotta clean up some of the lines still.
Next project a P45b Cabless booster unit.
That'd be squadron putty.
That putty will be awfully hard to clean up. Use a little masking tape on each side of the seam, then apply the putty and peel the tape off. The putty will be applied only where you want it. This will help save the details (like rivets) and eliminate a lot of unnecessary sanding.
Chuck - Modeling in HO scale and anything narrow gauge
NWP SWPThe unit is special to the NWP SWP, they're rebuilds with Spartan noses for better switching visibility.
OK, please clear all of this up for me...
What era are you modeling? By the time an FP45 would be relegated to switching duty it would need to be fairly modern.
How big is the NWPSWP that they would need such a monster for switching duties? Is it being used on local turns? Yard duties?
I had an idea to back date and FP45 for my layout. I was going to install earlier style fans and round over the cowl tops instead of the angular ones.
I bought an undecorated Athearn FP-45, looked it over, and immediately gave up the idea.
Steven .... I wonder if you were inspired by photos of some NJ Transit locomotives
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
CB&Q, yes, yes I was.
Kevin, I am now modeling the 60s-80s just well because.
The units would be on local duty on the Mountain Divisions, they will (hopefully) operate in pairs so reversing visibility shouldn't be too much of a problem.