New pic time, antenna, horn have been soldered on, headlights drilled out for lighting(early run didn't have them pre-drilled), and the beacon stuck in place with some sticky tack temporarlly. Ready to head to the paint booth here soon.
Silly NT's, I have Asperger's Syndrome
This was originaly imported in 1987, back when I was dreaming of owning brass while in middle school. Looking at those ads in model railroader and thumbing thru the Overland Mail flyers at the hobby shop. Brand new brass diesels from Division Point are well north of $1000 each. If I am spending that kind of $$ it better be gauge one live steam! Overland did these in two runs, this is the first run of the BN/ATSF version with the tank drive(drive shafts come out the ends of the fuel tank like is common in 2 rail O scale), then another run in the early 1990's that was the later "tower drive" set up with gear towers at the end each truck. Both run well, with the tower drive being better but more expensive. Brasstrains has the later run, but that model was beyond my budget. It also has some incorrect details for BN even though its supposed to be a BN version. I should have the engine by the end of this week, then I can get started on painting(if I decide to do this myself). I have the decoder on hand, the special circuit to make the beacon work from Aaron Heine electrioncs. It has micro LED"s that fit up inside the beacon light casting that actual sequence just like the real beacon does. I will probably do her up as a second hand unit for my midwest grain shortline. With a pair of these actually sitting in full BN colors in Alliance, NE, they would be "cheap" big power for a shortline needing something to drag grain hoppers to the interchange track. A very plasuable engine. While I would love to have about 4 of these and a long BN coal drag. Thats not something I can afford, let alone find more of these brass BN units. I will use one of the road numbers of the units in Alliance, but with a bit of modelers license to delete the ditch lights and retain the amber beacon these used to wear in the 89/90 time frame. My plan is full BN colors, but with the BN on the side of the cab patched out and L&ER lettering in its place. Hopefully a friend of mine will weather it to match one of those units. Should look good sitting in my nasty old engine house once its done. More pics as things progress. Mike the Aspie
Nice! Sounds like a fun project. I, along with many others, will be looking forward to seeing what you do with it. Is it brand new, or new old stock?
Stuck at home, and to much time shopping on various web stores. This one has been on my "wanted" list for awhile. Will be detailed out for '89/90 time frame with the flasher beacon and weathered up to match its duty in the Powder River basin coal fields. I remember seeing these lugging coal up Crawford Hill when I went railfanning out there my junior year of high school with the train club president. We camped out near the old wood overpass that used to be there during the double track years. Along with watching them make a run at the hill after picking up the pusher team. Also got up and close at the Alliance shops. Was a different time to railfan, asking permission and behaving oneself got you into many places not possible today. Time to fire up the air brush here soon. Mike