Photos of Amtrak F40PH 323
Feb 12, 2023 12:48:59 GMT -8
Donnell Wells, riogrande, and 27 more like this
Post by cr9617 on Feb 12, 2023 12:48:59 GMT -8
While researching the unit numbers offered by Rapido in its last run of F40PHs before buying one, I was looking for something unique or interesting as I often do with manufacturer offerings. In preparation to lead the last eastbound Pioneer out of Seattle in 1997, the unit had a sad face added to the nose for the trip. But by the time it had its ditch lights as represented by the model, only the eyes remained. The two "eyes" and a mismatched number board made 323 something I wanted to model.
I wasn't happy with the pilot details out of the box, especially the HEP connections. I stripped off all the details and replaced them with Detail Associates HEP receptacles. I added the missing dummy plugs to the front and rear. I also replaced the rear MU hoses with Details West parts so they could be tucked into the pockets on the rear pilot. I bent some custom cut levers out of wire since the factory parts had the wrong shape ends. I replaced the odd looking air hoses with the correct drop style hoses also from Details West. I was able to reuse the plow, but had to make new mounting lugs from 0.015 wire since the original lugs broke during disassembly.
The fuel tank fillers were terrible looking and glued in crooked so I cut those off and replaced them with Details West pieces.
The speed recorder was installed on the wrong side and one was missing so I added these, also from Details West. I cut off the cast on wire and drilled the sensor to accept a new flexible one made of wire installed in a hole drilled in the frame.
The rear hand rails were a disaster, between all the excess flash still on it and the "chain" that looked like a piece of rope. The prototype had the safety chain mounted to two smaller stanchions which I made from some Athearn front handrails from the spare parts box. I just had to trim down the tops so they were square and added some photoetch chain.
I added some missing decals including the eyes which were made from black trim film using a 1.8mm hole punch cutter. I put the unit through my usual weathering process. The engineer is a 3d printed figure from Modelu in the UK.
Amtrak F40PH 323 by cr9617, on Flickr
Amtrak F40PH 323 by cr9617, on Flickr
Amtrak F40PH 323 by cr9617, on Flickr
Amtrak F40PH 323 by cr9617, on Flickr
Amtrak F40PH 323 by cr9617, on Flickr
Amtrak F40PH 323 by cr9617, on Flickr
Amtrak F40PH 323 by cr9617, on Flickr
I wasn't happy with the pilot details out of the box, especially the HEP connections. I stripped off all the details and replaced them with Detail Associates HEP receptacles. I added the missing dummy plugs to the front and rear. I also replaced the rear MU hoses with Details West parts so they could be tucked into the pockets on the rear pilot. I bent some custom cut levers out of wire since the factory parts had the wrong shape ends. I replaced the odd looking air hoses with the correct drop style hoses also from Details West. I was able to reuse the plow, but had to make new mounting lugs from 0.015 wire since the original lugs broke during disassembly.
The fuel tank fillers were terrible looking and glued in crooked so I cut those off and replaced them with Details West pieces.
The speed recorder was installed on the wrong side and one was missing so I added these, also from Details West. I cut off the cast on wire and drilled the sensor to accept a new flexible one made of wire installed in a hole drilled in the frame.
The rear hand rails were a disaster, between all the excess flash still on it and the "chain" that looked like a piece of rope. The prototype had the safety chain mounted to two smaller stanchions which I made from some Athearn front handrails from the spare parts box. I just had to trim down the tops so they were square and added some photoetch chain.
I added some missing decals including the eyes which were made from black trim film using a 1.8mm hole punch cutter. I put the unit through my usual weathering process. The engineer is a 3d printed figure from Modelu in the UK.
Amtrak F40PH 323 by cr9617, on FlickrAmtrak F40PH 323 by cr9617, on FlickrAmtrak F40PH 323 by cr9617, on FlickrAmtrak F40PH 323 by cr9617, on FlickrAmtrak F40PH 323 by cr9617, on FlickrAmtrak F40PH 323 by cr9617, on FlickrAmtrak F40PH 323 by cr9617, on Flickr
