Sunday Photo Fun - on HOT August 13, 2023

[drsvelte]

I'll start, 'cause its too hot to do anything else!

As a Pennsylvania lad, I enjoy modeling equipment of the smaller railroads that supported the coal and steel industries in the western region of the state: Pittsburgh & Lake Erie, Bessemer & Lake Erie, Monongahela, Pittsburgh & West Virginia and Pittsburg & Shawmut. When CMR/NetzlofDesign introduced a decal set for a P&S 100-ton hopper, I decided that would be a fine opportunity to make use of one of my antique McKean Models that has been resting undisturbed for the past 40 years or so!


Pittsburg & Shawmut decided to modernize their coal hopper fleet in the early 1970s and placed two orders with the Greenville Steel Car Company for a total of 500 cars. These were 45-foot 100-ton triple hoppers with 15 riveted side-panels and a capacity of 3420 cu. ft. The first cars were delivered in 1973. What caught my attention was the unique serif-style lettering applied to the initial series.







The McKean underframe needed some work to get the ride height correct and to install Kadee #58s in ExactRail coupler boxes. The model was painted with Tamiya matte black lacquer and then a coat of Tamiya clear gloss was applied. After decaling, another coat of clear gloss was sprayed before a final coat of flat clear. I added Cal-Scale train air lines (#276) and Kadee ASF 100-ton roller bearing trucks with 36” wheels (#555). The model was topped off with a coal load.


Although the McKean shell has welded side panels, features a low mount handbrake and lacks Tangent-level detail, I think it still captures the distinctive look of the P&S prototype.











The Santa Fe, Katy, Frisco and Union Pacific were other roads that purchased the 15-panel GSC product; Conrail and Burlington Northern acquired some used cars from original owners.

[fr8kar]

You're sure right about it being hot! I thought I was going to melt when I was taking these last two photos.

I got some 3D printed parts I've been needing for this model the other day. The fuel tank is for the Missouri Pacific C36-7 that I designed to fit the Atlas C30-7 frame, so it required some modifications. Basically it's the same as the tank on the B40-8 but I didn't have a spare one of those around so I went with the 3D printed option. The reservoir parts are pretty much standard for GE locomotives from the U-series through the Dash 8 series, excepting the C40-8, so I like keeping a few of those around for other projects. Anyway, after I received the parts I had just enough time to cut the frame, install the parts and paint them before having to go out of town again.








The more I thought about the ride height of the fuel tank the more it bothered me so when I got home today I decided to modify it and I think the results are worth it.






Next will be the installation of proper plows and some detail work, like plumbing the reservoirs and installing air filters. Looks like I put the front truck on the rear and the rear truck on the front! Wait, this is a Norfolk Southern locomotive so is it front... or rear? Anyway, the bulk of the work that differentiates a C39-8E from a C40-8 is done.

[TBird1958]

Some pictures for a hot day...........

[csxt8400]

Nice stuff guys. On my rolling lazy susan of projects I am currently using new Chicago Link Decal SBD patches to transform this L&N 4600 into a mid 80's version. Prototype photo for reference, as you can see the SBD lettering was applied high for some reason.



Here is the model after getting the spray patch and my decals applied. I have ACI labels coming and then I have to add some COTS stuff before weathering commences. Athearn trucks chucked for the Tangent 100 tons, what a huge difference.

[dti406]

Good afternoon from sunny and warm Northeast Ohio, nothing hot here, only one day above 90 degrees all summer.

Here is the one car I got done this week, a Tangent Sam Rae Shops 4600CF Covered Hopper kit, I purchased two of the decorated cars, but as I had a couple of decal sets for the car I went with the undecorated kit also, and as the paint faded badly this car is a light gray along with COTS labels and an ACI label. As the LV was under PRR/PC control they purchased these at a better price than from an established car builder like PS or ACF.



Last Saturday went to the club with my Rapido FA-2's along with a bunch of my PRR Hopper cars of various classes.



Have a great weekend!

Rick Jesionowski

[hudsonyard]

another hopper done

[johns]

The Shawmut hopper looks great -- very nice job of duplicating the prototype. It's always great to see a McKean, Front Range, EBT, etc. used to make a great model because I've got some of those to work on my self. (If I can quit buying all the Tangents, Scaletrains and Moloco out there.) You are an inspiration.

[jako]

Aug 13, 2023 10:49:08 GMT -8 TBird1958 said:

Some pictures for a hot day...........

Perfect weathering. Thanks for showing.

Greeting Sven

[stevef45]

Tried again to do some modeling since my injury. Back injuries suck.

Building NS SD70ACC 1839. I had this athearn genesis sd70m/75 or whatever it was for a few year that someone tried to make into a B unit version. Finally decided to do something with it. Didn't really go nuts adding details to it. Just did PTC antenna to roof, e-bell, pilot details and ditch lights. New truck sideframes are going on it, not keeping the silver. I forgot to spray the white brow and was worried it wouldn't look good going over black. But man, tru-color paints are amazing. Sprayed white directly over the black and no issues.
20230813_143746 by Tripps Pics79, on Flickr
20230813_143740 by Tripps Pics79, on Flickr
Tinting the windows
20230813_150129 by Tripps Pics79, on Flickr
20230813_150134 by Tripps Pics79, on Flickr

And lastly, i had asked this question over a year ago on a nysw modelers group, whether i should add "susquehanna" to the nose like they had on the old dash 8's. Everyone said no, so i left it off when i painted mine. Well once NYSW actually painted their 4 units into black and yellow, they did in face add "susquehanna" to the nose and it looks great. So i added it to my models.
2023-08-15_08-09-56 by Tripps Pics79, on Flickr

[690]

I'm a little late for Sunday, but a while ago I got a really good deal on a Ferromex patched NdeM Athearn SD40-2, and decided to use it to model CP 5427 as it appeared in 1994. The real one was built for the Missouri Pacific without dynamic brakes, but over the course of its career it had them added while being leased by CP in the early 90s, then CP bought it a little while after that. As such, the Ferromex model was a pretty good stand in, as it had most of the correct features with the early chicken wire radiator grills, and extended range dynamic brakes. A quick bath in some 91% isoprophyl alcohol got rid of most of the paint, then I got to work detailing.



As built this group of SD40-2s had eight jacking pads, so I shaved off the four molded ones (which were the wrong style anyway), and replaced them with Cannon parts. While I was fiddling with the sill details, I also reshaped the brake chain guide to more accurately represent the real thing. I then threw out the crude Athearn EFCAB box, which will eventually be replaced with another Cannon part. I sanded down the class lights on the nose, and long hood, as well as the rear numberboards (CP removed them when they repainted it). I also shaved off the clunky rear headlight and replaced it with a piece from a Cannon long hood end. The cab had the headlight replaced with a Pyle headlight that the Canadian roads favor, a grab iron added above and below the conductor side numberboard, new doors added, and new antennas. On the long hood, I added Plano lift rings, a Cal-Scale K3L (close enough to the prototypes K3H), and bent an air line for the relocated horn, although I haven't secured that yet. Today I added the Cannon tread kit, although I haven't been able to find my razor saw to cut out the steps and replace those yet, and I plugged the massive holes in the pilot usd for the ditch lights that the model came with. 

[cemr5396]

Aug 15, 2023 20:54:29 GMT -8 690 said:

I'm a little late for Sunday, but a while ago I got a really good deal on a Ferromex patched NdeM Athearn SD40-2, and decided to use it to model CP 5427 as it appeared in 1994. The real one was built for the Missouri Pacific without dynamic brakes, but over the course of its career it had them added while being leased by CP in the early 90s, then CP bought it a little while after that. As such, the Ferromex model was a pretty good stand in, as it had most of the correct features with the early chicken wire radiator grills, and extended range dynamic brakes. A quick bath in some 91% isoprophyl alcohol got rid of most of the paint, then I got to work detailing.



As built this group of SD40-2s had eight jacking pads, so I shaved off the four molded ones (which were the wrong style anyway), and replaced them with Cannon parts. While I was fiddling with the sill details, I also reshaped the brake chain guide to more accurately represent the real thing. I then threw out the crude Athearn EFCAB box, which will eventually be replaced with another Cannon part. I sanded down the class lights on the nose, and long hood, as well as the rear numberboards (CP removed them when they repainted it). I also shaved off the clunky rear headlight and replaced it with a piece from a Cannon long hood end. The cab had the headlight replaced with a Pyle headlight that the Canadian roads favor, a grab iron added above and below the conductor side numberboard, new doors added, and new antennas. On the long hood, I added Plano lift rings, a Cal-Scale K3L (close enough to the prototypes K3H), and bent an air line for the relocated horn, although I haven't secured that yet. Today I added the Cannon tread kit, although I haven't been able to find my razor saw to cut out the steps and replace those yet, and I plugged the massive holes in the pilot usd for the ditch lights that the model came with. 

don't worry about that horn being 'wrong', it's not. K3Hs were rarely, if ever, used by CP. They used K3Ls almost exclusively. The K3H was typically an 'all bells forward' horn and was far more likely to be found on a CN unit than a CP one.

Don't forget about the single rear headlight!

[690]

I had found a picture on ebay where it did have a K3H for a brief period, but it's functionally pretty much the same thing as a K3L anyway, so it's basically a non-issue for me. I do have the single headlight on hand, I just haven't gotten around to adding it yet. That picture does remind me that I need to get a replacement rear sand filler hatch for it. The end of the longhood really is one of the weakpoints for the Athearn model.

[cera2254]

Anyone have a rationale for using a single rear light vs 2? I’m assuming that these units don’t run in reverse much.

[cemr5396]

Aug 16, 2023 5:36:41 GMT -8 cera2254 said:

Anyone have a rationale for using a single rear light vs 2? I’m assuming that these units don’t run in reverse much.

If I had to guess, knowing how...errr......thifty... the CPR was, the stole the rear headlight housings on most of the secondhand SD40-2s was probably so they could have them on hand in case they needed them for something else. They were replaced with a single light because that was the de facto standard on CP at the time, and was something they would have had on hand.

And no, they did not intend on any of their road power to be running in reverse basically ever. 

Which is part of the reason that until recently, no CP unit classified as 'DRF' (Diesel Road Freight) as opposed to 'DRS' (Diesel Road Switcher) had double lights on the rear.

[690]

No, it wouldn’t have been very common for them to being running long hood forward. The single rear headlight was just CP changing out stuff on their secondhand SD40-2s so that they matched the specs of their as built SD40 fleet as they repainted the engines. The repainted former NS engines had their headlights replaced with single headlights as they were trail only, the repainted former KCS engines had the rear headlights changed out, and a couple of them had the front headlight moved down to the nose, the bell moved between the numberboards, and the 5415 even had the plow replaced with a CP style one, and had the front handrails changed out to match a CP spec SD40-2. The two repainted SD40-2s of the ex-GATX group, 5423 and 5427 weren’t modified as extensively as the KCS units, but they did get the single rear headlight, and had the front headlight changed to a Pyle style headlight.

[kentuckysouthernrwy]

"had the front headlight changed to a Pyle style headlight."

They probably had Pyles of them in the store room...