|
Post by tom on Oct 6, 2012 12:56:25 GMT -8
After a rainy morning the sun came out this afternoon so I took some photos of a locomotive that I recently completed. This time it was a Kato SD40 that I redetailed and then painted and lettered it for the Penn Central. I removed the molded on fans, exhaust hatch, and inertial hatch and replaced them with Cannon parts. The new fans especially are a big improvement. This SD40, unlike the Kato model, had the brakewheel installed at the end of the unit. The new brake housing is a Cannon part. Another photo of the back of the unit. Another big improvement was replacing the thick Kato handrails with more to scale 0.015" wire. I did this by removing the handrails from the stanchions, and then drilling a hole through the stanchions. This is tedious work but well worth it. I painted the detailed engine with a 50/50 mix of Modelflex Gloss Black and PollyScale Steam Power Black. I then lettered it with Microscale PC decals, PCRRHS correct style numbers, and my own maintenance assignment "HARRISBURG" decals. The above shot shows how I filled in the Kato brake wheel housing. I also added DA eyebolts, DA instrument box, DA MU boxes, and I also drilled out the class lights and installed DA clear lenses. I weathered the engine with an airbrush and highly thinned PollyScale RR Tie Brown and Sand. An SD40 is a very typical Penn Central locomotive so it looks great pulling my PC freights!
|
|
|
Post by roadkill on Oct 6, 2012 13:28:32 GMT -8
Brings back fond memories... very nice, Tom.
|
|
|
Post by fr8kar on Oct 6, 2012 13:41:03 GMT -8
Great work! What a realistic look you've achieved.
|
|
|
Post by rhpd42002 on Oct 6, 2012 16:55:10 GMT -8
Excellent work, Tom.
It looks well used, but not yet abused.
|
|
|
Post by buffalobill on Oct 6, 2012 18:32:12 GMT -8
Tom: A Super job, like the fans and the other Cannon Details. They make the model. I also like the work on the handrails. Very nice effect. A question I have: How durable are they this way? Bill
|
|
|
Post by antoniofp45 on Oct 6, 2012 18:43:56 GMT -8
That is an excellent job!
Tom, consider taking this locomotive outside and take some photos in natural lighting with some trees or grass in the distant background. Then post them.
|
|
|
Post by tom on Oct 7, 2012 4:11:33 GMT -8
Tom: A Super job, like the fans and the other Cannon Details. They make the model. I also like the work on the handrails. Very nice effect. A question I have: How durable are they this way? Bill They are very durable since the handrails are made from brass wire. I followed a technique that Jim Six presented in an article on modeling Conrail SD40s using the then new Kato SD40. I folllowed the article pretty closely but used Cannon parts on my model whiich was not available back then. To allow better paint adhesion I first scrub the handrails while still on the sprue by using a toothbrush and a powdered cleanser. I use Bon-Ami or Bar Keepers Friend. Scrubbing the slick engineered plastic this way lightly etches the plastic resulting in excellent paint adherence. Using this method just about eliminates any paint flaking.
|
|
|
Post by redp on Oct 7, 2012 7:07:27 GMT -8
looks great Tom. P
|
|
|
Post by atsfan on Oct 7, 2012 9:06:21 GMT -8
How did you take the pictures? With the white not visible ground and back drop?
Nice work.
|
|
|
Post by buffalobill on Oct 7, 2012 14:36:25 GMT -8
Tom: Like the way you did the handrails. First using the wire and then using a mildly abrasive cleanser on the posts to improve adhesion. I have some heavily reworked SD-40-2's with the Kato handrails. The paint flaking, and large diameter railing have always bothered me. I think I am going to follow the method you described with the .015 wire. Really improves the models look. Bill
|
|
|
Post by valenciajim on Oct 7, 2012 15:15:00 GMT -8
Excellent model and photos!
|
|
|
Post by atsfan on Oct 7, 2012 18:10:55 GMT -8
|
|
|
Post by riggelweg on Oct 7, 2012 18:43:00 GMT -8
|
|
|
Post by tom on Oct 8, 2012 14:21:03 GMT -8
Nope. I took some white foam board and made a floor with two sides. I then shot the model outside in the sun.
|
|
|
Post by buffalobill on Oct 8, 2012 17:57:25 GMT -8
Your photo platform really highlights the model. Neat way to get a relatively cheap photo display platform. Bill
|
|
|
Post by navarch1 on Oct 10, 2012 18:35:51 GMT -8
Very nicely done all around. The handrails really look far better the way you have redone them. Excellent.
Bob
|
|
|
Post by calzephyr on Oct 11, 2012 5:46:13 GMT -8
Tom Very nice project. The handrails certainly are a great improvement and the weathering is pleasing to the eye and not overdone. I like the coupler colors since they do represent rust. Thanks for posting your fine work on that unit. Larry
|
|
|
Post by gregw66 on Oct 15, 2012 12:07:32 GMT -8
Beautiful work.
|
|
|
Post by BEDT26 on Oct 16, 2012 5:45:05 GMT -8
Tom fantastic work as always! Please keep those PC pics models coming!
|
|
|
Post by Sr Vargas on Feb 6, 2013 6:15:29 GMT -8
That's really nice work there Tom!
|
|
nberpa
New Member
I just like running trains!
Posts: 49
|
Post by nberpa on May 8, 2013 13:26:23 GMT -8
That brake wheel on the rear reminds me of the ones on AWVR 1206 from the 2010 movie 'Unstoppable'. That photo backdrop is something else. I'll have to remember to use something like that the next time I take pics. One great looking model!
Cody
|
|
|
Post by csxt8400 on Jul 24, 2013 16:18:20 GMT -8
Love it! My favorite engine of all time, the straight 40. Beautifully done rendition of a still somewhat young road unit. KATO still makes the best SD40 hands down, unfortunately for many the fans and handrails present a problem. I am currently working on my own KATO re-do, although I won't be playing around with the aforementioned details.
Alec
|
|