Modelling CP Rail in the east 1994-95: CP M636 by Bowser

[sd80mac]

I was very young, but I remember the mid-90s CP rainbow era, as they ran a large number of trains over the CSX in Michigan between Detroit and Chicago. C424s, big Ms, SD40-2s, red barns, brand new AC4400s, GP9us, SD40s, SD40-2s, a myriad of leasers, plus the SOO Geeps, SD40s, SD40-2s and SD60s made for some very colorful consists.

[bnsf971]

Aug 16, 2020 17:39:20 GMT -8 thebessemerkid said:

I always wondered why the wheelbase on the Dofasco trucks seemed so short. I would have thought stretching wheelbase would be easier on track.

Shorter wheelbase doesn’t bind so much on curves, and is easier on the inside of the rails on curves.

[sd40dash2]

All 4 sideframes were spray painted flat black to get rid of that shiny black plastic factory look. I think this made a big difference.

[sd40dash2]

Sideframes detailed, painted, dry and ready for re-installation.

[sd40dash2]

Hand painted the shiny wheel faces while the sideframes were off.

[sd40dash2]

Entire shell was dull coated as well, since the cab had been done. I also weathered the intake grilles at this point. Hard to convey in these photos but these steps made a huge improvement to the look of the body.

[sd40dash2]

Sideframes re-installed, concluding chassis work for now.

[GP40P-2]

I am actually enjoying the "modeling with Krylon" aspect of this thread. Shows that firing up the compressor, mixing paint, setting the air pressure for weather conditions and paint type, cleaning the airbrush, and all of the other airbrush related nonsense isn't always necessary.

[sd40dash2]

Aug 19, 2020 14:45:05 GMT -8 GP40P-2 said:

I am actually enjoying the "modeling with Krylon" aspect of this thread. Shows that firing up the compressor, mixing paint, setting the air pressure for weather conditions and paint type, cleaning the airbrush, and all of the other airbrush related nonsense isn't always necessary.

Thanks for the reply and for enjoying my thread. I fully agree with what you said about Krylon spray cans. Most stores have a very impressive selection of colours on their shelves though they are not correct for railway colours. It took me no more than five minutes total to spray the matte finish and black shown in the above photos. If I had to use the airbrush as you describe I would have been fiddling for a large chunk of the day to achieve the same end result. I know there will always be a clear and obvious application for airbrushing body shells -- hand painting those things is never a good idea. Just glad to see someone agrees that there are indeed many other small paint tasks in our hobby that be addressed way faster and easier with Krylon spray paint.

[packer]

Can you mention more about the comet trick? I’m planning on redoing the numbers on the long hood of my C636.

I too use krylon, but being in Florida, I have to watch humidity. The last cars I shot with clear gloss after renumbering actually faded a bit.

[sd40dash2]

^ To easily remove most printed on lettering elements such as numbers, just sprinkle a bit of comet on your kitchen counter, then add a few drops a water. With a toothpick, make a paste and then apply to the offending lettering element. Carefully rub off in a circular motion, ensuring you don't remove underlying paint. It will take a few minutes but if you're ever worried just wipe off the paste from the shell and observe. If you need more grit, add a few sprinkles of comet to the paste, same with water. Once done, it's easy to wipe down the kitchen counter and carry on. Apply the new decal in the usual way, set it, let it dry, spray with dull finish and it should be very difficult to see that anything was changed. Here is my result under the glaring, unforgiving high-res digital lens.

[csxt8400]

I did some Krylon on that Seaboard hopper a few times. Glossed for the patch decals, no problem. Then matte, one side no problem. Other side, a bit overzealous and it melted the decals. So now I'm a bit gun shy with spray cans..

[sd40dash2]

MODEL FINISHED: Here are the latest images courtesy the very unforgiving and revealing high-res digital camera lens. The engine shell and cab were weathered separately, then reassembled onto chassis for weathering blend with trucks, tanks and other connection points. This was a typical match-up from 1994-95. More final results photos to follow over the next couple of days.

[sd40dash2]

MODEL FINISHED: VIA 6453 was leased to CP Rail at the time 4721 looked like this. These two probably even ran together at some point.

[sd40dash2]

MODEL FINISHED: Top left side view of CP 4721 with super-kitbashed VIA F40PH-2 in background.

[sd40dash2]

MODEL FINISHED: Nice prototypical match-up. Notice the removed wind deflectors and windshield wipers. This may have been the only time I *removed* such details from a model -- usually I'm adding them. As for leased VIA 6453, that is a pre-Rapido kitbash from a Kato unit. Thankfully this is no longer necessary and we have much better Canadian models of these two prototypes (and many others) available to us in RTR plastic these days. This was not possible in 2012 when 6453 was built and there were certainly no plastic RTR or kit CP Big Alcos available at the time either. Lastly, the camera revealed the PTC lines were not quite up to par; those have now been fixed and look better.

[riogrande]

Impressive. Very nice!

[kentuckysouthernrwy]

Aug 18, 2020 8:41:50 GMT -8 sd80mac said:

I was very young, but I remember the mid-90s CP rainbow era, as they ran a large number of trains over the CSX in Michigan between Detroit and Chicago. C424s, big Ms, SD40-2s, red barns, brand new AC4400s, GP9us, SD40s, SD40-2s, a myriad of leasers, plus the SOO Geeps, SD40s, SD40-2s and SD60s made for some very colorful consists.

Those were some great times, one could stand along the CSX in places W of Lansing and see the headlights of a line up of East bound CP trains running a couple miles apart heading to meet a similar lineup waiting at Grand Ledge to run West. Next to no traffic of any kind shines the rails thru the area these days. The CP traffic totally gone for years now.

Regarding the term “Bomb Trains” I’ve heard it used in days past by Lansing area railfans referring to tank trains of all kinds on the GTW/CN, often long cuts of propane or DOWX, Dow Chemical, cars. Not heard it used in 20+ years.

Terrific looking models you’ve made here, thanks for sharing your excellent craftsmanship with us and describing it so well. Great comments all who added information to the thread.

[sd40dash2]

MODEL FINISHED: Back end view of CP 4721 beside leased VIA 6453. I realize these leased VIA units were sometimes seen with uncharacteristic heavy weathering during this time period, even if they were only 5 years old. I would say there are also lots of photos of fairly clean VIA units in CP service, so heavy weathering isn't a given for these. For this duo, I think it looks better for most of the weathering to be on the end-of-life big alco.

[sd40dash2]

MODEL FINISHED: Final photo of the thread except to answer any questions. Thanks to all who supported me and participated in this thread!