Hello!
I’m embarking on my first Super Detailing project, of an Atlas NJT U34CH. I’m trying to scrounge up as much information as possible, so that i can create a better model to the best of my abilities. So far i’m almose done filing down a nose marker, and i need to install just a few more things like antennas and mu hose plugs.
However, You can never be to thorough. I want to see what kind of detail kits apply to my model that i can put on there.
thanks for your help
Chris
Here are some photos:
http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/njdot/njt4151arc.jpg
http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/njdot/njdot4152ags.jpg
http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/njdot/njdot4156ajs.jpg
http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/njdot/njt4165apt.jpg
http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/njdot/njdot4178.jpg
You didn’t ask, but since these were originally owned by the Erie Lackawanna, here’s a page with some info about the units before NJT got them: http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/el/loco/u33c.html. The U34CH photos and info is near the bottom of the page.
Enjoy!
With all due respects, NJDOT owned the U34CH’s, although they were listed on EL’s roster and were lettered for both, EL herald on the nose and NJDOT herald on the long hood. NJ Transit was formed in the late 1970’s to serve as NJDOT’s operating arm after the formation of Conrail.
No problem. Thanks for the clarification. I’m not an NJT or EL guy [:)]
There was a very good article in Railroad Model Craftsman a while back (a long while back…) regarding detailing the Atlas model. If you can find it, you’re good to go.
Man I’ve forgotten this forum (somehow). Anyways, i figure even though no on remembers this thread, i’d post my U34CH.
I found that article just this summer, but i’d already built my locomotive, and i’m happier with my wing at it.
I’ve actually gotten several more U34s and so i’ll be finishing those soon. Its been finished more or less for a while. I bought the Detail Associates Atlas U33C detail kit. I also went out and hunted down other odd-ball details, and used copper wire to make the lines coming from the truck axles.
The nose light is actually a Sunrise Enterprises (now defunct i think) GE Northern Pacific Gyra light casting. I used a flat file and flush cutters to honed it down into the flat square nose shape needed to match the protopy. Its not perfect, but i think its better than what i’ve seen others use. I drilled out the center and made lense from Micro crystal clear. I also cut away the weights to make room for the red light, and for a speaker mounted in the cab (I have installed a loksound decoder in this unit). The weight loss does not seem to affect the model to much. On my club layout’s 4% grade, a fully weight U34CH only makes it slightly farther with a 8 car train than my modified one before stalling. Both are limited to about 7 cars (i run about 6 just for the garuntee).
So far the pilot is the hardest part. I’ve yet to figure a good way to make the couple lift bars, and some other pilot details, but i’ve got a couple ideas i might try in the future.
Here is the most recent picture of the one i was asking about. Yes, i need to touch up the handrail paint.