Btw, speaking of diesels - I have a handful of smallish diesel switchers - a GE 44-ton, a GE 70-ton (both Bachmann models repainted to to Omaha Road colors), an Alco S1 and a EMD NW2, plus four more 4-axle road switchers (a EMD GP7, a couple of Alco RS3s and an FM H16-44).
I am thinking about finding an even smaller switcher in H0 normal gauge - something like a small Boxcab or some such thing. I run DCC normally, so it would be nice if it had a decoder or was reasonably easy to convert to DCC for a guy who can solder drop cables, but is not super great at soldering under cramped conditions. Any recommendations?
Currently out of production, but the Athearn EMD Model 40 has a DCC plug. Be aware that the very first run of these apparently had a wiring problem that could destroy a decoder. Later runs were fine.
Great Thread & Nice Modelling!!!
Hope not to bring it down too much.
I often get asked what I did to a model so I used this Athearn RTR as an example & left it’s detail parts in the white. This is not a conversion or anything major, just minted it out.
I enjoy adding scale details & custom painting locos, & am mostly in the modern Diesel era, but, I dabble in everything.
My most recent project was a pair of Burlington VO-1000 switchers. I put all the right detail parts on them, including the four tall exhaust stacks. All they need are those weird circular radio antennae and the modern Burlington logos on the sides of the hoods.
Sometimes in modelling I’m not sure if I am progressing or digressing, in skill.
I think it all happens to be the amount of effort I place in a model, I still believe that my excitement for the project shows, along with the effort I give it.
I put a model in the WPF, a freelance GP18 conversion.
My effort was genuine, but my paintmask results of the black, took the wind out of it’s sails.
Other problems, like drooping yellow stripe on the nose, makes it look nose high…
Perhaps it can be fixed…
There is also the condrundrum of where the model was at the stage it impressed me most!
Here is an example of that, a not so well detailed, but very kit bashed ficticious BC Rail -8
I like seeing it this way, & have not progressed.
Anyway, don’t let that stop YOU, keep going & move forward, the next one is always going to be better, I think mine are getting better, when I make the efforts!
Perhaps more of a DCC conversion than actual modeling, I added a rear headlight to a Walthers SW1 switcher cab:
The LED is press-fit into the light tube. If/when it does burn out, a gentle tug will remove the LED. The entire step-by-step DCC-conversion for the above SW1 can be found here.
I plan to finish the detailing and paint/decal the SD40-2s (I have 7 to do) once I get the paint shop up and running....they will be painted to look like the GP30s
The SD40-2`s were purchased over a year ago brand new from a rerun that Athearn did in 2011.
The Birdsboro & Reading is based on the Wilmington & Northern branch of the Reading Co. and also a few other branches of the Reading and Pennsylvania RR`s.
Some pics of an Atlas RS-1 for my work train I detailed and painted a few years ago…also in the process of installing a Sound-Trax Tsunami Alco 539 decoder and SMD LED`s.
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