Hi all,
I am currently starting to build a model of the Montreal Maine and Atlantic’s #8569, an ex LMX GE B39-8E (Dash 8) and I want to detail it as closely as possible. I noticed that Details West has a few full detail sets for GE Dash 9 -44CWs and it would make my life a lot easier if those details were compatible with my dash 8. I would take what I could use (hopefully everything) and then supplement the rest with other parts. Is this a viable option? Or would I be trying to put apple details on an orange?
It really depends on the detail part and what your RR had as practices. For example, NS doesn’t buy AC locos as a practice while other roads do. Many times, antennae and A/C units(Y/N) are selected by the RR for example. Many things can be the same between -9 and -8. My suggestion is to work with as many good high res photos as you can of the exact loco you are modeling. Also, you can modify the parts from Details West many times to improve accuracy and save time. There are other sources for detail parts and so you may want to do a search using the Walthers site.
Richard
Good Morning,
The ‘Dash 9’ line of GE locomotives had larger radiators and larger type C trucks for starters. IIRC, there were no real 4 axle freight locomotives in the ‘Dash 9’ line. You are going to have to work from detail photos like those at RR Picture Archive http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/ - there are also many other web sites with pictures as well. The LMX engines were ‘power by the hour’ units built for and leased to BN. They appear to be early ‘Dash 8’ engines, and most of the plastic models(Walthers & Atlas) available are of B40-8 engines, which are very similar.
Jim
I went ahead and checked out a pic of the unit. One recommendation, consider using fiberoptics with melted rounded ends for the marker lights. I couldn’t tell for sure, but the fuel tank looked on the smallish side? If you want a working beacon, the DW is considerably small to work with–might be able to use SMD LEDs–micro size? I have used Kapton tape on a small(and filed) led with only a portion coming through the roof, surrounded by a ring.
Richard