I am busy planning a micro layout at the moment and intend to run some modern rolling stock on it, to make use of some of the stuff I have collected over the years.
Set in Alabama during the 1990s (Sweethome Alabama) I will be making use of the NS, CSX and BN locos I have lying around. It will also give me the opportunity to try out a couple of diesel Tsunami decoders.
First up is a P2K GP38-2 for Norfolk Southern. The RTR model represents an ex-Conrail loco, repainted into NS…not for long
Typically, none of the ex-Southern locos had the short DB blister, so I had to scavenge parts from a Blue Box GP50
The high short hood is a Cannon kit, with alterations. I have also added brass sunshades and several Details West parts.
The long hood has had a bell and non-standard snow plough fitted. I’m still wondering why the same loco would be fitted with a snow plough AND an air-conditioning unit!
Most SP engines had plows and AC. Plows also work good for clearing other debris off the track: rocks, etc. AC helps the crew keep the windows closed, keeping the crew safer from flying debris.
Just on a side-note, to regularly see BN, CSX, and NS, you’d want to probably set the area of Alabama as Mobile, AL. BN (technically BNSF) runs into Alabama near Mobile, and CSX has its M&M Subdivision running from Montgomery down, and NS also has a line, I just can’t remember the name of it at the moment.
Sweet work so far, I love the High Hood Geeps from NS, there’s sometimes a high hood GP38-2 downtown here in Aiken, although there’s also the possibility to catch a low hood GP40-2, and I’ve seen a High Hood GP50 once.
Well, they wouldn’t be needed at the same time, but seasons do change… Since the same engine will be used under both conditions, at various points in the year, you need the snowplow in the winter, and the A/C makes things more comfortable for the crew in the summer heat.
Finding the space for the speaker in a diesel is often more difficult than fitting the DCC sound decoder, and this time was no exception. I had to cut away much of the loco’s internal weight, replacing with sheet lead where possible.
Once I was happy that the electrics worked, I painted the new parts on the loco and added the decals from Microscale. Ince set, the final grab irons were added and the whole lot dull-coated.
I have decided against adding the lighting to sides of the hoods for the moment. I tried fitting some of the Cannon plastic lighting parts, but they are so fiddly to fit and prone to breaking off, that they are now ‘lost’ in the carpet under the workbench. I might add them if I can locate the side light parts in brass
The paintwork and weathering are now complete. I ended up removing the A/C unit, as 5126 didn’t seem to have one (what was I thinking of).
I have the decoder up and running but I’m wondering if the sound is actually for a 645 turbo engine. I’m going to have to search You Tube for the correct sound.
Here’s the photos, taken on Sweethome Chicago, as I haven’t started building Sweethome Alabama yet
I still have a couple of hoses to add before shooting some video, assuming the engine sound is correct.
Beautiful work. Up here in Northern NJ we don’t see any NS high hoods. I have a P2K GP38-2 in Conrail paint that I’m in the process of patching and weathering. I have no where near the abilities of yourself so I’m sticking with some dullcoat, paint, and powder.
Try locating a few photos of your loco on Fallen Flags, print them off and study them for any extra details or weathering that you can add. That’s how I did mine.
After some success with adding ditch lights to a CSX MP15AC, I decided to upgrade the NS GP38-2, when the Tsunami decoder arrived this week.
Before fitting and wiring the ditch lights into the shell, I decided to test them first. It proved to be a wise move as 2 of the bulbs did not work. Here is the test subject with the lights held in place by a blob of Blu-Tac
When the Ditch lights had been added, I finished off the loco with an MU cable at each end.
Final job is to edit together some video footage and the project’s finished.
I liked the video because it was well thought out, depicted real life events, and you did not over play the horn. Too many model train videos over do the horn - many of which do not sound that good to begin with.
