Monon BL2 - parts required

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

I’ve been detailling a P2K BL2 in Monon livery.

I’ve removed most of the grab irons and added a few bits but still need a single round headlight and a large battery box. Can anyone suggest suitable kit parts?

Here are some photos to be going on with.

Jon

2

NICE! I’ve never seen one of those before.

3

It was created as an F3 variant, giving greater visibility to the crew, and paved the way for the successful GP series

Here’s a short video clip to accompany the photos

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIwSpPcOmCQ

Jon

4

For your headlight , I would definately go to Details West and look at their headlight assortment. Something there almost has to fit your need. I’m not familiar with the battery box you would need, where does it go ? I have an old AHM BL-2 somewhere but the battery box evades me.

http://www.detailswest.com/

You can actually download their entire catalog if you wish , with pictures or just text.

5

Thanks for the link

Here’s a photo of #36 in the mid 60s, showing the box on the side - I assume it’s a battery box rather than a toolbox

http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/monon/mon36ads.jpg

Jon

6

Ah see what you mean, yep sure looks like a battery box. Seems like that wouldn’t be to hard to bash together say from some A line truck tool boxes or maybe a small line side shanty kit. Sure can’t think of a source for that one. But just from looking at your model , you have the version with the side skirting and the proto picture does’nt have the skirt. I would bet the side skirt had the door on it to access the batteries. Were you going to remove the side skirt?

7

I have a Monon BL2 on the workbench right now receiving some electrical and detailing modifications. For the headlight, track down a couple packs of the Custom Finishing #210 Pyle National single-lens headlight castings. For lenses, I believe that MV Lens #L159 fits (you’ll need two packs of these, too).

With all the other work you’re doing, you might want to consider replacing the numbers- Life-Like used an odd extended typeface that doesn’t really match the lettering on the real Monon BL2s. Model Railroad Supply (see http://www.greatdecals.com/Switzer.htm) set #100 has the right style of numbers for this.