I’ve been busy detailling and weathering a couple more locomotives for Sweethome Alabama’ diesel roster.
First up is an SD35 in Seaboard Coast Line black/yellow, patched into CSXT and dates up to about 1992. Although I have no evidence these ran in labama at that time, and those that were running were on yard duty after re-gearing, I liked the loco and the livery enough to get one for the layout
As bought, the Atlas loco was in original SCL livery with vertical ‘Atlantic Coast Line’ lettering. I distressed the yellow stripes, replaced the 'Seaboard Coast Line with the later lettering, detailled it further and added Tsunami sound.
Here are some photos of the almost complete loco.
Next up is a high hood Atlas B23-7 in Southern paint
The second loco is an Atlas B23-7 in Southern livery with High short hood and factory fitted sound.
Although very nicely done, the SOU paint does not fit the timescale of the layout so I decided to repaint it into Norfolk Southern livery. Modelling Alabama, the natural choice for a B23-7 was the one leased to the Pine Belt Southern which operated in the Opelika region of AL.
The main detailling was on the pilots, although a new horn will be fitted at some stage. Here are the photos.
Next up on the workbench are a CSX GP30 with a yellow end and a NS MP15
I use acrylic washes for most of my weathring - a grey (with a touch of earth brown) is a good one for black locos. Underframes and wheels are painted with an acrylic black/brown/terracotta mix. BTW, I usually dullcoat the loco before I start with the weathering washes
I use ‘MIG’ and ‘Carr’s’ weathering powders, both available in the UK to weather grilles, frames, fuel tanks and pilots/ploughs - the different shades of rust are especially good. The powdered pastels can be applied either wet (with a brush), dry with a brush, or with a greasy thumb, which produces interesting effects - wet weathering powder dries back to a powder and can be rubbed off again to create more interesting effects.
I also make my own weathering powders by rubbing pastel chalk sticks - Reeves, Daler-Rowney, etc - on medium-coarse -grit sandpaper and applying the resultant powder with a brush
I managed to practically complete another diesel over the weekend, this time a P2K CSX GP30.
It started out as a standard GP30 in the third CSX paint scheme but I wanted to add some yellow ends, to represent the 4th and a half scheme - where CSX just added one or two yellow ends (and sometimes other bits) to locomotives painted in the previous CSX and predecessor schemes.
Here’s the original loco from Proto 2000
I masked off the loco, leaving the ends bare, sprayed them yellow, added some details and a Quantum Revolution sound decoder with GP30 engine sounds. Here’s the result. I also managed to pick up an Overland M920 CSX caboose today at the local swapmeet to complement the loco. (it actually cost more than sone of the sound-fitte locos on sale at the meet, but it is just what I’ve been looking for)
Thanks Jon. Do you have a special way of masking off windows on the locomotives before using the dullcote? Do you use a soft brush and apply the grey with a touch of earth brown to the entire body?
Thanks for your help. One day I’m going to work up the nerve to do one of my black Norfolk Southern diesels…
