Just finished my second to last locomotive project. Still have a KCS SD40 awaiting some pilot work before painting (can't wait to weather this one) I decided to add some NS to the pool fleet. I was going to kitbash a C39-8 but it would have been too much work with my short timeline (maybee a future project). I liked the looks of the big SD45 flares running long hood forward with the nose bell. This particular model started as a SP SD45. I added a new nose from a SD35 long hood (required more filling and sanding than I would have liked but I could not find a high short hood) Added 3 fire cracker antennas, custom styrene sun shades, an Atlas 5 chime horn and BLMA mu hoses (great product). Painted black (no masking), decaled and lightly weathered. This will now show up from time to time in BN train 120/121.
It's easy to please me with a model like this - I always liked SD45s and high noses - but what stands out to me is the realistic kicked-up dirt. Well done!
Gee Tony you are knocking out these Projects faster than anybody but then I guess your time is limited, how long will your tour of duty be? 6 months?
Hey Major, Thanks for your service & be careful.My prayers always include All service people that are kepping us safe.:thumbs_up:
I second Mike. Thank you for what you are doing for the Iraq people, and be careful. My prayers are with you!
Tony, For future reference for Southern/ NS short high hoods: http://www.mark4design.com/index.html I am in the middle of about a dozen of these conversions with the SD40's, 45's and the GP50. Couldn't be easier to install- now if I could find the time to get all the grabs installed and get them all painted.... Here's the GP50's I'm working on: Richard
Richard Looks great. The only reason I did not go with Mark4design high short hoods is because of the seperate grabs. None of my fleet has them and I didn't want 2 or 3 locomotives running around with them. Plus they are a little more time consuming.
The BLMA drop grabs are easy to install... especially on a M4D product, as the holes are already there and only require reaming out. Use a piece of .020 styrene as a backer and you're good as gold.
Yep, I agree they are pretty easy. However, then I would feel compelled to do seperate grabs on the 70 plus locomotives I have.
