I was just wondering if anyone has ever attempted to kitbash one of these. Since my BN roster is pretty much complete (minus a pair of GP50s) I have been collecting pool power. Pool power gives me an excuse to model something different from BN. I try to add unique units to my roster, or units that BN did not run (ie CNW SD50). I have pretty much a unit from every major class I except ICG, SP ad CSX. I am planning on doing a ICG SD20 and was thinking of doing a CSX BQ23-7. Even though the BQ23-7 never made it into CSXs paint scheme they still had CSX reporting marks and cab numbers by the mid-eighties. It looks like a pretty straight forward conversion. I would just need to make a styrene cab and then add the number boards and headlights from the B23-7 cab to the front. I also have some correct trucks in the parts bin. Now what to do for SP?
A few BQ23-7s did make it into multiple CSX schemes... add more if you count the ones converted to B-units.
When were these units re-painted. I model 86-88. If there were painted during this time period it gives me some options.
And to add to what Robb said, they did get around as pool power; a friend photographed one in the early 90s at SP's Dolores Yard in Long Beach, CA. Almost as weird as the CSX GP40-2/RDMT set he also photographed down there on another occasion.:tb-shocked:
That's good they made it around in pool service. They will also make it around on the BN Boise Sub-Division. This may also be a good canidate for casting the cab unit as it looks like a straight forward build job.
Tony, If memory serves, the paint scheme on the 3008 would have been pre 1989. The all gray scheme like on the 3009 started to be applied in 1989. Have not seen one of these in N scale and I'm sure it would be cool pool power.
Tony, For SP there is really only one candidate. The ubiquitous SD45T-2, and in the time frame your doing '86-'88 it could be in the SPSF "Kodachrome" scheme.
Here is a hack job I did a few years ago ... I used a B23-7, and then built the cab out of styrene using plans from MR .. pretty crude if you look close. If I ever did it again, I would try to etch it out of brass.
There is finally a cab available on Shapeways ... http://www.shapeways.com/model/1087732/bq23-7-cab.html?li=productBox-search to do a decent model of this in N ..
I've got some photos I need to scan from the 1990's of one of these tied up in Brookesville, FL. Never figured out what they were doing there.
I did this one back when they first hit the rails..The cab is made from the sides of old Mehano FA1's,LOL!!! It has a newer Bachmann drive from when I first built it,still hanging in there..I'd love to have an ABBA set of them in CSX..
Just Placed a order for 1 one unit. Going to build one for a Christmas present. Will start a post when I start
Updated version 2 now available with the small triangular side window added: http://www.shapeways.com/model/1195040/bq23-7-cab-v2.html?li=productBox-search Also an option with plated over windows for B-unit service: http://www.shapeways.com/model/1195095/bq23-7-b.html?li=productBox-search Mike C
Here's mine in Greay paint in the shadows drying outside. With decals and fade washes it should look really nice.
