Ok, I finally got the detail bits from BLMA that I needed and figured it was time to post up another update. I have a few more details to finish and need to get the number boards finished, but otherwise this is getting close. I used 15" drop grabs on the rear and front and sides. I also pilfered the new E-unit detail kit that BLMA came out with for a few other pieces as well. This was my first time using the small detail stuff and overall it went pretty smoothly. Once you get used to working with stuff that small (and more importantly go easy on the micro drill bits as they are easy to break), it isn't too bad. Now I need to finish my BN E9 units I was working on and then onto a really obscure Austrailian GE unit paint project.
SUPERB!!! Looks much better than the versions I saw on eBay. Must be time for Kato to announce new road names.... (come on, you know it happens anytime someone does a custom job!)
WOW!! Really beautiful! The details and weathering are perfect for a used but well mantained unit. This is a late response but earlier in the thread you had mentioned that the white sill stripe might be too light. I would suggest just finding the appropriate size white decal to do the job. It's much easier than masking and it will cover the blue better. That said, I don't think it's necessary on your unit because of the superb weathering job! Andrew
Great job Jamie! Nice work on the details too! Detailing is my favorite part of the build, next to airbrushing. The weathering looks good and is where it needs to be, in the right setting one would be hard pressed to tell if it is a model or not. Hey maybe we should tag team on the BN E-9. My wife has been bugging me for one for five years now. I have the colors, I just need the decals. I have great pics of it too as the Museum it resides at is just down the road.
WOW! That unit turned out just fantastic looking!! The details really add a lot to the apperance and the weathering looks very realistic. Excellent job.
Hey thanks for all the kinds words everyone. Once I get the number boards done and touch up the paint in a few places I'll drag a photo module outside and take a few in natural daylight as final images. Jim, I actually ordered a shell from Kato for the E9 unit with a single headlamp and open pilot, got it and discovered that "open pilot" is more common to the frieght version and not correct for the BN units. So... I painted it anyway as it was my first foray into painting my own shell (this Metra unit was my second and I'm really glad I stuck with it as I'm really getting hooked on this). I have two sets of decals and two sets of BLMA E/F unit detail kits so I'm all set. I just need to order a new shell to do it properly. I actually started a thread a long time ago ( http://www.trainboard.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi/ubb/get_topic/f/9/t/007562/p/1.html?) about filling in the port holes. It went so, so in the end as the paint really shows the imperfections. I'll keep messing with it on the next one. Oh, also I have some past experience in illustration and fired up Adobe Illustrator to recreate not only the BN logos for my own decals but the white stripe on the side scaled properly so I can print it on the laser printer and tape it over some masking tape and cut out a mask template that I can spray the white stripe with. I'll take photos next time I do this so people can see what I'm talking about. Anyone that wants the stripe file let me know. Yep you know that will probably happen now... they would *have* to paint the molded in grab rails though as they really make this model detail stand out. Steve, it really isn't obscure, just not particularly common to anyone here in the states. It is a BHP Iron Ore AC6000CW in their new corporate paint scheme (and the only AC6000 with this paint job in their fleet). They just got a bunch of beautiful SD70ACE units in this paint scheme as well, but I hope Kato produces that model for future projects. I just really think the paint job is cool and figured this would make a fun project. Since an AC6000 unit isn't available and my scratch building skills are nil I'm going to use a Kato AC4400CW with low number boards as a starting point. We'll see how detailed I get with things but obviously this one is more for the paint than accuracy in the model. I'm also doing this one instead of one of the UP heritage schemes in hope that Kato will produce those in the future. That said, I'm a sucker for Southern Pacific black widow paint schemes and they are easy so I may do one of those as well even though I don't model them. I'm also itching to do a BNSF swoosh logo. I can create the artwork easy enough but need to buy an ALPS printer to make my own decals (or find someone that will do it for me as I need BHP Iron Ore decals as well). Anyway, too many ideas and never enough time. I was up till 1am last night work on the BHP unit. -jamie
Microscale #60-1255 has the new BNSF Swoosh for the ES44's. I'm using them for the new SD40-2's that are coming out soon from Kato Yes BNSF has repainted a SD40-2 in the new scheme
Microscale #60-1255? Is this out? It isn't listed on their website (that I could find)... <edit> Nevermind, went to my LHS at lunch and they had it in stock. [ April 04, 2006, 04:35 PM: Message edited by: lashedup ]
Strange, I looked on the Microscale site and could not find them, but Walthers is carrying them. I now they exist because I bought some when they were introduced at the National Train Show last July
Hey Jim, you mean this decal set? Yeah I know, its an AC4400 and the colors aren't exactly right (green secondary color instead of black) but it still looks cool. On the BHP Iron Ore here is where I'm at: I have basic paint down and some BLMA detail stuff on it but I needed to order the correct cab parts and a GE loco data sheet from MicroScale. I'm pretty happy overall, but the grey on the bottom part has given me the biggest headache as it looks like a silver but lighter and not a metallic. I may respray it again and maybe the third time will be the charm. Plus I didn't notice the grey carries over on to the lower cab portion of the shell so I need to paint that. The BHP logo in orange was a major pain as I hand cut the mask and making circles is no fun. I spoke to a buddy of mine that has a vinyl cutting business and he can order low-tack sheets that if I provide him line art he can run through his cutting machine and get perfect matches with so I don't have to hand cut them. I also just picked up an ALPS MD-5000 printer on ebay so I *should* be able to make any decals that I need/can't find anywhere else - nice bonus. Anyway that's where I'm at with this project, I was only up till 3am last night farting around with this stuff. I'm going to bed early tonight. I'll start a separate topic for the BHP unit when I make my next progress report. Oh, yeah I also got the number decals onto the stock Kato number board pieces for the Metra F40PH so I should be able to put that one to bed finally. -jamie
Jamie The BHP looks outstanding. Just a little tip when printing the white letters on an Alps. Use overlay and print the white color twice on top of each other or you will end up with a white that lets the dark background color shine through.
WOW, what a paint job! Hard to mask?? How do you plan to recreate the oddball truck sideframes? Yep, in Cheyenne last fall, with paint so fresh you could smell it half a football field away:
Hi everyone - way down here in NZ (New Zealand) I have been waiting in anticipation for good renditions of the Metra locomotives. After having come back into Model Railroading only recently - coupled up to group of American prototype modelers who do a wide range of railroads but not much passenger. I saw a video and some stuff on the internet and Chicago caught especially the Metra scene. I like passenger stuff so much I actually live in an old railroad station with 2 new bus stop style platforms presently in use either end of it - very interesting it is... Anyway enough of here - am really interested how this project goes as hoping to get past the research and statr the actual modeling - first project is to replicate the Joliet station on a 4' x 2' ntrak module I have.... Dude awesome model buddy and the bhp is getting a little closer to home - well done on that baby too!!! Anyway looking forward to the updates from Chicago racetrack... [ April 06, 2006, 07:11 AM: Message edited by: NZ_Metra_Nut ]
Nice work Did you try the mixes I suggested, because the colors look spot on. I told you this painting thing is addictive! Yes those are the decals and that photo Hemi added is the same unit my wife wants painted. Question for Hemi, was that unit black or green? I posted on the BNSF forum that some manufactures like Athern are painting up units with the new swoosh logo in green and orange. I have heard conflicicting reports on the paint. Some have told me that just the logo changed and that the ES44's were the only ones painted in black I guess next Fridays railfan trip will answer my burning questions
