looks great Don, is the LED build in in the light unit? tell us more about the SD40-2 in the background Don.
Mikado tender light modification Frank, the tender light is a custom brass casting, prototypical to Southern and this engine. It is machined, drilled and gets a stainless steel tube inserted for the LED wires. The led gets glued into the casting and then I create the lens. It then gets painted and glued to the tender. I can send you close up pictures if you want. Credit goes to Miniatures by Eric for creating the casting. I am in the process of creating a few variations of the same for other roads that had headlights on their tenders. Don Fedjur thanks also to Don Avila for posting the pictures
Here is the story -- but for some reason I can't follow directions and upload any photos. When I was a little kid I was given, probably by Santa a windup train which happened to be in Santa Fe War Bonnet colors. I always liked the colors and have several Z engines DCC in Santa Fe colors. When the SD40 arrived on scene I wanted those in Santa Fe colors also -- not withstanding there is no prototype. You know it is MY model railroad. Rivet counters can exit my basement out though a 9 foot slider and head straight for the lake to take a jump. I bugged Joe D'Amato for quite some time. He would show up at a National Train Show or something similar and I would be there bugging him. After a while I enlisted Loren's services and my wife and Loren's wife and Joe and I would head out for the ol' Strawberry pie. The result is Joe painted three shells for me. I don't remember all the details as it is some 4 to 5 years ago. Loren had to handle part of the program as a dealer and obviously Joe couldn't get my stuff mixed up with others at the factory. Long process to get everything together and paint on the shells. Tell me what I am doing wrong with the upload photos and I'll upload them for all. In the meantime give me your email and I'll send them to you. Drop me a private message with your email. ...don
Yes, interresting. And funny to recall that on the other far end of the scale range, USA Trains or Aristocraft, I don't remember, once released a red Warbonnet SD40-2 for G scale... Dom
Hello Don, The tender light is spot on. Would a PRR tender light for a G5 4-6-0 be a possibility. These locos had both a light and cowcatcher on the tender to be used in frequent reverse moves. I'm adapting a Marklin tender which has plenty of room for wiring and lighting . I like your creativity. Paul Zedhed
