Here's the same unit in another paint scheme (a variant of its original... this was originally SCL 506) Harold [ 06 January 2002: Message edited by: chessie ]
Here's the "class unit" in it's original paint scheme.... SCL 500 shown at the famous Seaboard Station in Raleigh, N.C. The train is on the old "main" (which is curved, along with the terminal's long, curved passenger platforms.) Harold [ 06 January 2002: Message edited by: chessie ]
Hey guys, Here's my contribution - I photographed this unit, CSX 2650, at Bayview Yard in Baltimore over the holidays - December 28th, to be exact. It was a cold, cold day, but the pictures came out ok - got one of some of the fuel tank details too for modeling purposes: Hope you enjoy them!
Nice pics, Harold and Dave. GP38-2's are another of one of my favorite EMD's, and I've always liked CSX and predecessor GP38-2's (after Espee's, naturally ). I like that underframe shot, Dave...underframe shots, like rooftop shots, are a big asset to a modeler. After all, we gotta know where to stick all those Cannon parts.
Thanks for the encouragement I had a problem with my scanner, as I just bought a new printer (also USB) and they did not like being run off the same hub for some reason, so I had to switch some cables around to solve the problem. Since we had that vicious snow (12 inches here! ) I did not get out to get any train pics, so decided it was a good time to raid the "archives". Harold
Dave, Thanks for the pictures.... I bet it was cold That's an interesting unit you photographed there.... definately not repainted recently Harold
Paul, You are right... good detail shots are a must for accurate modeling. I have a variety of shots that I took for "modeling reference", including noses, end, fuel tanks, trucks, etc. that are not interesting to the "general public" but sure are useful when you are trying to be prototypically correct! CSX had a block of units that had no dynamic brakes ( I think 4 units, numbered ~ #2556 ) that came from the Durham and Southern. I think they also had significantly smaller fuel tanks. These are very noticable differences, especially when you appreciate the details. Harold
I had just picked up a couple of the Cannon fuel tank detail sets so I went out specifically looking for fuel tank photos. I took some of each of the units sitting on that spur (a former Conrail SD40-2, a GP40-2/GP30 road slug set, an SD50, and the GP38-2. Surprisingly, CSX units don't seem to have a lot of details on their fuel tanks. Most of them looked like CSX 2650. The slug set had a little more detail - I'll try to post those photos eventually, but I'll be out of town for a bit. Paul - I hear Gordon designed the detail set for you SP guys, who have to deal with a lot more "stuff." Nice to see a "face" from the Diesel List, BTW. Have a great week everyone,
Anyone got good pics of the GP-38 in the pumpkin scheme that was named "The All American Diesel" ? I'm planing on modeling this in the near future And it sure doesn't hurt to start early on the research! Sadly I can't remember the cab number off the top of my head right now.... I printed the picture of it out from the CSX archives. But I want to make sure I got the fans right and so on... So I need a picture to view or someone that may know what size and type fans is in that specific loco. And also if theirs any other differences that are noticable....
Indeed...I was surprised to see how bare the end of the CSX tank is. I had assumed most of the EMD tank details were generic (and we know what happens when you "assume"). You're right about the fuel tank details being made with Espee modelers in mind. I've shot the underframes of many Espee units, and it seems like they liked to stick everything they could on the tank ends; drain bars, drain pipes, corner reinforcements, and so on.....basically the stuff that comes in the Cannon kit. I'm having lots of fun with it. One other thing I noticed on the CSX unit was the digital fuel gauge. Is CSX one of the only RR's to regularly use them? Some of SP's later units, like GP60's and AC4400's, came with them, but most have been long since removed and/or broken. CSX is the only road I've noticed to regularly use them, and retrofit them on older units. Interesting...yet another detail to model.
Quite right, Harold...detail shots are a must for modeling. One of the friends I go fanning with used to think I was nuts for all the shots I'd "waste" on underframes and other specific areas, instead of only roster shots. After he saw how they could help, he started shooting details too. I can definitely see myself referring to the pics you and Dave posted of CSX GP38-2's in the future. I've got a CSX GP38-2 unit on my modeling "to do" list...their power was so common out here as run-throughs on the Espee, I figured I'd have to make one to make my HO scale SP trains look right.
That would be CSX 9699, Trains Magazine's "All-American" diesel. I looked at the pic from the CSX archives site ( http://www.trainweb.org/csxphotos/photos/GP38/9699CSX-o.jpg ), and it looks like it would be a fun one to model. The Atlas GP38 would probably be the best starting point. The biggest change I can see would be for the air filter; it looks like it originally was equipped with an oil-bath type filter, and had it replaced with a paper air filter (PAF for short) box, like many GP38's and all GP38-2's had. I'd probably use the oil-bath filter dynamic piece that Atlas is including in their new run of "early" GP38's, cutting it back and making the new PAF box from styrene, or modifying and installing the Cannon & Co. PAF. It's hard to tell from the pic, but the PAF box looks shorter in length than the Cannon part, at least to my eyes. The only other major detail I can see in the pic are the mailslot battery box doors. Cannon makes them, but IIRC, they're the longer Dash-2 style, and would have to be shortened if you wanted to use them on a pre-Dash-2 unit like this. That, or cutting the slot into the existing doors. The fan housings look like standard 48" ones; I'd probably use the ones that come with the model. Since fan housings can change as units are shopped, I wouldn't worry about the exact type, unless you can find a roof pic from your modeling era that shows a dramatically different style. Everything else looks like it would be typical CSX details. That's all I can think of at this late hour...Harold, Dave, either of you guys have any other modeling ideas or corrections?
The digital gauges seem to be on every CSX unit that I've seen recently. I've been trying to decide how to model it exactly - the gauge itself wouldn't be too tough, basically a small block of styrene with the display carved in the front, but the ones I've seen are mounted on a thin angled bracket that attaches to the sidesill - this would probably be hard to replicate and still be strong enough so it wouldn't get bent or snap off. Gotta think about that one...
Detail Associates makes a metal digital fuel gauge; it comes as part of their GE Fuel Filler and Gauges set, part #258. Here's an illustration of it and the other details from Walthers: http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/235-258 . It's the square one in the middle of the illustration. I used it on an SP GP60 I did awhile back, since the DW part looks close to what Espee was using on them...don't know if it would be 100% accurate for CSX, since theirs looks a little "thicker" compared to the DA part. It looks like CSX attached a Z-shaped bracket to the outside of the sidesill to mount their gauge. How about cutting and bending the bracket from some thin (.005") brass stock, attaching it to the sidesill, then mounting a gauge? I'm gonna take a shot at trying to illustrate this..hopefully it'll work: II <- Sidesill and top of bracket / <- Bracket ID<- Bottom of bracket w/ Gauge I'm doing a pair of CSX SD40-2's at the moment, but never thought about what to do about the CSX gauge and bracket until this thread. I'll try to dig up some brass stock and see if any of this will work. [ 09 January 2002: Message edited by: SP 8299 ]
Paul, Thanks! I've got a basic ole Life-Like, runs well for being a "junker" LL. I want to salvage it from being tossed being it is in decent shape and all.... And it was a gift a year ago and all so.... Even though it don't stand a chance against my other diesels it would look good pulling a few orange ballast hoppers or orange gondolas. I want to make the basic body look better then the plain ole LL model. So it kinda of "blends" in with the rest of my diesels wether or not if it runs as good with them or not...I thought that the "All American Diesel" version would be decent to model being its a "special" diesel and the ole LL GP-38 has centimental value. So why not make it worth while and all ya know... I've reworked the motor and gearing in slightly, I added a good set of gears in it that I had laying around and done some winding work in the armeture windings to give it more power. And I done some shim work to quiet down so it doesn't "whine" when it runs as much as it did. And I've added about 2 to 3 ounces of weight to its adhesion. I don't have but a few bucks in it with the mechanics. I used some parts I had laying around in my parts bins yelling "Put me in the LL GP-38" So I did and made it run half decent compared to the original LL mechanics....
