I've got the designs sent in to the photoetch company. I think they are taking some time off because I haven't heard back from them yet. I've tries to get as accurate and detailed as I can with this model. This model will have an all brass custom cab and nose. Hopefully it'll look good.
You may want to lengthen the rear portion of the handrail that goes to the steps. It extends below the walkway to the steps. My depiction is not 100% correct in its bends. This shows what it looks like in straight configuration. Here is a great close up of what it should look like. I have high hopes that your SD70ACe will far exceed the shell I cast in the past especially since it will be all etched. If you have any questions about any of my past work on the SD70ACe, please don't hesitate to ask. Hobo Tim
Thank you Tim! What I've got so far extends 1mm past the bottom of the frame. I think you're right though that it needs extended more. The bottom is 2mm and I've got it made to be half etched at 1mm to be able to bend it easier.
I've made this 100 times over. For the "X" what I planned on doing was etching all the way through and then pushing it out and soldering it together to make it 3d.
If the X pattern seems like a lot of un-necessary work you can always model the newer version of SD70ACe's!!! Check out the side of these behemoths! This seems to be the newer version. No X pattern door on the left side. But Notice also that the Cab has new defining lines also. I have counted 3 different versions within the BNSF fleet of SD70ACe's. This the newer version. The SD70ACe is an ferocious Animal with fangs! Tim
I am sorry but I cannot allow you to do such a thing! First hand I have seen your passion for CSX since mid 2000's. You cannot abandon your love! What I can do is allow you to expand your interests! I work at a coal fired power plant in the middle of nowhere, Arizona. At this site we are graced with these BNSF Behemoths on an almost daily basis. I get to see up close and personal the newest or new SD70ACe's and they are Beautiful!!!!! But what you don't know is that I have seen almost every major railroad run Behemoths along with the BNSF Behemoths here. Norfolk Southern, Union Pacific, Kansas City Southern, and Ferromex have all sent GE AC4400's and such thru here. I have not yet seen a CSX though! It has only been this past year that BNSF has bought more brand new SD70ACe's. Where I once seen SD75i's in Heritage II and in the executive scheme, along with Dash 9's and AC4400's only, now I have at least two SD70ACe's with three of the older fleet. The diversity is a modelers dream and possible nightmare to model! Get this, the one Bethgon hopper that has the entire side painted with a life size Orca whale "Shamoo", has come thru my site a few times in the past. I am waiting for it once more as I will be photographing it the next time it comes thru. SD70ACe's are the Behemoths to model in Z scale!!!!!! Hobo Tim
You're right Tim, John must not be allowed to desicrate a BNSF loco. He has the worst case of CSX I've ever seen. I think it is untreatable. But we still like the little feller.
I've been doing more design work on the cab. I added more detailing tonight like bolt heads, latches and windshield wipers. Still have to do some fine tuning but it's almost ready.
i bet the standard cab SD70 that was just released by AZL would be a good case for the ACe your building, it is undecorated so you dont have to worry about having a finished shell laying around... The ATSF SD75M from them is a sweet runner, so you dont have to worry about anything just maybe the thickness of the shell youve got. I would love to see the finished product... i also wonder what it would cost me for a BNSF version (9370 is my preferred number ) welp i will start cutting off a limb i suppose.
