My MLW/Alco BC Rail M630 is about ready to go, after an initial fast start, then a prolonged hiatus in which the whole thing was almost scrapped, then a final push to the finish. There are 6 individual LEDs on the front end, controlled by 3 separate Digitrax FX functions. A Brigg's Models shell/tank/truck conversion kit was used with some license, a lot of truck detail was added, including brake and sand lines, speed recorder cables on all axles, chains and rerail frogs. Each hood cabinet has etched door handles, there's a see-through cab and all the usual superdetail parts are there. Not a perfect model, but it captures the Alco spirit. Please read my personal odyssey documenting the building of this engine on the Diesel Detailer's Group. Thanks for the opportunity to show this one off, I don't think there will ever be another! Richard M.
Man that is one good looking engine! I always liked BC Rail's colors, scenery and "All Alco, All The Time" mentality.
ram Back in the eighties when I loved Model Railroader magazine, I LOVED those diesel detail projects taking old Athearn locos and making them look real. That was HO. With that terrific (I wish I had a bigger adjective to think of) model you just put'em down with that N scale model. It really looks like you photoshopped a real diesel and put it in a model photo setting. As a modeler you rock!!!!! Ken "FloridaBoy" Willaman
I've always liked Alcos, maybe because some of the early units tended to try and imitate steamers, but the later big brutes that came from Alco have always intrigued me. You've hit a home run with this loco in my opinion and my hats off in appreciation of the fine work shown in these photos.
Speaking as a big fan of their greens and dogwood days- Wow. Just wow. If this isn't a grand slam home run, nothing could ever be.
Another Grand Slam Richard! Though I have to say that we were spoiled by the fantastic handrails on your last CN unit. In any case, keep 'em coming. -Gary P.S. I still find it strange that BC Rail switched from a quintessentially BC scheme (two-tone green) to a curiously brash american-looking scheme. What was the thinking behind that? (This is coming from an american who recently moved to BC.)
Thanks, everyone. On the handrail front, I actually sat down and fiddled with various brass and SS stanchions for a while, but the Alco stanchions are quite unique and nothing was gonna happen on my end...and I was getting to that "getting tired of this project, time to move on stage". The RWB paint--I have no idea, but it could be a matter of historical perspective. You might think it's quintessentially American, but the English and French had been using those colours for centuries before. Maybe they were trying to suck up to the rather Quebec centred federal power structure of the day in getting operating assistance, or maybe that's why they went to the blue and white later paint. Still, I'd like to know the true story. There seemed to be at least two different RWB paint schemes, my engine has the later one which still survives on Dash 8 C40-8M and C44-9WL units now used by owner CN, as does the blue and white on C44-9W teardrop-window cab units still in service. Richard.
Very nice work here! I have been following your build thread in the Diesel Detailer's group and I see that it ended very well.
