NS 8097

Modeling NS, especially modern NS GEs, has quite the challenges and this ES44AC was no exception.

I started this model with a stock Fox Valley Model's BNSF ES44AC and while it's a fantastic model, it's nowhere near correct for NS' GEs. I started by completely disassembling the model and stripping the factory paint with 91% isopropyl alcohol. After stripping all the paint I started "NSing" by moving the front headlight from the nose to between the number boards. I wasn't able to save the headlight from the nose so I used a Detail Associates headlight casting for it. I cut out the necessary hole and mounted it in place with styrene cement. On NS ES44ACs the hole for the nose light is now used for a lock and to model this I cemented a piece of styrene to the inside of the shell and used a small piece of styrene strip for the lock box. The doors on all new ES44s have been moved to the engineers side so the stock door was sanded off and a new door was fabbed with styrene sheet. Door hinges and handle were also made with sheet.

The rear of the loco also needed modification done. These weren't as extensive as the front but the light needed to be moved up and a sand filler hatch added below it. All holes were then filled with putty and sanded smooth.

With all the major modifications done I primed the model and then painted it with Polyscale engine black. Once dry I put on a gloss clear coat and decaled the model with various sets of Microscale decals. 

With all the paint and decaling done it was time to work on the lighting. FVM ES44s have very poor lighting for the ditch lights so I used seperate 0402 SMDs inside the ditch light housings so they would be nice and bright like them should. I used a small 2mm LED for the top light as well to completely remove and light pipes from the cab and to give it a more realistic open look. The lights were then wired in series.

I was unhappy with the stock handrails, they are big, bulky, and out of scale. I built new ones using GMM stantions and 0.080" phosphor bronze wire. 

With the handrails complete I called the model done and gave it a light coating of dirt with my airbrush.

All in all I'm very happy with this model and plan to do a few more.

BNSF 552341

I'm a sucker for unique freight cars and these 89' BN built flat cars are no exception. With nothing commercially availiable that would come anywhere close to this car that meant it was time to scratch build the entire thing. I started by using a N Scale Kits 89' TOFC flat car that I completely filed smooth and removed any molded on details. Using various Evergreen styrene products, sheet, strips, channels, ect, I built up the bulk heads and the side supports. The railings and ladders on each end were hand bent out of brass wire. I painted the model using ModelFlex paints and used various Microscale decals to letter it. It still needs more data decals along the sides but I have not yet gotten them yet. To pretty up the ends a little bit more I added BLMA couplers platforms and trainline air hoses. The trucks are MT and the couplers were body mounted.

The load was made from Evergreen Styrene H column with balsa wood spacers and fishing line for the banding.

Prototype:

CEFX 3136, who left the door open?

CEFX started life as SP 8845, built in 1967. The unit was later rebuilt by SP to a SD45R and renumbered to 7416. The unit then found it's way to CEFX leasing where it was rebuilt once more to a SD40M-2 (basically a SD40-2 in a SD45 car body). The unit is still in service today, being leased by CSX for the time being. 

For the model I started with a Kato SD45 painted in CNW.

The shell was disassembled and stripped using 91% isopropyl alcohol. After stripping I started detailing the loco using the following parts, mainly from BLMA:

snow plow

MU hoses

air hoses

windshield wipers 

lift rings

grab irons

see-through fans

air line on top of cab 

relocated horn

painted cab interior

open door (aka, the air conditioner for those hot, humid Indiana summers)

I airbrushed the model using a custom mix of Polyscale Conrail blue with some reefer white added to it. I used a combination of Highball Graphics and Microscale decals to letter the model. 

For weathering I used a combination of airbrushing, oil paints, and weathering powders to give it a well worked look. 

Finished model:

   

NS 3459, a one of a kind.

Built in 1978 as BN 7125, then sold to CEFX where it became #3180, NS 3459 has had a very colored pass. It was purchased in late 2011 and has retained it's nose mounted headlight, making it the only NS loco on the rails like this. Being a modern Norfolk Southern modeler this loco had to be done.

I started the build with a stock Kato SD40-2 that I completely stripped down.

I wanted this loco to be a standout on the layout, like it wouldn't be anyways, so I decided to add every detail I could think of to it. Those details include:

sunshades

lift rings

grab irons

MU hose

trainline air hoses

windshield wipers

see-through fans

sanding lines on the trucks

AC unit

snow plow

ratchet style hand brake

speed recorder cable

rear view mirrors

Most of the parts are from BLMA but, all the grab irons on the loco were bent by hand from 0.007" wire. The sanding lines were also hand bent. The ratchet hand brake was made out of strip styrene. 

I painted the unit with Polyscale engine black and lettered it using various Microscale decals. Being a relatively   new unit, I only lightly weathered the trucks with AIM powders. The paint and weathering was sealed with a final coat of Krylon dull clear coat. 

Completed loco: