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.
