Wisconsin Central SD45 #6605

Having been in a business agreement with CNR since 1996, the Wisconsin Central was bought by the CNR in 2001, along with the Illinois Central.  Though 2001 would be at the very end of my operating era, it is possible to find mixed WC/CN lashups in the mid-90s.  Spying one of these behemoths in the picturesque countryside of Wisconsin in mid 2001, I knew I'd have to have one of my own... in 1/87th scale.

The heritage of this unit is unmistakably AT&SF, with it's assortment of antennae decks on the cab roof, along with the distinctive horn placement.  Having snapped photos of this unit in the mid-90s, it hadn't gone "under the knife" at MK Rail.  This is evident from the Flex-ix-oil trucks with low-slung brake cylinders.

The remnants of a 3-pane, all-weather window is evident on either side of the cab, but in unique ways.  The engineer's side was fabricated from 2 Detail Associates frames, spliced together.  The fireman's side was made using styrene stock and pounce wheel.  The antenna plates were scratch-built with styrene and brass stock.

The head-end of the unit sports the usual pilot face details from Details Associates, (M.U. hoses, ditch lights and coupler-lift bars,) Details West, (train line hose and headlight casting.)  The wipers are by A-line, and the plough was a re-shaped Atlas product.

The flex-i-coil sideframes sport scratch-built speed recorders.  This was done with styrene stock and single-stranded wire.  The conduits across the sideframes were made using the metal wire inside the single-stranded electrical wire.   Sand lines were made using 24 gauge electrical wire insulation.

The usual array of eyelets adorn the roof of the unit.  Future upgrades for the unit include the installation of see-through fan grilles with blades.  Revised handrails would very much improve the appearance of this project.  Note the A-Line etched steps.  The unit was painted with Testor's Polly Scale WC Maroon acrylic paint.  The yellow, along with the lettering is Microscale Decals.  Weathering is the usual array of chalks, dilute airbrush washes and dry-brushing.

CPR GP38-2 #3038

These EMD units first made an impression on me in Smith's Falls, Ont.  They were repainted into the "Two Flags" CPR scheme and assigned to haul the "Iron Highway."  This was the pilot project that lead to the current "Xpressway" trains being aimed at diverting truck traffic from the 401 between Montreal and Toronto.  Watching these units scream out of the station, as the engineers wrung their necks in an attempt to keep on a strict schedule was impressive, to say the least.



This unit started as an undecorated Proto2000 GP38-2.  Among the numerous modifications, it received, Miniatures by Eric CPR step wells, anti-climber, M.U. stands, ditch and headlight lenses, brake wheel and bell.  A Cannon and Co. angled blower housing was assembled and replaced the original, rounded type.

The inertial filter screens have scratch-built framing installed.  Details Associates antennae adorn the roof of the cab.

The exhaust hatches are, again, Miniatures by Eric parts.  The access door ahead of the dynamic break "blister" is scratch-built from Kaslo etchings and a piece of 0.005" styrene.  The horn is a brass casting by Details West, and Details Associates supplied both the winterization hatch and "Q" fan.

The roller-bearing caps are Miniature by Eric.  This is a vital piece of detail, in my opinion.  I love watching the caps spinning as the locomotive moves.  Maybe I can engineer scale, working roller bearings someday?  

The handrails and stanchions across the front anticlimber are Utah Pacific stanchions with hand-bent brass wire railings.  The stock handrails, conveniently, come cast with the vertical runs as seperate pieces. The vertical runs are hand-bent brass wire attached to the stock stanchions.  The paint is Tamiya Gloss Red and Testor's Semi-gloss black.  The decals are Microscale.  The unit was weathered with chalks, dilute airbrushing and dry-brushing.  Note the patches left behind when the class lights were removed.

NYS&W B40-8 #4002

With handsome and utilitarian lines, along with a smart and attractive paint scheme, these turbo-charged GE, BB-axle units got a lot of publicity for units that had a short tenure on the New York, Susquehanna and Western.  (They were sold to P&W in 2004, after only being with the NYSW since 1988.)  Travelling to Syracuse and Binghamton for model train shows, I would always insist on watching some trains, sometimes dragging the family along.  These units, along with any of the other NYSW fleet at the time, captured my imagination, and will always have a spot in my heart.

Starting off as a beautifully-executed Atlas Master Series decorated model, the stock model needed only minor tweaking and weathering to best represent the prototype.

One of the only details omitted from the model were ditch lights.  I built custom stands for Details Associates lenses.  The M.U. hose and receptacles were removed, and replaced with Details West plugs and single-stranded wire.  The plow was re-countoured, and Kadee #58 couplers were added.  Though Atlas considerately drilled holes and provided sun shades, they were absent on the prototype.

Lastly, the horn supplied did not match my photos of #4002.  A Details West brass casting was used to replace the stock unit.  One highlight of the GE units tends to be the myriad of cooling grills at the end of the long hood.  Using some Grimy Black mixed with Railroad Tie Brown really invokes the illusion of depth and strikes a nice contrast with both the black and yellow.

Check out all those factory-supplied truck details!  Sand lines, speed recorders and brake lines, all done!  Weathering was done using chalks, dilute airbrush washes and dry-brushing.  It was all sealed with Testors' Dullcoat.  To finish off the model, I used MV lenses for all lights, including the distinctive red markers.