ES44C4 Pumpkins for Halloween

[James Costello]

From FVM:

http://www.foxvalleymodels.com/images/Oct-31-11-BNSF-ES44C4.jpg

[GaryHinshaw]

Where's the pumpkin smily?

Best news in my book is that these are to be painted a brighter shade of orange (i.e. pumpkin...) than their previous GEVOs.  Worst news is that they're available immediately and I just placed two biggish orders in the past week...  Ouch.  But man, FVM delivers.

-gfh

[sizemore]

I like how the ad says "easiest decoder conversion", but what it lacks is "hardest shell to get off".

 
The S.

[GaryHinshaw]

[Most of you can safely ignore this post.]  After Robbman dropped a stink bomb in the corresponding thread on Trainboard (questioning the accuracy of the FVM C4), I thought I would do some research to satisfy my own curiosity.  Here are some notes - mostly for my own future reference.  I'm posting here because I'm more likely to be able to find it in the future if I want to refer back. 

FWIW, I did just order a few of these from Chuck.  And I still give kudos to FVM for delivering.

-gfh

The FVM model represents an early phase GEVO, and as far as I can tell the BNSF ES44DCs are correct except for paint color, which is being addressed.  The ES44C4s have a later phase car-body (phase 2?) that the more recent DCs also have.  Some specifics:

Later phase details (both C4 and DC):
- radiator vent details: narrow side vents under front of radiator, raised roof vents (the latter might not be too hard to model)
- cab door on engineer's side 
- high rear headlight, low sand-hatch filler
- no "grab iron ladder" on conductor's side hood (this can easily be modeled)

Details specific to C4:
- panel details on battery box (are the C4s AC units?)
- placement of dynamic brake vents on engineer's side
- some sort of control box above the trucks, engineer's side.

Anything else?

[m301]

I like how the ad says "easiest decoder conversion", but what it lacks is "hardest shell to get off".

To get to the decoder, you could slip off the rear hood and it's right there.

I can't wait for the new NS runs, including the Ghost units.
The REAL Halloween units. LOL

[jnevis]

Details specific to C4:
- panel details on battery box (are the C4s AC units?)
-

Yes, they are A-1-A with AC motors.  The center wheelsets actually raise up to add traction (weight) to the powered wheels at slower speeds.  Somewhere, I think TB, somebody posted pics comparing the DC and C4 trucks, with the mechanism to raise the wheels.

[MichaelWinicki]

Interesting...

No preorder– available right now.

And according to someone's post on another forum, only 100 units per road name. 

[jnevis]

It's pretty easy to get them out the door without pre-ordering if the only major change the the color, which would have changed on a new run anyway, and the truck sideframes.

[Robbman]

The ES44C4s have a later phase car-body (phase 2?)

More like PhIIIa1c... GE took the old EMD mantra of Every Model Different and Six Sigma'd it... there's literally over a dozen or so GEVO phases, for AC and DC... some are minor though.   I actually thought FVM tooled the new cab door arrangement when I saw the pics, that was the only reason I asked in the TB thread. It wasn't my intention to drop a stink bomb.

[wazzou]

Robbman -

I did enjoy the cast E7/F7 nose and black EL Covered Hopper incendiary device you lobbed over on Atlas though. 

[bbussey]

Interesting...

No preorder– available right now.

And according to someone's post on another forum, only 100 units per road name.

The specifics also are on the FVM Facebook page, including the quantity available per road number.

[Robbman]

Robbman -

I did enjoy the cast E7/F7 nose and black EL Covered Hopper incendiary device you lobbed over on Atlas though. 

He deserved that one...

[mcjaco]

Gawd.  I forgot all about that cast nose thread.....   

[wazzou]

Gawd.  I forgot all about that cast nose thread.....   

It belongs in the Best of RW, although it all happened over there.

[ljudice]

Cool to see these coming.....

(Limited internet access due to storm....  still no power here......  prob out till friday)