Detailing Kato ATSF PAs

[arbomambo]

Hello all...
a while ago I had posted pics of details added to the Kato PA units to bring them to the level of detail worthy of the brass units...
that thread is long gone; I was satisfied with all the mods save one-using parts from the Kato undec ATSF-version, I had fashioned my own versions of the unique center cab mounted number board peculiar to the ATSF units...
I had remembered seeing these in the 90's...produced by Sunrise Enterprises, but knew that they were no longer available.
Call outs to folks on this and other forums bore wonderful fruit; reinforcing my opinion that most everyone frequenting these forums will go out of their way to assist a fellow modeller.
I was able to acquire two packages of Sunrise Enterprises N-675-ATSF-style numberboards, consisting of 3 pieces each.
I have 5 of the latest release of Kato's ATSF PAs...(I prefer the more 'faded' color of these units, plus they are DCC ready and have improved paint details...so far, I only have 2 of the PB units in the latest scheme...but this actually seems like a pretty good ratio, allowing a 'Fast Mail' lashup of A-A-B-A units (frequently seen during my 1957 modelled year), leaving any number of combinations between the remaining A-B-A units...Grand Canyon power perhaps?

I cleaned up the pieces for the 5 units, test fit, then took a deep breath and used CA to fix them in place...color match was mixed with Floquil paints-ATSF Red and ATSF Yellow...3 parts red to 2 parts yellow.
another deep breath with a well-shaped paint brush and voila...
I'm satisfied with the fit and color match-I'll use an acrylic black for the front face (allowing me to wipe away any 'mistakes' on the cured ATSF red match)
I'm MUCH more satisfied with the way these Sunrise parts look compared to my attempts before...much more accurately scaled to prototype size.
Thanks for looking
~Bruce

[Iain]

Dang, those are hawt!

BTW, where did you get the brake hose at the front?

[OldEastRR]

To me the red plastic KATO uses for ATSF horns looks more like hot pink. I painted the ones on some E8s I reworked for a friend (I removed the DB fans) a darker red and they blended into the body better.

[peteski]

These are pretty diesels!

Will the new number boards get a number decal on the front (or just black paint)?  I seem to recall that a friend of mine had the older Kato PA release and that they had a center number board. But I'm not sure if it was part of the Kato's shell, or if he added it himself.

I'm not an ATSF expert - did the number boards on the nose have numbers on them, or were they blanked out and painted red?

[arbomambo]

Dang, those are hawt!

BTW, where did you get the brake hose at the front?

the air hoses were a BLMA product, sadly out of production...the MU hoses are also BLMA products and are available-

These are pretty diesels!

Will the new number boards get a number decal on the front (or just black paint)?  I seem to recall that a friend of mine had the older Kato PA release and that they had a center number board. But I'm not sure if it was part of the Kato's shell, or if he added it himself.

I'm not an ATSF expert - did the number boards on the nose have numbers on them, or were they blanked out and painted red?

the front numberboards are going to get 'some kind' of treatment...either black paint, or a black decal sized to fit...then numbers from the Microscale PA sheet...
I don't beleive Kato has ever done PA with the top numberboard (the Broadway limited version does), so he must have added the boards

Thanks,
Bruce

[Cajonpassfan]

Bruce, in my book, nothing on rails is prettier than a Warbonnet-clad Alco PA, unless you have five of them! Nice work, but it will be hard to dirty'em up for your era. I also see a 2900 class Northern in your future
Best, Otto K.

[Frank Amato]

Very nice looking fleet!

  Frank

[wazzou]

Bruce -

A good suggestion would have been to take the 5 pieces you received and made a mold of them so that when faced with this again you could cast the pieces you or someone else may require.

[arbomambo]

Bruce, in my book, nothing on rails is prettier than a Warbonnet-clad Alco PA, unless you have five of them! Nice work, but it will be hard to dirty'em up for your era. I also see a 2900 class Northern in your future
Best, Otto K.

thanks Otto,
but...!
I have plenty of circa-1957 pics showing them spotless!...lol
Yes...gotta have 2907 and 5011!....seeing those pics of them working out of Belen, up to Mountainair, in the summer of '57 has me excited!
When I lived in Austin, I used to take every opportunity to run out to that area of New Mexico to prowl aroung Abo Canyon and west to Dalies!
~Bruce

[arbomambo]

Bruce -

A good suggestion would have been to take the 5 pieces you received and made a mold of them so that when faced with this again you could cast the pieces you or someone else may require.

I left a spare for that very purpose!
I'll clean it up. then attempt a mold so that I can cast more than a few in resin...
~Bruce

[superchief]

Bruce, GOOD looking PA's, but only five?????? I remember seeing a photo of NINE on the lead of the Fast Mail Express crossing the Topock bridge over the Colorado river near Kingman, AZ. But if your modeling 57 I think this was in their last years in the mid to late 60's. I think I still have one or two of the Sunrise number board and they work great!...GREAT WORK!!! Gordon

[arbomambo]

lol..thanks, Gordon!
I'm not sure I'm done with acquiring PA units for the ATSF.I've seen those pics too...60's-when the Fast Mail was real heavy...generally, no more than 15 cars during my era-20 max...at least in 'PA' country...Winslow-Barstow-West...
But...the Grand Canyon got a lot of PA power, as did the San Francisco Chief, and the Texas Chief...so it wouldn't be unreasonable to have another A-B-A set...
now...let's talk about power and your fleet of ATSF freight F units!....lol
I was planning on only having a representative set of A-B-B-A freight power, but Roberto Martari, bless his heart, has conspired to send me some photoetch that will allow me to model, accurately, the middle class (of three) of ATSF F7's...the ones with NO stainless steel grills and just chicken wire over the carbody openings....
so...here I go, searching for another A-B-B-A set of Kato ATSF feight F7s!!!!!!!!!!!
All the best!
~Bruce

[arbomambo]

[peteski]

Looks good!

[arbomambo]

more progress...

















Thanks for looking,
~Bruce