Bearden (U18B) made me do it.

[mecgp7]

Ron's post (https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=43307.0) showing his flock of "children" that he created over the years has sure been a treat. I remember seeing many of the models as he made them over the years. I have conversed with Ron via email over the years (although I doubt he'll remember) and even helped him out with parts.

Without question he inspired me to take a shot at cutting up perfectly good loco shells. His U18B was really the stimulus and I gave it a shot. I started with a Kato U30C shell and made it as far as the pic below. It probably wasn't a good starting point for a first timer as the project is quite involved. I got more brave and started to cut up factory painted shells modifying them and painting the new parts and pieces to match. The pics below are a tribute of sorts to Ron's influence. Would love to see other's work.

MEC U18B
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MEC GP7 Non-dynamic brakes. Using a factory painted shell, I removed the blister and replaced it with an LL GP18 non-dynamic piece.
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D&H U33C bashed from a factory painted Kato D&H U30C and the "wings" from a C30-7. I kept the factory paint as I really wanted it to match the out of the Kato box U30C. I added the yellow stripes, removed the original lettering and matched the blue paint.
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Keep up the good work Ron!

[tehachapifan]

Wow, beautiful models!!

There have been a few different people who have influenced my kitbashing urges over the years all the way back to my HO days, but Ron definitely influenced this N scale operating MOW truck after seeing his in various publications...

[u18b]

Wow.

I love these models.

It is very rewarding to know that someone tried out something I wrote in an article.

Thanks guys.
I love your work.

[eric220]

@tehachapifan That is one incredibly awesome hi-railer on several levels! I especially love the way you disguised the wheels as tires.

[peteski]

@tehachapifan That is one incredibly awesome hi-railer on several levels! I especially love the way you disguised the wheels as tires.

Yeah, that is awesome!  But the next question would be: is there a decoder in that thing?   

[u18b]

Yeah, that is awesome!  But the next question would be: is there a decoder in that thing?   

My next one will have a decoder.

I started to build one... and something happened... I don't remember.  Never finished.  But I wired the headlights like ditch lights.  I looked pretty cool.

[tehachapifan]

@tehachapifan That is one incredibly awesome hi-railer on several levels! I especially love the way you disguised the wheels as tires.

Yeah, that is awesome!  But the next question would be: is there a decoder in that thing?   

Thanks, Guys! I've thought about how I could possibly get a decoder in it but there is absolutely zero room inside the truck anywhere. I believe the only way it could be done would be by adding a trailer of some type and put the decoder in there, but I'm not sure if there are or were too many Hi-Rail trailers in the real world. If I went this route, the trailer would also hopefully help with power pickup as the short wheelbase on the truck doesn't work well with my insulated turnout frogs, etc.

[Spades]

Russ

Love the MOW truck except the logo is the wrong color and shape and you only spelled pacific correctly.  Why UP?

[tehachapifan]

Russ

Love the MOW truck except the logo is the wrong color and shape and you only spelled pacific correctly.  Why UP?

Lol! Yeah....I was wondering that myself recently (I built this a number of years ago) and I THINK it was because, at the time, I couldn't find or just didn't have any suitable SP decals.

[Spades]

Lol! Yeah....I was wondering that myself recently (I built this a number of years ago) and I THINK it was because, at the time, I couldn't find or just didn't have any suitable SP decals.

If you get the urge to patch http://www.microscale.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=MD&Product_Code=60-657&Category_Code=SP

[nh5regt]

Fantastic work. Looking forward to seeing more of your work, as I model the same lines and era.

[nuno81291]

Love the models and especially the local flavor, everything looks better in those paint schemes 

[ns737]

you could remove the metal tool compartment and make it plastic and put decoder in it. just a thought.

[tehachapifan]

you could remove the metal tool compartment and make it plastic and put decoder in it. just a thought.

Good idea but I think it would probably still be too tight. I haven't had it apart in a little while but, as I recall, the motor takes up almost all the room inside the truck. That said, prior to switching to DCC, I pondered adding some sort of Hi-Rail trailer to improve pickup. I suppose I could put a decoder in the trailer and have it serve two purposes. Now I just need to find a prototype Hi-Rail trailer to base it on.