Briggs Models MLW S13 review and build thread.

[craigolio1]

Hi Craig,

Just wanted to say thank you for sharing your experiences with this kit.  It's looking great so far!  I just got my two kits from Jeff in the mail yesterday and I'm looking forward to putting them together but that may not be for a while (other projects to finish first, of course).  Your notes and advice will come in very handy.

I presume you will finish these two in BCR paint?  Have you decided which units you will do?

Philippe
Modelling BC Rail, North Vancouver, ca. 1987

Phillipe I’m modelling a lot of BCR equipment from the same time period. It is my main area of focus, but I have spilled over into other BCR eras and also other BC Railroads. I still maintain that I’m a BCR modeller though. I would love to see what else you are working on.

Craig

[philippe.whyte]

Craig,

I think we are taking this thread off topic now, but I'll indulge you with a few photos of my models.  I only got started in 2015 and have a very busy life with work and a young family so my progress on models progresses at a glacial pace.  I think I'm averaging about 1 kit completed per year! 

CS Models Woodchip Car
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Geoff Gooderham NSC Slab Sided Hopper
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Kaslo Shops 50' Combination Door Boxcar
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My current project is BCR 631 (Alco C420) as rebuilt by BC Rail.  Perhaps I should start a build thread on that project at some point.

Philippe
Modelling BC Rail, North Vancouver, ca. 1987

[craigolio1]

Craig,

I think we are taking this thread off topic now, but I'll indulge you with a few photos of my models.  I only got started in 2015 and have a very busy life with work and a young family so my progress on models progresses at a glacial pace.  I think I'm averaging about 1 kit completed per year! 

CS Models Woodchip Car
(Attachment Link)

Geoff Gooderham NSC Slab Sided Hopper
(Attachment Link)

Kaslo Shops 50' Combination Door Boxcar
(Attachment Link)

My current project is BCR 631 (Alco C420) as rebuilt by BC Rail.  Perhaps I should start a build thread on that project at some point.

Philippe
Modelling BC Rail, North Vancouver, ca. 1987

Those are some great looking models. I’m working on a C420 as well. Did you know Briggs has a detail kit for the rebuilt units?

[philippe.whyte]

Those are some great looking models. I’m working on a C420 as well. Did you know Briggs has a detail kit for the rebuilt units?

Thanks Craig!

Yes, I'm aware. I suggested the rebuild kit to Jeff a while back and he was kind enough to put one together.  So far I've only dry-fitted the new radiator.
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Philippe

[craigolio1]

Nice. I custom made one. But the Briggs kit will come in handy on number 2.

Ok enough thread drift. I’m hoping to get my shells into primer today or tomorrow and will post post pics then.

Craig

[craigolio1]

So as it turns out I had a lot more to do than I thought but I got both of my units ready for paint last night. I still haven’t decided what numbers they will be. BCR had three: 1001,1002,and 1003. In the summer of 1987 they were renumbered 501,502 and 503. I have chosen 02 and 03 as I like the details and paint schemes but I’m not sure whether I’ll go pre or post renumbering as my modelling time frame spans both eras.

Here is what will be BCR 502/1002.  This unit still has the heater for the engineer and also an all weather cab window. It will be painted in the earlier two tone green, non-lightening bolt paint scheme.



This one will will be 503/1003 in the Expo 86 paint scheme. 



On both units I managed to lose the bracket for the horn so I just mounted them at the front of the roofs. It’ll be better in the long run as I’m sure I would have broken them off anyway. 502/1002 needs a handrail repair as I trimmed it before realizing it had the heater. I also used some SW# bells from Miniatures by Eric. The ones Jeff provided are more accurate for the model but like the horn brackets, they are so delicate I know I will break them off so I opted for brass parts. I originally drilled to use the door handle etchings on the long hood but they frustrated me so much I’ve opted to not use them now. Perhaps the next modeller will be braver than I. Other than that I added BLMA EMD coupler cut levers as my prototype had them upgraded at some point.

Next up is primer.

Craig.

[BCR 570]

Hi Craig:

The three S-13s were re-numbered on February 6, 1987.  To keep yourself and Philippe motivated, here are my first shots of hem in 1987 after re-numbering:

Eng 503 in May 1985:




Eng 501 and 503 in June 1987:






Eng 502 in June 1987:






Tim

[craigolio1]

Great shots Tim! Thanks for posting.

For now my model of 502 will be unweathered but once I acquire those skills it’s going to need the full treatment. 1987 is more in line with everything else I’m modelling so I’ll likely wind up with 502/503.

I need to find a couple of those rerailers too. Having that orange thing under the sill is too obvious to leave out. I wonder who makes that style?

Craig.

[BCR 570]

We should talk to Jeff about those; I need some for other locomotives.  I should be seeing him on Saturday so will ask.

Tim

[philippe.whyte]

Looking great so far Craig.

To keep yourself and Philippe motivated, here are my first shots of hem in 1987 after re-numbering:

Those photos are definitely motivating!  Thanks Tim!

We should talk to Jeff about those; I need some for other locomotives.  I should be seeing him on Saturday so will ask.

Tim

+1 on the rerailers.  I'll need some for several projects.

[craigolio1]

Ok so I was able to get to painting last week and today.

For primer I used Rustoleum grey primer from a rattle can which I decanted into a cup for my airbrush.

For 503 I used Trucolor BCR Red and BCR Blue, both thinned a little with Acetone.

For 502 I used CN Lines Sig (Scale Coat) BCR Light green and BCR Dark green.

Both were masked with Tamyia masking tape and I shot the base colours after masking to seal the tape edge.

Striations in the printing are noticeable. I could have done a little sanding but they look quite good and I didn’t want to risk damaging any fine details more than I already have.

502 will get a bit of weathering before and after decals go on. 503 will be closer to freshly painted.










I’m going to let them sit while I’m in holiday’s for the next couple of weeks. I’ll check in in September when I have the decals done.

Craig

[garethashenden]

I couldn't use the S chassis for the S13 because of the high exposed frame, the Atlas deck is solid metal and the Bachmann frame has a metal plate underneath it. For an S6 the Bachmann is ideal, because I can make a shell only woth etched details to fit the complete mechanism.

Are you planning on making an S6?

[briggsmodels]

In regards to the printing striations, I always orient parts whenever I can so they are in a spot that can be sanded as easily as possible.

Right now SDL39 models are waiting for etched parts, for release this coming week. In development for late September release are GP40-2L and C415 locos, and I have the S6 (in particular SP version) slotted for early October. The C415 will use Atlas RS3 for chassis parts, and the S6 I am looking at the Bachmann S4 chassis.

[garethashenden]

In regards to the printing striations, I always orient parts whenever I can so they are in a spot that can be sanded as easily as possible.

Right now SDL39 models are waiting for etched parts, for release this coming week. In development for late September release are GP40-2L and C415 locos, and I have the S6 (in particular SP version) slotted for early October. The C415 will use Atlas RS3 for chassis parts, and the S6 I am looking at the Bachmann S4 chassis.

Excellent! I actually need an S5, but it will be easier to adapt an S6 than an S4.

[wazzou]

How many versions or which version of the C-415 will you be doing @briggsmodels?
Also, will you be offering instructions on how to modify the chassis of the RS-3?