As promised, a detailed report on my GP9 which I posted in a recent Weekend Update thread
So, I'm going to cover the whole process in the usual photo and description way below to keep it interesting. I needed a quick project for a small layout I was building and I already had the GP9 from Atlas and wanted to avoid a repaint or renumber, after collecting a few prototype photos from the usual sources I realised I needed to carry out the following modifications;
- Remove end walkway chains
- Remove boiler details from top of short hood
- Fit single horn in place of original 3
- Fit winterization hatch
- MTL TrueScale coupler on leading end
- All weather window
- Weathering to suit
First up was the winterization hatch, I had considered making this from scratch but looking at the old Lifelike E8 I use for weathering practice I noticed it had a very similar component. To extract this I fired up the mill and also cut out the centre to reduce it to the required length.
Next I milled the bodyshell flush to accept the new cut n' shut hatch and glued in place using Tamiya thin cement.
The removal of the chains and walk ways was a long painful job using a very sharp Swann Morton knife. In the past I've used plastic mircostrip to replace the chain but this can be quite brittle in use. Instead I decided to use some 0.3mm wire inside of some thin wall brass tube.
This was fitted with some Loctite tough black superglue.
After carrying out the air horn mod and other misc detail the whole body was given a layer of matt varnish, once dry the body was given a yellow oil wash and the walkway and chassis a dark brown oil wash.
Oil washes dried and the engine rebuilt and tested.
Again the engine was dismantled for the next weathering step. A coat of gloss varnish and when dry some Tamiya dark brown enamel panel line was was roughly added around the raised details.
When the enamel had almost dried it was possible to go around with a small brush dipped in thinners and tidy up the wash to give a more refined look. Then a final layer of matt varnish.
Engine reassembled, again, MTL coupler fitted and dark wash added to fan grills.
Much fiddling and cursing later lead to a finished Gold Medal Model's all weather window hatch.
Small touch updates completed and a fuel leak added to the tank.
