Thanks for looking in on this, my first 'real' project that I've started since moving into my new home a couple months back and getting myself geared up again. If it goes well then it can be the first of several similar projects all based on the Scale Trains model.
My little 'fleet' of N-scale diesels needs a C44-9W in BNSF H1 scheme, and so I decided to use the ST model as a basis. The STs are pretty nice models, on par with Kato in many respects, but being newer designs they are also better in some ways. They are generally more accurate shells and are more up to date in areas such as the underframes and fuel/air tanks which on the Katos would require more work. The ST detailing is also an improvement over Kato, and of course there are the wire grabirons - which even tho they are oversized (and I will therefore be replacing them) still are better than having to shave off molded-on parts. The factory sound with a Loksound decoder and cellphone speaker is top-shelf, and sure beats trying to retrofit a non-sound unit, regardless of the cost.
The ST model for my project came in an H3 paint scheme. I was not terribly impressed with the ST factory paint tho. It was quite thick, to the point of starting to obscure some of the underlying shell detail. I also thought the factory graphics had an overall chunky sort of look to them. No matter, since this is a re-paint job anyways, and the factory stuff all came off after a couple of passes thru the alcohol bath and some scrubbing work with a soft but slightly stiff brush.
The ST model takes longer to disassemble than a Kato, mainly because of the glue on the ST. I also had to cut away some of the tabs on the underside because there was just too much glue to get it apart otherwise. All that said, I have found that some Katos still can be tricky to get apart despite the lack of glue, simply because the parts interlock so closely, and the shells were never designed with any thought to ever trying to get them apart again after being put together at the factory.
The most shell work for this project will be the cab. The prototype BNSF 1104 was an earlier phase from what the ST model represents, and therefore has the older style of cab windows. My solution is to swap in a gull-wing, high-numberboard cab from a Kato model that has the correct window style. It fits well enough on the frame and with the rest of the shell, tho I will need to transplant some of the side panels from the original cab. I'll also have to fabricate some sort of glazing, as the Kato windshield parts do not fit very well, and have those silly cast-on windshield wiper 'details' (will Kato ever learn, sigh...). I may try to have some parts laser-cut, if I can find a clear acrylic sheet that is thin enough (like around 1/64 inch). One other shell detail that I will have to construct is the sanding hatch arrangement on the back end of the long hood. The rest of the shell details from the ST seem to match up pretty well with the prototype, including the alternating-height radiator grilles on the aft engineer's side.
I am of course planning to fabricate scale wire handrails, and I am already in the process of developing some etchings for the sidesills/stanchions similar to what I did for my BNSF 4710 project. N.B. the prototype has the earlier 'wide' style of end handrails like those on the older GE Dash-8s. I am also working on replacement parts for the end pilots, which will accommodate a coupler pocket for the LEZ coupler. Grabirons will be from SS wire, but I am not sure if I will use wire to make other parts like the cut levers -- those are hard to make accurately from wire, and it may be better to etch those from some very thin SS sheet, if I can convince myself that the true 'flat' nature of the parts won't be too evident in pictures.
Here is a picture of the stripped and disassembled model. One little thing to note, look at the size difference between the LEZ couplers and the ST factory couplers -- the latter looks closer to something that you would expect in HO scale.
Thanks for looking! I'll try to keep up with timely updates
Cheers,
Ed
