I'm working on another little locomotive project...
Here's the prototype...
Here's the story behind the prototype...
WM25 was one of the Western Maryland's fleet of GP-9's that was treated to a low short hood nose job in the mid-1960's. She was the only one to receive the dual windshields, all the others having been done as wide single panels. Around 1973, she was renumbered 6400, to make her compatible with the B&O numbering system that was adopted by the Chessie System, into which the WM was dragged, kicking and screaming. 6400 retained her black WM paint scheme, however, at least until around 1976 or so, when it was defiled and disgraced with the Chessie's garish combination of yellow, orange and blue. In this embarrassing garb, she soldiered on, but in the early 80's she was retired and sold to a short line in Georgia, which put her right to work.
In fact, she worked so hard, that she was never painted into her new owner's colors, and lived out her days there as Chessie 6400, with WM sublettering. Well, as luck would have it, another short line found itself in need of the services of a GP-9, this one located west of Cumberland, and operating over former Western Maryland trackage between Westernport and Frostburg. The owners were fond of the WM, and had their eyes on 6400 for some time. Calls were made, and a deal was struck, and WM 25 was heading home.
The George's Creek Railroad, the engine's new owner, then set in motion the restoration that you see in the photo linked above. She was released from the paint shop at Ridgely, WV (another former WM facility) back on August 7, and was then put through her paces over the tracks of the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad, the former Connellsville Sub.
I thought it would be appropriate to honor this great event in N scale, so I contacted a friend of mine who's proficient with etched brass, who whipped up a cab front overlay that would fit on an Atlas N scale shell...
Once I received the part in the mail, plans for the surgery were set in motion...
I started with this B&O geep shell. I had already used its drive to re-power another chopper I had done earlier, so the shell was available.
I dissected the main carbody through the cab area, and set the short hood at the appropriate height, then glued the front back to the long hood, using styrene shims to make up for the width of the saw cut. I also reinforced the joint with some narrow strips of styrene that will be hidden by the cab.
I sanded the details from the front of the cab so it was smooth and ready to accept the new brass overlay.
Then I test fit everything together to make sure the lines were right compared to the prototype photos.
Finally, it was ready for the addition of some details, and the paint shop. As we speak, it's out in the garage drying. Stay tuned for further developments as the weekend progresses...
Lee
