CPR F unit Icicle Breakers - Super-detailing Intermountain locos

[peteski]

You're joking....right?

Cheerio!
Bob Gilmore

No, I'm not Bob.  99% of models I see with separate grab-irons are so oversize and stick out a foot off the body that they scream "small-scale toy train" to me.  You make yours close to scale scale and snuggled close enough to the body that they look bearable, but most factory installed or modeler-installed but factory-made grabs look toyish to me.

[Angus Shops]

I had .008 wire on hand so I used it and was pleased by the change. And I agree that mounting the handrails closer to the shell is a big improvement. This discussion has reminded me that this is a project that I started but have not completed...

Geoff

[robert3985]

No, I'm not Bob.  99% of models I see with separate grab-irons are so oversize and stick out a foot off the body that they scream "small-scale toy train" to me.  You make yours close to scale scale and snuggled close enough to the body that they look bearable, but most factory installed or modeler-installed but factory-made grabs look toyish to me.

Ahhh...now I get it!  "Factory installed" separate grabs.

I see your point.

Cheerio!
Bob Gilmore

[CNR5529]

So I carried on with the experiment, and think I can live with the results. Either way it is an improvement on the stock grab iron arrangement. Sorry though, couldnt install molded on factory installed grabs... 

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[peteski]

So I carried on with the experiment, and think I can live with the results. Either way it is an improvement on the stock grab iron arrangement. Sorry though, couldnt install molded on factory installed grabs... 

Funny guy! 
Looking good (as far as modified factory-added-on grabs go).   

[Angus Shops]

Look good to me! Might I suggest sunshades in the cab windows?
Geoff

[CNR5529]

Look good to me! Might I suggest sunshades in the cab windows?
Geoff

Thanks! Yeah, there are still a bunch of details to do: add horns, install winterization hatches, water tanks, reconfigure the fuel tank on the FP9a to accommodate the twin air tanks, sunshades, side window visors/mirrors, various pipes/exhausts on the roof, cooling coils, light up the mountain lights... oh yeah, and icicle breakers! 

After that I can touch up the paint and install decoders. Hopefully at some point I will come across a F9b and can get it up to speed detail wise as well.

[CNR5529]

One of the next major jobs that needed to happen for this project was reconfiguring the fuel tank on the FP9a. This required cutting down and reversing the tank shell, hacking off a chunck of the weight to make room for the GMD style twin air tanks, and rebending the PB contacts. Then I can fasten the air tanks and water tank to the frames (once I sand the print fuzz that is). The FP7a was ok as is, other than needing the water tank.

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[craigolio1]

Nice! Did you do the frame mods with it stripped did you leave the machanicals in place?  No issue with shortening the fuel tank getting in the way of the motor?

Craig

[CNR5529]

Nice! Did you do the frame mods with it stripped did you leave the machanicals in place?  No issue with shortening the fuel tank getting in the way of the motor?

I stripped it down, clamped the two halves together with the original bolts, and went at it with a hack saw and a few files. The tank is clear of the motor, so no worries there. Now I just have to figure out how to mount the new bits to one half of the frame so I can still take it apart in the future. Should have included a larger gluing surface on one side! 

[peteski]

No issue with shortening the fuel tank getting in the way of the motor?

Craig

Motor in all the Kato wide-body "wagon-top" locos (F- and E-units, P42, etc.) sits flat, ways above the fuel tank area.

[wcfn100]

Motor in all the Kato wide-body "wagon-top" locos (F- and E-units, P42, etc.) sits flat, ways above the fuel tank area.

Not Kato.

Jason

[CNR5529]

Motor in all the Kato wide-body "wagon-top" locos (F- and E-units, P42, etc.) sits flat, ways above the fuel tank area.

Good to know.

Not Kato.

Exactly, these are Intermountain 

[peteski]

Not Kato.

Jason

OOPS!   

[craigolio1]

Two sided tape? Attach it to just one side?

Or take it apart and from the inside drill a hole and put a countersinked screw to hold the tanks and such.

Craig