Erie SW1 build thread

[jargonlet]

The other day I made the post in the Prototype Railroads section of this forum looking for pictures of Erie SW1 #360. Thanks to the help of the good people on this forum supplying pictures, I have purchased the proper SW1 for the repainting project. I bought B&M #1117 as a base for the model. It seemed to be the only version that had the large windows, single headlight and end sill only handrails.

Tonight I disassembled the model and stripped the paint from the model. Unlike reported by others, the only things glued together that shouldn't be was the handrails to the sills. After a soak for about half an hour in 91% alcohol, the paint came off accept for part of the B&M logo on the cab. The alcohol also softened the glue and the handrails and window glazing came out fairly easily. I am happy that I didn't soak the model overnight as I normally do. The hood felt like the alcohol had softened the plastic a tad even with the short soak time.

[jargonlet]

From what I can tell from the pictures that I have to work with, I need to add lift rings, a few grab irons and handles for the tool box on the front. There is also a molded on length of what would be wire such as on a steam loco. Sorry that I don't know the term for it. I'm not sure on how to add it but am going to progress with the project in the meantime. Any thoughts on how that should be modeled would be appreciated. I have attached the photo that shows a good broad side of the loco. I am going model the version that can be found on my thread in the prototype forum but the details seem to be the same in this photo as the other accept for the handrails. The photo is of the one with the short hand rails compared to full body.

http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/el/loco/erie360s.jpg

[Chris333]

I just looked through all of my books and couldn't find a single photo of #360. I thought it was more popular than that?

Also you might find something here you can use:
https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=37191.0

[peteski]

There is also a molded on length of what would be wire such as on a steam loco. Sorry that I don't know the term for it. I'm not sure on how to add it but am going to progress with the project in the meantime.

You mean the handrail molded on the side of the hood? Or is it some electrical conduit?
If it is the handrail then you can do use the same method you would use for a boiler handrail on steam locos (even use the same parts).

[jpwisc]

It is a handrail. On my SW1, I used BLMA lift rings and threaded .008" wire through them, bending the ends 90 degrees into #80 holes I drilled in the shell. I'll see if I can find a pic today.