NECR 3852 started as an unnumbered NECR GP38. I picked it up at the Gratiot Valley show two weeks ago to join the CORP GP38s I painted last summer on the modern day Huron and Eastern locomotive end of my roster. So far, I've managed to add several HESR locomotives to my roster without adding one of the original four GP38-2s to my roster. In the background of the photo is my current attempt to rectify that omission.
Also at the Gratiot Valley show a couple weeks ago, I had the opportunity to purchase an Atlas Grand Trunk GP40-2 from a gentleman who I believe is switching to HO scale. The unit had a decoder installed, which had been giving him problems. My first step was to remove the decoder and convert the unit back to straight DC, using a PC board removed from an Atlas GP38 the night before (I am starting to convert some equipment to DCC). One of my first N scale locomotives was a Grand Trunk GP40-2, ironically the same number as the new addition. Over the years, the first #6407 has taken a lot of abuse, but it still runs pretty well. I've been wanting to model some of GTW's patched paint schemes for a while, including the orange ex-DT&I engines with the big GT on the hood. I figured if I was going to have two engines with the same number, one would be backdated to the orange scheme. This unit still needs some work, including the addition of a handrail and a finish coat to seal the decals into place.
Finally, at the Lansing show a couple months ago, I picked up a Kato UP SD40-2 cheap. I figured I'd throw some yellow over the UP lettering and use the red GT logos from the Microscale detail sheet, a really simple project. And I thought as much right up until I disassembled the model and started looking for where the new yellow paint was supposed to go...then realized that the ex-MoPac units did not have the dynamic brakes that were present on my model. Since I wasn't opposed to adding a UP SD40-2 to my roster, I reassembled the model without making the changes. About a week ago, after removing the dynamic brake assembly from a GP38-2 sitting on my workbench, I decided to have a go at the SD40-2's dynamic brakes as well. As it turned out, that was actually the easy part. Matching the UP Harbor Mist Gray and the yellow on the sides of the unit was much more difficult than I had anticipated. The unit needs a little bit of paint touch-up and some decal adjustments (I wanted to do 5933, but the decal set didn't have an easy option for it, so I used 5932. I'll be changing that 2 to a 3 before long). I also need to make some adjustments to the "number boards".
All in all, the three locomotives didn't involve nearly as much work as I thought they might, and turned out pretty well (it's N scale- the photos show much more detail than just about anybody else will be able to see once they're out and running).
Charles W.
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