New Haven 115 is a WbB "44 Tonner". I call it a center cab as its nowhere close to scale size.
Exactly. There were larger center cab switchers made: I think there was an 80 ton version, which is the way I think of the postwar period version and subsequent production models.
These two photos are NOT as of yet in my other repaint thread.
Here's one my redone Lionel 1990's production versions, which were made in both Rock Island and Pennsy. On this one, I sanded down the raised access door outlines on both sides of the hood in the areas the decals would be placed. The as-is original metal frame has lowered indentations, where the motor trucks mount, so I created a new styrene frame (braced with basswood on the upper side). which helps lower the overall height of the engine, reducing the original "high water" look.
I didn't mind the side handrails being made from plastic, save that every single one I've ever seen, the packaged handrails are always warped or bent so much they cannot be straightened.
So I filled in the holes on the walkway before repainting, and instead ran a metal handrail on each side of the upper hood. I only used a portion of the included front and rear Delrin plastic handrails. I would have painted those white, but that Delrin doesn't hold paint very well. I also added actual headlights and cab illumination.
And here's another example of taking some liberties with the word "prototypical." Conrail didn't have any Alco FA's in operation, and only a handful of cab units. On the other hand, during the early days of Conrail operation, they were so short on motive power, they were making due with everything they could get on to the rails. Which is kind of like "027" modeling today.
So on my layout, that would include the Alco FA, which serves in both mainline and switcher duties.
This is a K-Line model. The front coupler was broken, so I cobbled on a different coupler, but found the drop down thumbtack was hitting the engine body, so I cut the drop down thumbtack off. I also added an actual headlight and non-prototypical lighted red marker bulbs to the front... If I was truly concerned with every prototypical nuance, I would have gone to HO or N scale years ago.
I actually prefer the older K-Line version with the molded on cab door handrails. The separate add-on ones are more easily painted a different color, but I find that painted metal handrails seem to be more subject to showing paint chips. Fortunately the white is easy enough to touch up if necessary. I think that's why the manufacturers either leave them unpainted or use a chemically blackened type.
