I usually post my stuff on the Sunday Scenic Showcase thread but should probably post here too. Here are some pics followed by a brief description of what I did to make this switcher "3 Rail Scale."
Just off my workbench this week is this MTH Railking Union Railroad SW1500. I'm not a rivet counter but I did find several things about the model that I wanted to change. First up was the Flexicoil sideframes. I swapped them out for the proper AAR type switcher sideframes, after cutting and grinding off the friction bearing journal boxes and sculpting on roller bearing journals with epoxy putty (Kneadatite).
There was also no way to fix the pilot without it looking odd (it looks like MTH used the pilot from the SW1 model) so I dragged out the styrene and built new ones. The plumbing around the couplers was scratch built with Tichy wire and fittings sculpted from epoxy. Also scratched were the drop steps and anti-climbers. The end handrail stanchions were cut off and replaced with Precision Scale brass stanchions soldered to the MTH bracket. Precision Scale also supplied the MU connections and coupler lift bar brackets. The lift bar itself was formed from Tichy .025 wire. New handrails were formed from .025 music wire.
Union RR switchers have gizmos all over them so I took the opportunity to add a few to the roof, including Precision Scale beacons, scrap wire conduit, and Miniatures by Eric firecracker antenna and horn. I have to admit to a taking a little artistic license in the roof-top details because my reference photos weren't clear and it seems the Union changes the locations of things on their locomotives about every week! To finish out the rest of the details I carved off the cast-on grab irons and replaced them with new ones formed from .025 Tichy wire, along with Tichy NBW castings. The final detail added, so ubiquitous among Union RR locomotives that it would be a sin to omit, was a scratch built cooler.
Touch up paint was applied and the model weathered with pan pastels, water-based artist's markers and airbrush paints, various acrylic paints, and sealed with Dullcote.
The last picture above shows the current project: the companion caboose for this locomotive. It's an MTH Premiere bay window caboose that is getting several modifications.
I also recently completed an SP MP15. It just involved .125 styrene spacers, Kadees, a couple of Mario's coupler boxes, touch up paint, and some weathering. It still needs new handrails.
Sorry for the crappy pics of the SP unit. I am still learning my camera and had everything fouled up!
Joe Shipbaugh
