(EMD) G scale engine CR (NS) SD80MAC build

I planned on working on this much more today. First off, a package came and had me occupied on my other hobby, music.

So I started late on this project. Made a few cuts in and I'm hurting. So not much progress to show yet.

I got spoiled on my first 2 projects using white plastic. I had to use masking tape to help me see my layout marks better on this stuff. I made some scribe marks to show the body separations. I started cutting the sections for proper height variations. Once it goes right, I'll rip to the final height. 

I'm not going thru the trouble of a top miter as I've done in the past. There's so many top panels that will hide the box joints anyways. The ends and the rest gets mitered. I hope I got the dimensions correct.

Does it look like anything yet?

Is this a tease?

So I glued on 3/8" I beams. I also had H beams but it appears the real ones are the I beam shape. I have used 1/2" versions. I used what I had here. I fear the longer engine might need more travel space. I only glued them where I think they'll remain after the fuel tank gets mounted. I cut them roughly to length leaving extra in case the tank dimensions aren't perfect when I make it. I also leave them long where they'll touch the pilots that aren't even designed yet.

It's tuff to get things perfect without designing everything in advance. Because I wing it on the fly, I went ahead and mounted the trucks so I can see where stuff needs clearances. I only make one of each type of engine so there's extra work as models change.

It looks ugly to some? For me, I can see the finish line even when I start. As the engine develops, you'll see what model it is.

I was going to work on the fuel tank. I worked on the cab instead. Each piece is slightly oversized, and allows for fitment. I file the angles roughly and do several dry fits. I then file more exactly and check for tight fits. Even still, I get a joint or two that needs more work.

The cab was about 1mm too wide. I had flexed it a bit trying to get the back to fit tightly while glued up but not dry. One of the joints failed this morning and I had to refile it clean and remove enough material to get the measurement exact. I like that it failed easily this morning to show me what was wrong. Better now than in paint!

So then, I had to refile the back to get a tight fit.

Until the cab or any pieces get built as a cube, they are relatively fragile. Because I have to file and work on them in their incomplete state, I back up the joints with a good quality hot melt glue. Every piece added, adds to the overall strength until the final assembly gets quite strong. Once the cab gets it's nose, it will be pretty tough.

This particular model has a cab with many angles that makes it more difficult. It will be an experience to get all the angles right. I usually cut angles on nearly  every joint. I held off on some, as it is very complicated and hard to design perfectly. I will custom file the nose piece's angles each, one at a time.

This stinking cab has more angles that are driving me nuts! I could have machined a cab out of wood and cast a mold faster and easier than this is going. I started getting sloppy with my cuts. I will have to fill the gaps later. A little extra time and material would have made the difference. I start hurting and rush to get things done. Sometimes, it's better to walk away and do something else. I just feel like venting off some steam!

Ah well....

very nice Job Joe, so what system are you going to put inside mth or lionel ,and are you going to use a light of markers and lights etc. Smoke or no smoke diesel quillable whistle? can wait to see it completed. I read that the diesel board can use quillable diesel whistle sound like it would be cool !

Alan

I have a couple of PS3 diesel engines already. None of them have the playable horn in them yet. So it will be fun to see what that's like. Yes, this will get a MTH PS3 board inside. Almost all my builds get a MTH smoke unit. All get LEDs and this one should get walkway and ground lights. We'll see I guess. Sometimes I run out of patience routing all the extra wires and LEDs. My GEVO never got walkway lights like it deserves now that I think of it. Running the charging lights taxed my brain!

Started on the nose section. This should be fun.... 

too high, too wide, angles wrong...… Urrggg.

I should have just filed the slight cab angle of the nose. I decided to cut all the angles and it's a pain. I've been at it for awhile now and I got one side roughed in. They're just laying there loose without glue. I quit for now.

With the title I flashed back to highschool and Mr Keglovitch ("Kegger") getting locked in the supply closet by the burnouts of final hour... again 

I'd call the office 😇 from the store or home

at.....2:01 pm 😈

It also allowed me to jump the slow 1:30 freight home 

(shame on me )

I get all the parts to fit dry, and then when I glue them up, things are off slightly. I think the angles have enough play to mess with me? Or I don't allow for the thickness of the glue! 

I had the nose together and didn't like one of the joints so I broke it off and filed it down. I glued it together again and noticed the other side wasn't perfect. Good enough. I filed the fit against the cab all over again and things must have moved a bit. Here's where I'm at. I did a quick file to show how the face gets rounded. It will get another fine sanding before paint.

Here's one, easy to assemble fuel tank kit. Now why haven't you started? 

Man, this is a big tank! The last one I built for the EVO, was around 8 5/8" long. This one is 10"!! …..(no jokes please)

It needs more structure supports and the top angles installed.

I got it roughed in and it needs more work but here it is today:

OK, now we mount 2 MTH 8 ohm super EMD turbo rumbler speakers!      

This one is for Willy Gee!

Ooops! Did I say EMD?

Hmmm listen to this one

https://mthtrains.com/sites/de...150203a-webckout.mp3

then, listen to this one

https://mthtrains.com/sites/de...190423a-WEBckout.mp3

Getting close? Maybe this week she'll get track time? 

anybody know a source for the 4 wire connectors used on MTH one gauge diesel trucks?

https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/...ire-truck-connectors