EMD Demonstrators DD35 GP35

EMD GP/DD35 demonstrators operated over the Frisco, don't know where but I would assume over some mainline trackage and heavy traffic locations. One can certainly see where Frisco got its O/W paint scheme from huh? A lot of Red though, it would have been better with a Black fuel tank IMHO
This has been one the more challenging kitbash/scratch building projects I have done for a long time. Had to modify about every single aspect of the original frame, trucks to work with scale width hoods. Used 2 motors with ball bearing motor bearings and machined flywheels so I could use Hex drive lines on the trucks that work so much better than the original drive lines.
2 Athearn RTR shells and a lot of styrene went into this DD35. Managed to re-gear the trucks so it will run with all my other stuff too. That was a head scratcher for a bit in itself. There are almost $30.00 worth of Brass stantions on this thing. DA air tanks, and Cannon parts went into this as well as many other parts. Used the ends from SD40-2 side frames to graft to the metal side frames on this DD35. Working on the GP35 that mates with it now. Micro-scale decals, MM Sunburst Orange paint. Now a dull coat and some weathering is next and a few more pictures.
Thanks for looking.

 

Tom my friend, once again I say you are amazing! Not only is your work of outstanding quality, but the amount of stuff you put out in a year is terrific. It is really fun to see the results of all your projects!

Well done! It would have been neat to see this thing and its other EMD mates climbing Dixon Hill or some other Frisco grade, huh? I bet the noise was memorable.

You are right - the Frisco improved on the EMD paint scheme by making the tanks and frame black. Too much red/orange on the demo.

The color is one of my favorites for non-railroad reasons. We had a 1957 Chevy Bel Air when I was in high school, then my dad bought a 1962 Chevy Impala, and when I graduated from MSM, I bought a 1964 Chevy Impala Super Sport. All of 'em had Chevy V-8's in that neat Chevrolet Engine Block Red color.

Ken

 

Karl - Do we know what the SLSF demo consist was? GP35-DD35-GP35, or GP35-DD35-DD35-GP35, or what?

Ken

 

Thanks Karl for the comments and info. But, I ain't building another 2 of these things!! Gonna have to use mirrors to replicate a couple more. A GP/DD/GP would have been a 10,000 HP consist. I guess Frisco tested 15,000 HP for road power.

Thank You Ken, always good to hear from you my friend!

Thank You Ryan, This was a couple years in the making but I am glad its over to be honest.

Thank You Robert, I will try to put a more detailed explanation together as soon as I can.

And Thank You George, I will try and fit them in somewhere around here

Thanks guys for all the comments and encouragement.
Here are a couple pics of the pair headed to the Round House for inspection

 

Just way too cool! You are truly a Master Modeler. I can't wait to see them in person in two weeks. Tom, can we talk about making those babies bark? The DD35 would sound great with dual decoders, especially when the two get slightly out of sync on sound. Put all three units together with sound and it would really be impressive.

 

I wonder if the SLSF ever really had an interest in the DD35. Probably not. They certainly had an interest in the GP35 (2500 HP), after passing on the GP20 (2000 HP) earlier. Did they ever try out the GP30 (2250 HP)? In order to get a good test, they would have needed more than the two touring GP35's, so I guess they took the whole GP35-DD35-DD35-GP35 set for a spin (15,000 HP). I doubt if they ever seriously considered running six GP35's together.

Later on, though, it was common to see SD45-GP35-GP35-SD45 consists here on the Eastern Division (10,200 HP). I remember watching them a few times at the Geyer & Big Bend crossing as they climbed Kirkwood Hill heading either east or west (close to Windsor Springs' house). Great noise!

Ken

 

Thanks Keith we are looking FWD to seeing you as well.
Larry I wish I had that book to look at thanks for the info.
Ethan your killin me man! THCustoms kinda has a ring to it Thanks for the comments
As always Ken glad to see you remarks, just a treasure of knowledge Thank You.
Thank You all again

 

|-||-|Got some weathering done in the last couple days on these locomotives. Every picture I have seen of these Demonstrators in service, they were pretty dirty.
thanks for looking |-||-|

 

I vote you the most awesome of the awesome diesel modelers. Scary realistic.

 

Thank you Derrick,
Thats a great question I have been trying to look up same. But I will say they might demo here a bit longer than they did on the Frisco

 

Thanks Jim,
You are too kind my friend.