With all the new locomotives getting so high priced anymore, and I have these GP40-2's set up just as I like them. I have decided to just update the GP40-2's I already have. The SL-SF 750 already has a GP50 anti-climber added but the nose was still a 81" nose, now some would say that the difference between an 81" and 88" nose in HO scale is kinda minimal. But there is a noticeable difference for me after all, and Cannon offers a reasonably cost effective remedy. I thought about sawing the factory nose off, but remembered that every time I have done that in the past, there were saw teeth on the walkways, whether protective tape was used or not. So I decided to go all "cave man" on it. and used flush cutting rail cutters to basically chew the nose off the locomotive. Pictures were just too graphic for PG audiences. These cutters did a great job, just took my time, and finished the removal of material with a chisel type Exacto blade, again taking my time, around the steps and all. I learned a valuable lesson while doing this. I used ACC to glue the handrails to the shell, but when I tried ACC de-bonder, it ended up lifting or blistering the paint where ever it was applied. So more repair work now, I hate this stuff. Used a Cannon LN1104 nose kit, along with a Utah Pacific NG-85 Gyra light (pre-drilled) added to get the "nose job" right. Trick is to match the paint & weathering now, but it should be OK.
Well, I am going to have some rugged dreams tonight You sure were right about "too graphic for PG audiences!" Nice, square, clean work, though; I foresee an excellent outcome for this surgery.
Wow. A "chopped nose". I'm sure it's going to be fun matching the colors and weathering. Piece of cake for guy with your skills. Keep us posted
I just got three of those 88" cannon noses in for the gp15's, I found another set of smokey mountain hand rails on the net, as soon as the SD40T-2 grills come in from Walters I should have everything gathered together to start the gp15's.
I progress photo for the nose job project. I drilled out a piece of square plastic tubing to hold a bunch of hand grabs, so they can be installed after all the painting and masking. Now to add the class light gasket decals then try and match the weathering. Then add MV Products #700 Lenses, re-attach the new nose. Paint is Model Masters (MM) Flat White (it covers better than gloss) and MM Sunburst Orange it only comes in Gloss but covers very well for Red/Orange.
Here she is all done and ready for service again, sportin an 88" schnoz. Remember when I said I would find a way to do a bunch of un-necessary work? Well while I had the handrails removed from the nose I decided to tweak the old metal handrail just a little bit. Well, a little "tink" later and it was in pieces, and there I was having to redo the whole nose handrail. But, got it accomplished then cut out the walkway crossover and added a new chain, blended the weathering in as best as I could. I still like these old Blue Box locos. Now only 3 other RTR versions to do. They already have the Cannon 2105 anti-climbers and I used Athearn RTR GP50 handrails on the front, As the anti-climbers were only installed to the front. Thanks for looking!
Tried to fix some of the photos in the posts on this thread. Please let me know if you have trouble, seeing any photos.
