I am modeling SW1500 #319 and plan to sub-letter it BN 24 at some point. I have a couple of questions; 1. I added the "Be Careful" decals to the long hood steps, but are they also on the cab end? 2. All of the photos that I have found there is little or no other lettering along the sills. Anyone have a good source for a roster shot other that is on this web site? 3. Some photos show another beacon besides the rotary or flasher unit on the roof. What would that other light be for? 4. Did these units use standard radio antennas (wire whip instead of firecrackers) Here are a couple of photos of the project still underway. Thanks in advance for any help. Robert W. Scott FoamersNW.Org Rochester, WA
"Frisco Diesel Power" by Louis A. Marre and John Baskin Harper has several photographs of EMD SW1500's. Realizing that you may not have access to this book, permit me to address some of the questions that you raise. "Be Careful" appears on the rear stairwell of one unit, however, some units did not have this lettering either on the front or the back. On the side sill, all units seem to have a white "F" in front of the first stanchion, a long narrow trust plate that takes up most of the space between the first and second stanchions, and a EMD builder's plate centered under the cab. As far as I can tell, the units have whip antennas. Hope this helps.
A source of photos (including unit 319) is the Fallen Flag Railroad site http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/slsf/slsf.html. Site is a great reference for many railroads and is continually updated. The side sill also has "Fuel" above the fuel filler (a plastic plate with depressed letters) and later painted; and "Emergency Fuel Cut-Off" above the buttons (left side below front cab steps, right side in front of cab). Several units had "Save Fuel" bumper sticker type decals added during the 1973 energy crisis. This was mostly white, with red lettering, added on the side sill above the fuel fillers. They faded fairly quickly and eventually wore off or were painted over. On the left hood, 4th door (1st door rear of hand brake), lettering in the white band included (top to bottom) "Radiator Water Fill", "Engine Start Switch Inside" and "Fire Extinguisher Inside". Get it going FRISCO!
Robert - Your SW1500 #319 looks good. The Athearn kit is not bad, looks good, runs well. I, too, just finished the SLSF 319. All I need to add are a few "Be Careful" decals and the number boards - I printed up the numbers on the computer and am now debating the best way to mount them. Other things I added: - Smokey Valley roller bearing side frames - drop steps both ends - m/u stands both ends - replaced bell with the correct one (Details Associates) - coupler cut bars and end pilot hand-rails (using the Athearn holes) - flashing beacon - whip antenna - all-weather window on engineer's side - shade on fireman's side - thin wash-blackened radiator grills, front and top - fuel tank fillers - m/u hoses front and rear - grab irons on the body where needed - MV lenses for headlights - Stewart air hoses each end - Stewart w/s wipers on cab - Kadee #38 couplers - blackened vent louvres on hood in front of the cab, both sides (difficult!) - replaced horn with a brass one I had - tuned up the Athearn drive It's looking pretty good. I'll post a pic when I get everything done. I think the cost of all the detail parts equals the cost of the Athearn kit! One thing I forgot to do was to blacken the inside of the cab windows before installing the window glass (Athearn's) to represent the window gaskets. I noticed the Atlas MP-15 I just got does have that, and I wish I had thought to do it to the SW-1500. Ken ps: I also just finished a Stewart VO-660 and a Stewart DS-4-4-1000 as TRRA 533 and TRRA 603, respectively, in gray. They look spectacular!
Great stuff, folks. I have #319 that's nearly 5/8 finished. Perhaps this will inspire me to finally finish. Ken, what DA part number for the bell? I'd hacked away the Athearn bell and fashioned together something more prototypical from the leftover bell and brass wire, but I'm still not very satisfied with the result. I'd be eager to see your photos of the your other products. I will move that we also accept photos of the TRRA units as one would reasonable need to model them if modeling Lindenwood. Great modeling, Frisco Folks!
yardmaster: Following are the Walthers part numbers for all the stuff I hung on the Athearn SW1500 for SLSF 319: Side frames, exposed roller bearings: Smokey Valley 676-24 Drop Steps: Details Associates (DA) 229-1402 m/u Stands: DA 229-1505 (yellow caps) Bell: DA 229-1201 Cut Bars: DA 229-2212 Beacon: Details West (DW) 235-106 Antenna: DA 229-1802 a/w Window: From P2K SW1200; could have used DA 229-2301 Window Shade: DA 229-1301 Fuel Tank Fillers: DW 235-167 (red caps) m/u Hoses: DW 235-294 Grabs: Tichy 18" I think, both drop and straight as needed Headlight Lens: MV 516-600 (removed the Athearn light) Air Hoses: Extras from Stewart Baldwin VO-1000/VO-660/DS-4-4-1000's w/s Wipers: Extras from Stewart Baldwins as with air hoses Couplers: Kadee 38 #380-38 Air Horn: Was a brass one in my parts box. It looked correct Front and Rear Pilot Grab Rail (above coupler cut bar) - fabricated from wire Paint for touch ups: Model Master Acryl Chevy Engine Block Red: #4629 Floquil Reefer White: #211 Poly-S Flat Finish #F404106 Enjoy! I'm sure there is some additional detail stuff that could be hung on the SW1500 as well, and some of the above parts might not be exactly right, but all are close enough for me. I'll post some pics when I get a chance to take them. I'm still pondering the best way to get my computer generated road numbers into the number boards without disfiguring them. That, and a few MicroScale "Be Careful" decals is all that remains to be done to the unit before putting it in service. Ken
For those of you who read the on-line "Diesel list", and for those of you who don't, the "experts" on the list who are supposedly in the know are all raving about how nice the new Athearn SW1500 release is. The first decorated one will be in Reading colors. I assume an undec will be available soon as well. Hope they do it in Frisco colors soon. Sounds pretty nice! The previous Athearn SW1500 was pretty well done, but these fellows say this new one is even better, and runs silky smooth. Ken
I certainly am looking forward to a Frisco unit. I may buy one of the Katy's too. I have gotten away from buying Athearn RTR and Bluebox locomotives as I just do not like how they run. They do not compare to Atlas, Kato or LLP2K. Their drive train and the gears in the trucks are just too noisy for my taste. Bob
Again quoting the "experts" on the D-List: - The original Athearn SW1500 was the best of the Irv Athearn, Blue-Box era - This new Athearn SW1500 is the best of the new Horizion/Athearn era We'll just have to see. Horizion/Athearn has had success with Frisco locomotive models (GP40-2, GP35), so chances are good for a Frisco unit sometime - one would think! Ken
We should be more optimistic that if and when they choose to produce this model, the color will be more correct or closer to the common accepted standard (aka Atlas). In working with them I have been assured that it will be starting with models produced after the GP50. If the mock-up or artist rendition of the uypcoming SD40-2 is any indication, they will be right on! Bob Hoover FriscoFriend
I have seen the Rock Island and the BN versions last Saturday and they look much better than the previous release. I am going to check my budget and see if I can get a Rock Island for my 1975-78 era. I have a 1979 photo of unit 948 in Armourdale. I am sure it would have transferred cars to the Frisco and some point. Ship IT on the Frisco! Rick
Rick - I have a little Rock Island stuff, too. Which of the Rock's many paint schemes is the new Athearn SW1500 wearing? Ken
Somehow, I must have missed this thread. Can someone tell me about this" Diesel List" being referred too? I cannot seen to find it. Thanks,
Try diesels@gp30.com for the diesel list. The "D-List" produces about one gem per every 100 or so items of fluff. Ken
Yeah, but when a gem does show up, it is usually a good one. Several of the D-list people have a lot of diesel expertise. The list is worth reading if you are a diesel fan. Ken
