LLPX SD38-2 2809, ready for paint. This is a Kato SD38-2 with additional detailing and Cannon 88" short hood, air filter box, fans, and radiator grills. The short hood is just set in place for now, but will be attached once painting is complete. By: Joe Atkinson
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Short hood and front porch showing new Cannon #1104 88" nose with Sunrise #H-108 Gyralight. The grab irons on the nose won't be added until painting and decaling are complete, since an anti-glare panel decal will be applied on top, and the LLP logo up front.
Also visible is the new walkway extension fabricated from Cannon #2015 Safety Tread Stock. The vertical supports were cut as an integral piece of the extension, then folded down. This extension has been drilled for ditch lights, as has the pilot directly underneath, but the ditch lights themselves haven't arrived yet. By: Joe Atkinson
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Cab detail, including the Detail Associates #1902 vent on the cab side and #2314 windshield wipers, and a Details West #157 firecracker antenna. A second firecracker antenna with the base removed was used to represent the EOT antenna over the engineer's side numberboard, with the half-circle ground plane fabricated from 0.010" styrene. The triangular rotary beacon stand over the conductor's side numberboard was scratchbuilt. In front of that, what appears to be the remains of conduit that once ran to the rotary beacon, fabricated from bits of wire. The horn was from the parts bin, but I believe it originated from either an Atlas GP38 or a Proto2000 GP38-2. By: Joe Atkinson
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Underside of the EOT antenna ground plane. It was represented with a half-circle of .010 styrene supported by two wire legs extending forward from holes drilled above the numberboard. By: Joe Atkinson
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2809's front pilot, with another view of the walkway extension. Kato pilot "bump" was removed, and the resulting gap covered with 0.010" styrene pilot plates. Lift points were drilled and filed out. MU hoses are Kato factory parts, bent into more natural positions. Hose retainers were different sizes and positions, as per the prototype. By: Joe Atkinson
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Roof shot, showing Cannon #1901 angled air filter box with lift rings added, Cannon DB fans, and Overland #9565 RF&P E-unit Spark Arrestors, cut in half, with the bases filed shorter. By: Joe Atkinson
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Rear of 2809's roof, showing Cannon #1704 radiator fans and #1401 corrugated radiator screens, modified DA #1021 rear light bracket, and DA #1001 Gyralight. Final details, such as rear lift rings, relocated sand fill hatch, and V-shaped fan grab iron, will be added once painting and decaling are complete, since a non-skid walkway panel decal will be applied here (hopefully disguising the hack job I did removing the original sand fill hatch). By: Joe Atkinson
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Rear pilot details are largely the same as up front, with the exception of the spare coupler knuckles, the pockets below the MU hose restraints, and the style of the pilot plate. By: Joe Atkinson
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All truck sideframes have a 9"W x 13"H brake cylinder mounting plate added outboard of the center axle, a clue to the third cylinder the prototypes once had. By: Joe Atkinson
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Kato's attempt at representing underframe detailing is appreciated, but pretty crude. Not a lot can be done to improve these frame pieces without destroying the traction motor cable detailing, so I chose to just add new lines to the rear of the air tanks, as well a drain hose hanger from the Cannon fuel tank detail set. By: Joe Atkinson
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Since I wasn't going to equip this unit with sound, I was free to remove Kato's speaker mount and glue the two fuel tank halves together. I filled the gap between them, as well as the fuel guage on the conductor's side, with Super Jet, and sanded smooth, then detailed with the Cannon #2156 fuel tank detail set. By: Joe Atkinson
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Rear of the fuel tank, showing the Hi-Tech Details #6009 waste fluid retention tank and several more items from the Cannon fuel tank detail set, as well as the scrapbox. By: Joe Atkinson
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LLPX SD38-2 2809, ready for paint. This is a Kato SD38-2 with additional detailing and Cannon 88" short hood, air filter box, fans, and radiator grills. The short hood is just set in place for now, but will be attached once painting is complete.
Short hood and front porch showing new Cannon #1104 88" nose with Sunrise #H-108 Gyralight. The grab irons on the nose won't be added until painting and decaling are complete, since an anti-glare panel decal will be applied on top, and the LLP logo up front.
Also visible is the new walkway extension fabricated from Cannon #2015 Safety Tread Stock. The vertical supports were cut as an integral piece of the extension, then folded down. This extension has been drilled for ditch lights, as has the pilot directly underneath, but the ditch lights themselves haven't arrived yet.
Cab detail, including the Detail Associates #1902 vent on the cab side and #2314 windshield wipers, and a Details West #157 firecracker antenna. A second firecracker antenna with the base removed was used to represent the EOT antenna over the engineer's side numberboard, with the half-circle ground plane fabricated from 0.010" styrene. The triangular rotary beacon stand over the conductor's side numberboard was scratchbuilt. In front of that, what appears to be the remains of conduit that once ran to the rotary beacon, fabricated from bits of wire. The horn was from the parts bin, but I believe it originated from either an Atlas GP38 or a Proto2000 GP38-2.
Underside of the EOT antenna ground plane. It was represented with a half-circle of .010 styrene supported by two wire legs extending forward from holes drilled above the numberboard.
2809's front pilot, with another view of the walkway extension. Kato pilot "bump" was removed, and the resulting gap covered with 0.010" styrene pilot plates. Lift points were drilled and filed out. MU hoses are Kato factory parts, bent into more natural positions. Hose retainers were different sizes and positions, as per the prototype.
Roof shot, showing Cannon #1901 angled air filter box with lift rings added, Cannon DB fans, and Overland #9565 RF&P E-unit Spark Arrestors, cut in half, with the bases filed shorter.
Rear of 2809's roof, showing Cannon #1704 radiator fans and #1401 corrugated radiator screens, modified DA #1021 rear light bracket, and DA #1001 Gyralight. Final details, such as rear lift rings, relocated sand fill hatch, and V-shaped fan grab iron, will be added once painting and decaling are complete, since a non-skid walkway panel decal will be applied here (hopefully disguising the hack job I did removing the original sand fill hatch).
Rear pilot details are largely the same as up front, with the exception of the spare coupler knuckles, the pockets below the MU hose restraints, and the style of the pilot plate.
All truck sideframes have a 9"W x 13"H brake cylinder mounting plate added outboard of the center axle, a clue to the third cylinder the prototypes once had.
Kato's attempt at representing underframe detailing is appreciated, but pretty crude. Not a lot can be done to improve these frame pieces without destroying the traction motor cable detailing, so I chose to just add new lines to the rear of the air tanks, as well a drain hose hanger from the Cannon fuel tank detail set.
Since I wasn't going to equip this unit with sound, I was free to remove Kato's speaker mount and glue the two fuel tank halves together. I filled the gap between them, as well as the fuel guage on the conductor's side, with Super Jet, and sanded smooth, then detailed with the Cannon #2156 fuel tank detail set.
Rear of the fuel tank, showing the Hi-Tech Details #6009 waste fluid retention tank and several more items from the Cannon fuel tank detail set, as well as the scrapbox.
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