Hello everyone! Thought I'd share a couple pics of my latest project. After the Milwaukee repaints I've been in an "Orange Phase"
GN purchased 2 of the very first 4 Phase-1 44-tonners produced, numbers 5200 and 5201, from GE (serials 12910 and 12911) in September 1940. They were re-numbered 50 and 51 in 1943. Number 50 was the assigned to Helena MT, and was sold to a construction company in November 1951. Number 51 was sold to a metal manufacturer in January 1948 and eventually made it's way to the Walkersville Southern Railroad in Maryland, where it is being restored: http://trn.trains.com/news/news-wire/20 ... estoration
I found only the one b/w photo (side-view) of number 50, operating in Helena; but no end-views; so I had to base my rendition of the hood-ends upon color photos of other GN switchers from the period. I found photos of scale models that portray a different end-treatment, but based on my research, I concluded that they probably ran into the same lack of photos, and simply "free-lanced it" like I did. If anyone happens to know of any additional photos, please post them if at all possible. If only memories exist, even a description or drawing would be helpful, just to confirm how the end-views were painted.
I'd like to say these will be ready for the next library update, but I'm still working on the weathering for number 50, so it could be a while. You might say "Aw, just throw a little dirt on it", but there's a lot more to it than that... it involves several layers of various textures and shades of grime, and aligning everything at the various seams of the 3D model. Then there's "un-aligning" drip stains when they encounter a panel door or other obstacle. As you can see, number 51 is fairly dirty; so much so that one of the maintenance crew added a little "office humor" to the lower portion of the cab. I plan to make number 50 a little cleaner, and not quite as faded from the Montana sun. Anyway, I'm hopeful these will turn out to be some dirty little gems when I'm finished with them, and I hope you'll enjoy running them.
Cheers!
