I've been out of modeling for about 10 years. Boy how time flies! I just scored a NIB Bachman Spectrum undecorated SD45 on eBay for $28.00. This will be the first powered unit acquisition and project. I am going to do this bad boy up as the Milwaukee Road #8. There are a number of photos similar to this one which were taken in my time period. I can't wait to get started on her!
Keep us posted on the progress and photos would be awesome to include your work area and equipment (spray booth and whatnot). I am a complete greenhorn when it comes to painting equipment (tried painting some locos when I was a kid). It is something I am interested in but too chicken to try right now. Some of those bachmann locos are pretty inexpensive, might be a great choice for a novice like me to cut my teeth on. SD45's are awesome locos and the will look great as a bandit. Just make sure it is prototypicaly filthy
Hi mtaylor, I'll be sure to post the process. I used to do all of my own painting back when I modeled previously. I don't even have an airbrush at this point. That will be the next purchase.
As one in much the same position as you are - returning to the hobby after an extended period (in my case, 30 years...), I understand what you mean about time flying... It will be great to see what comes out of this project. And I agree with mtaylor - it has to be filthy! :cool6xb:
Thanks guys. The SD45 is one of the easiest units to model in the MILW since they were pretty much stock. mtaylor, there won't be any bandit paint here. My era ends at March 1980 when the last train rolled out of Great Falls, Montana. I am playing with an idea for my own "fantasy" road which I have based on the Milwaukee making some strategic moves which resulted in the NMD being leased out to a bridge carrier much as was done with the Montana Rail Link. I call it the Agawam Southern Railway. You may see some "bandit" type power painted up for the ASR in the future. But this one is going to be Milwaukee Road all the way. While I'm waiting for the new units to arrive (ended up with another SD45 and 2 GP38-2's over the weekend) I am working on repairing my SD10.
SD45 arrived! Ok guys. The SD45 arrived yesterday! WooHoo! :thumbs_up: It looks to have most all of the detail parts that I would normally add from the factory. The question I'd like to toss out for discussion follows: What additional detailing would you do to a Bachman Spectrum SD45? I have been looking at the following and would like your opinion: Replace ratiator fans with see through fans Replace Dynamic brake cooling fans All weather window on the engineer side Replace factory horn with better quality one Front Plow Rear weed cutter plow That is the list as I have it to start with. I will custom paint her into Milwaukee Road #8 as in the photo above and weather to match that photo as well. I have on the way 3 new airbrushes and compressor. (A single action external mix, A dual action internal mix, and a dual action internal mix gravity feed) These should take care of ALL of my airbrush needs Also, what is the current favorite glue or plastic weld these days? When I modeled previously, I used Zapp or a plastic weld which I am unable to recall the name of. Heck, I don't even know who is making paints these days, so if you have an opinion on paint, I'd love to hear it as well. Kind of a scattered post, sorry about that.
Depends on how involved you want to get, but I would take a look at some Cannon & Co. parts, their cab, sub base and nose would really kick things up a notch.
Orange is on! Airbrushes and compressor arrived over the weekend. I shot the primer and 2 coats of MILW orange on the Bachman Spectrum which I am building into the MILW 12. I applied 2 coats of Milwaukee orange. Each side was baked in the Colorado sun for 2 hours.
Thanks Wolfgang. The new airbrushes are so much nicer than any I have had in the past. I am very happy with the result so far. I hope to shoot the black sometime later this week. I'm going to get the MILW 8 finished up first since there is less work to do on it.
It's good to have some drying time between the first color and masking for the second color. Wolfgang
Hey Mtaylor, Prior to painting, I washed the shell using warm water and windshield wiper fluid. The wiper fluid is a very mild detergent, just enough to remove body oils from handling the shell. I also use powder less surgical gloves to handle the shell during and after the cleaning process. Gloves are used to handle the shell until the final dull coat is applied after weathering.
looking very good so far. cant even tell you have been away from the hobby for 10 years by the work that you are doing.
