Finally finished! CB&Q GP30 Galesburg Tribute.

Jim Wiggin Jun 16, 2006

  1. Jim Wiggin

    Jim Wiggin Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    We'll last night at 11:00PM I officially finished GP30 #974. If you have not been following the posts on how I built and painted this in the Inspection Pit, here is a photo.
    [​IMG]

    I started with an Atlas GP30 and added BLMA cut levers, MU's, Grab Irons and JnJ Wipers, Shades, Lift Rings, Speed Recorder and Precision Craft Air Hoses. The engineer or 'Vern' as he is called was installed with a little bit of work to the cab.
    [​IMG]

    The story: In 1964 in the town of Galesburg IL, a famous picture was taken in which a line up of past and then present CB&Q locomotives were lined up. The GP30 was at the time one of the roads newest "motors". This picture was to celebrate the 100 years of the CB&Q. 42 years later this locomotive is still working the rails as a rebuilt Morrison Knudson GP39M and is now wearing Cascade Green and black, lettered for BNSF as #2824.
     
  2. Jim Wiggin

    Jim Wiggin Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Here is a rear view:
    [​IMG]

    Overhead:
    [​IMG]

    Head on:
    [​IMG]
     
  3. HemiAdda2d

    HemiAdda2d Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Fantastic shots!!
    My models would not stand up to that sort of photo, however..
    Great work!!!!
     
  4. Steve 4 Painting

    Steve 4 Painting TrainBoard Member

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    shame on you Jim, shame on you... :eek:
    ...what were you thinking to give all the secrets of custompainting to the public ? now all the attraction and glory is gone and everybody knows it is no wizardry anymore... ;)

    just kidding - you did a great job with your step-by-step description and I've learned also something new I've never tried before, well done... :D
     
  5. OC Engineer JD

    OC Engineer JD Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Beautiful work! That is a great looking model.:)
     
  6. NorsemanJack

    NorsemanJack TrainBoard Member

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    Outstanding work. If you ever get tired of it just send it to Tucson and I'll give it a great home with other Q power. :)
     
  7. verse2damax

    verse2damax TrainBoard Supporter

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    Very Nice Job BNSF7173.

    What number bit do you use to drill the holes for the detailing parts?

    I have a set where number eighty something is the smallest bit but on the parts package it states that a #93 should be used. Has anyone ever used or seen a #93 drill bit. I would love one (#93 bit) because the smallest drill bit make too big a hole for the parts, it's an eye sore.

    verse
     
  8. TonyHammes

    TonyHammes TrainBoard Member

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    Looks great
     
  9. Jim Wiggin

    Jim Wiggin Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    I have not seen a #93 but yes it would make things a bit better. I used an #80 and this was not a problem with most of the parts. A nice thick CyA helps as well.
     
  10. dave n

    dave n TrainBoard Supporter

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    Beautiful work! :) You don't see crewmembers in n scale locomotives very often - great job!
     
  11. SD452XR

    SD452XR TrainBoard Member

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  12. LittleGiant

    LittleGiant TrainBoard Member

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    Can't wait to see it at the Galesburg Railroad Days Train Show! Fantastic work. I will have the display case in the College library all ready for you.
    Give me call on the telephone. Can't seem to get anything but a busy signal on your home phone.
     
  13. gp3105

    gp3105 New Member

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    I read somewhere about using guitar strings for small drill bits. They are cheap and work quite well for drilling plastic. The smallest size commonly available is .008", I'm not sure what drill bit that compares to but it is small enough for anything I need to drill. Cut the string to a convenient length and drill away. Awsome job on the GP30!!
     
  14. lashedup

    lashedup TrainBoard Member

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    Awesome work as usual Jim - looks great!
     
  15. Powersteamguy1790

    Powersteamguy1790 Permanently dispatched

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    Jim:

    Very nicely done.Whose mu hoses did you use?


    Stay cool and run steam....:cool: :cool:
     
  16. Matthew Roberts

    Matthew Roberts TrainBoard Member

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    Jim, magnificent! Probably the only item that would increase the model's realsim would be a Z-scale coupler. Too bad its a GP30 hunchback. :teeth:
     
  17. Dr. J.

    Dr. J. TrainBoard Member

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    Excellent work! Once my layout is set up I will strive to this level of work.
    I agree you don't see many engineers in n scale locos.
    jeff
     
  18. Jim Wiggin

    Jim Wiggin Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Thank you Bob, the MU's are from BLMA. You can see them here:
    http://www.nscaleblma.com/BLMA100.html

    These are all I'll use now as they look better than anything eles I've used and you only have to drill one #80 hole per mu.
     
  19. Jim Wiggin

    Jim Wiggin Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Thank you Matthew, on my home layout I do just that since my B&M stuff doesn't wander past my basement. Soon all of my custom painted rolling stock will be converted to body mounted Z couplers. Looks like my wife Tina will be stocking Micro-Trains soon, so we should have a good stock of couplers.
     
  20. Powersteamguy1790

    Powersteamguy1790 Permanently dispatched

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