Received several more Kato FEF-3's to paint Greyhound. Got the assembly line in action, already painted them yesterday. Now for decaling and other details today. And "YES" Jason, w/blackened drivers & pilot wheels --------- LOL ! One will be the yellow version, cab #8444, the others will be the grey versions cab #843, one will be for myself. Have several more being shipped for conversions. Here's a few pics: Ernie
Because of the engineering Kato did on these, painting them is very easy...especially the removable and easily disassembled smokebox, which saves a batch of masking time! You might want to consider painting the smokeboxes a darker metallic gray (graphite) than the abysmal bright aluminum that Kato decided to paint them. All of my color photos of Greyhound FEF's show that the smokeboxes were darker than the Kato model to varying degrees. In the last Greyhound grey-white scheme starting in June of 1949, which replaced the grey-yellow scheme, the smokeboxes were noticeably darker than when TTG was first applied in 1946. The excursion 844 and 8444's smoke box was even darker, much like the darker metallic on SP smokebox sides, but without the bright aluminum smokebox front. I also like it that you did a non-844 in gray-white, which has a chance of being correct for the time period! Well thought out! I wish you luck in this much-needed endeavor! Cheerio! Bob Gilmore
Right you are Bob. Jason Smith called me a couple evenings before you replied here and reminded me about the color of Greyhound's smoke boxes and firebox's. Thanks for reminding me also. As many Greyhound Challengers as I've painted as well as some of Jason's FEF-3 resin castings, I should have known better. SENIOR moment --------- LOL And I already had a small can of the color I made to match the Athearn Greyhound Challenger's. Here's new revised pics of the FEF-3's. Ernie
