Looking very smart indeed! Hope Kato do release the GS4 parts soon, I'm after the tender for a project. Simon
Here are more shots. I attached the railings to the skyline casting and put the steps on the pilot. I have to do a bit of trimming on the steps. I added steam pipes to the cylinders, I need to redo these since the stock I used was too large of a diameter, easy fix. It still sounds like a model power, I had to turn down the flywheel a couple thousanths since it had a bur that was hitting the boiler. Down the line I might fit it with a coreless motor, It is easy to dismantle to get to the motor. I removed the feedwater heater line in order to mask the sides of the firebox before preliminary painting. I also need to repaint the front of the boiler, the silver I used just isn't quite right... This one is a bit blurry.
Here I finished up the loco by adding the feedwater pipe. After another test run, I have to extend the drawbar since the rear of the cab lifts the wheels on tight turns.
Here it is after weathering and adding the finishing details. I added blowdown spreaders and numberboards from a Kato GS-4 and carved a bell mount out of styrene. I made the numberboards removable in the event that Kato comes out with more train numbers. I need to add a figure and cab shades, but otherwise it is done, and it runs great too.
Here it is pulling a local. I need to get a program to combine different focal lengths, it is a bit blurry.
Great good job there. I've always thought this engine was very cool looking. Were you able to find drawings to do this? I've gone through all our CBC's and can't find anything...nothing I could find in the Trains.com magazine reference either. I'm scratch building a pattern for an SP 50' outside braced Auto Carrier and have been thinking an engine like this would look cool pulling a bunch of early generation Boxcars and Tank Cars. Cheers Joe MTL
Joe, Most of my reference material came from pictures on the net and photos I took at the California Railroad Museum (they have a p-8). I pretty much "eyeballed" it for the most part. I also used pics from the railroad paintshop as well including their P-8 and P-10. http://paintshop.railfan.net/images/other/sp_pacific.html
I'd like to thank everyone for their positive notes of encouragement. This project was nearly halted due to technical difficulties several times, but the persistance paid off. The loco has about 3 hours of run time and is running smoothly without any major technical problems. Now it is off to tackle a GS-1 from a Concor S-2, a much simpler project after completing this one. One last shot.
I wasn't aware of this locomotive class, although I'm glad you were, as you ended up with a stunning model. Well done.
Missed this thread, but thank to the (^) bump, I saw it. This is a really great looking loco. I love SP steamers!
