For the teeming hordes of DM&E modelers out there who've been dying to put together a model of said road's business/excursion train, things just got a whole lot easier! (More Coming)
First off, Jim at Highball Graphics (http://www.highballgraphics.com/) has put together a set of custom decals for the three cars (Plum Creek, Silver Lake, and The Pioneer). Secondly, the two ex-CP 2200 coaches can be modeled using Geoff Gooderham resin models; available from Central Hobbies in Vancouver - http://www.central-hobbies.com/products/ggood.html- Better yet, Panamint Models now sells finely detailed models of the appropiate CP 2200 trucks (via Shapeways - http://www.shapeways.com/shops/panamintmodels) - As for the "Pioneer" business car? Sorry, you're on your own there. FWIW, I plan to use Kato's model as a really bad foobie (hey, gimme a break, I never said it was going to be a slam-dunk) - Cheers! -Mark
Mark, I, like you, am a firm believer in the three-foot, or arm's length, rule....besides, it's MY hobby....LOL However, I agree, that is a lovely business train.
What's up with DM&E? Did they merge with CP? I recently have DM&E and Iowa,Chicago and Eastern locomotives showing up in front of my house on the R&N on CP trains.Be cool if mr. Exec. train made an appearance,LOL!!
Yo, DM&E fans! DME was acquired by CP in 2008, which gave them access to Kansas City and potentially the Powder River Basin. Rumor has it that it could be spun back out of CP sometime, sans the connection to KC - time will tell. Neat project, this train. Of course you know that Kato will announce it as its next passenger set a few months after you complete it ;-) In all seriousness, it would be nice to get some ICE/DME GPs from Atlas and SD40-2s from Kato.
I still think you should do a couple of these in their "as delivered" schemes Looking forward to following the business train build, looks like a good one!
Yo, DM&E fans! Those are some good looking locos. Someday I'll have time to break out the airbrush again...
Mark Nice work there. Looking forward to seeing the business train modeled. What did you finally come up with for your paint colors? All I have are two Atlas GP 40s, one of which I renumbered and decaled for the anniversary unit 4002. I'd like to do SD40-2s Sleepy Eye and the City of Lamberton.
The blue is a mixture of Floquil Conrail Blue and CSX Blue (approximately three parts Conrail to one part CSX). I used Floquil CN Yellow on the step edges and the handrails. It's a good match for the yellow that Microscale used on their stripe decals, although a bit off as compared to the yellow/gold that Atlas used on their GP40's. FYI, Highball Graphics recently released DM&E and IC&E diesel decal sets that are a bit more up-to-date than the Microscale set. All of the "named" locos are covered. -Mark
Painting Your Own Locos Mark, Great Job!!!! Even more rewarding on top of the quality work is that your modifications, designs, alterations, detail and decoration make those in essence, YOUR MODELS. I just painted a lot of models I bought undec and these were the first ones in quite some time. I had forgotten what that feeling and pride were like, and it came through on your post. Ken "FloridaBoy" Willaman
Thanks, Ken. It's definitely a good feeling being able to make reasonably decent models of prototypes that are not otherwise available "off the shelf". I'm currently putting the finishing touches on a Rock Island AB6, and you can bet the mortgage that that one will never be mass-produced. Cheers, -Mark
Living on the DM&E line in Walnut Grove (hence the Plum Creek as in On The Banks of Plum Creek by Laura Ingalls Wilder) I have seen these many times and had the privilege of touring them in the Huron yards in 2007. They are very nicely done both inside and out with the Pioneer expecially recieving a new interior of paneling, carpet, etc. which was done by DM&E employees. I was in Huron some years prior and when asking and receiving permissiomn to look around, was advised to be quiet around the business train, as then President Kevin Shaefer was sleeping on board that morning. To my knowledge, CP is still keeping these cars based in Huron, SD.
Lessee, the air holes are filled in with putty, the windows are de-flashed, the sides are sanded, the handrails are installed, and the primer is dry. I think we're ready for the paint shop -Mark
Incidentally, slight change of plans on The Pioneer. Lowell Smith has commissioned Micro-Trains to build a couple of custom business cars; one of them being this SP&S car - As a modernized HW car, it's much closer to the ex-MOPAC car that the DM&E is operating, so I'll be going with one of those instead of a Kato business car. Supposedly due out next month. -Mark
The coaches are finished, now I just need to get my mitts on one of those Lowell Smith business cars. Cheers, -Mark
