|
Posted - April 03 2012 : 10:43:55 PM
|
Well gus, time to pull out the big guns! I really get into the custom work so..,.. have a look at the next bit of eye candy! 



I bet NO ONE can guess the basis for this kitbash! 
~John
Many have tried to, and failed, ya just can't repair stupid... 
Do NOT try to Idiot-Proof anything!!!! God, will simply create a better......IDIOT!
Edited by - EM-1 on April 03 2012 10:53:09 PM
|
Country: USA ~
Posts: 2911 ~
Member Since: March 26 2012 ~
Last Visit: January 14 2014
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
Posted - April 03 2012 : 10:47:43 PM
|
Then we have another custom one.....




Athearn GP35 based RDMT to be painted CSX when its finished!
~John
Many have tried to, and failed, ya just can't repair stupid... 
Do NOT try to Idiot-Proof anything!!!! God, will simply create a better......IDIOT!
Edited by - EM-1 on April 03 2012 11:08:39 PM
|
Country: USA ~
Posts: 2911 ~
Member Since: March 26 2012 ~
Last Visit: January 14 2014
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
Posted - April 03 2012 : 10:52:12 PM
|
And then the big one.....
The base model for this one is a REAL interesting one, that was probably the most difficult one I ever done!







Anyone guess what this unit began life as? 
~John
Many have tried to, and failed, ya just can't repair stupid... 
Do NOT try to Idiot-Proof anything!!!! God, will simply create a better......IDIOT!
|
Country: USA ~
Posts: 2911 ~
Member Since: March 26 2012 ~
Last Visit: January 14 2014
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
Posted - April 03 2012 : 10:52:45 PM
|
Nice! Love the Chessie Kolors!
Walt
Luck, usually comes dressed in work clothes...
|
Country: USA ~
Posts: 6279 ~
Member Since: February 18 2009 ~
Last Visit: March 04 2022
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
Posted - April 03 2012 : 10:54:55 PM
|
Slugs I like them Such a weird Idea They abit like the old GM B units except shorter
|
Country: USA ~
Posts: 14908 ~
Member Since: February 23 2009 ~
Last Visit: June 24 2025
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
Posted - April 03 2012 : 10:55:28 PM
|
Thanks Walt!
More to come! As your going to see in a bit! 
I get alittle carried away when I want something of a real railroad that noone seems to want to make so I make it myself!
And yes, before anyone asks, these are ALL powered! 
~John
Many have tried to, and failed, ya just can't repair stupid... 
Do NOT try to Idiot-Proof anything!!!! God, will simply create a better......IDIOT!
|
Country: USA ~
Posts: 2911 ~
Member Since: March 26 2012 ~
Last Visit: January 14 2014
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
Posted - April 03 2012 : 10:59:09 PM
|
Here we go again! 


So theres what it looked like.......Guess who the maker is?
this is what it looks like painted and detailed....





Looks GREAT, considering what it is! a Life-Like "Train-Set" GP38-2! Made into a RDMT "Slug"
~John
Many have tried to, and failed, ya just can't repair stupid... 
Do NOT try to Idiot-Proof anything!!!! God, will simply create a better......IDIOT!
|
Country: USA ~
Posts: 2911 ~
Member Since: March 26 2012 ~
Last Visit: January 14 2014
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
Posted - April 03 2012 : 11:07:14 PM
|
Then a slightly older unit.....This was the first Slug I ever designed and built!



This one, and the Chessie System were all built from existing AHM GP18's! One GP18 to each of these!
The CSX MT-6, #1018, is built from 2 existing IHC C-628's! Shortened, and then cut down and the long hoods used off both units!
~John
Many have tried to, and failed, ya just can't repair stupid... 
Do NOT try to Idiot-Proof anything!!!! God, will simply create a better......IDIOT!
|
Country: USA ~
Posts: 2911 ~
Member Since: March 26 2012 ~
Last Visit: January 14 2014
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
Posted - April 04 2012 : 08:08:36 AM
|
boy what can i say,beautiful work,great conversions,lots of skill and patience,all of which i lack,cheers for sharing ken
|
Country: United Kingdom ~
Posts: 8294 ~
Member Since: September 28 2006 ~
Last Visit: October 20 2021
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
Posted - April 04 2012 : 4:30:08 PM
|
Amazing work, John. The CSX slug looks like it has Mehano Alco drive. As for the Life-Like Geep, because of the color I thought you cast the shell out of resin.
The Tyco Depot
|
Country: USA ~
Posts: 3927 ~
Member Since: June 20 2007 ~
Last Visit: November 19 2015
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
Posted - April 04 2012 : 6:58:30 PM
|
EM-1, Really nice work. Makes me want to do some research and build a slug. BTW: WM and CSX, two thumbs up.
Alco Fan
|
Country: USA ~
Posts: 2496 ~
Member Since: August 03 2006 ~
Last Visit: September 17 2024
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
Posted - April 04 2012 : 7:17:51 PM
|
Boy, those are real heavy-weight slugs! Must pull quite a bit around the yard. Nicely done.
Jerry
" When life throws you bananas...it's easy to slip up"
|
Country: USA ~
Posts: 3974 ~
Member Since: January 04 2009 ~
Last Visit: January 11 2019
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
Posted - April 04 2012 : 8:39:42 PM
|
Gentleman, Thanks! ALL of these slugs were designed to be powered one, and all the cabless units are AHM/IHC desined, the SWMT's are from GP18's, and the BIG CSX MT-6 as I mentioned is a Alco C-628 model from IHC.
The first "gray" RDMT is a Athearn based GP35 slug, and the yellow RDMT is a Life-Like based GP38-2......
I had taken a design from a long lost friend of mine that had designs made to build both the Chessie and the Western Maryland slug, in O scale, and he passed away and never seen any of them made, so when I seen the real thing one day some time ago, I thought of my friend, and then thought because I had these designs from him, I'd carry on what he didn't get to see, done! Altho, I down scaled it to HO, where his was O scale. BUT I took it a step further, I done the MT-6, which is an ex. Conrail unit....
He also didn't design the RDMT's either, I done those! My friend, went by the name "Huck" as if you visit my website, on the home page of it is a whole story, of him and what he done for me and the shop I have.
With all this said, I have yet to make the frames for the gray unfinsihed model of the RDMT's, but thats pretty simple at this point! The gray one is now a lighter gray in primer, and the yellow one shown as the Life-Like unit is completed. I think I have 2 of the RDMT's to complete, and one isn't pictured. I have another SWMT as well, its in CSX livery, and is unpictured,. thats mated to a Athearn based GP38-2, that was custom designed into a GP39! But there is a few details from the time I done the GP39, I plan to change as I'm not happy with it, and the SWMT thats mated, to it, will remain the same!
The mother units to these, are for the most part, in the works! I had repowered all of these, to run specffically with there mother unit. The WM unit is mated to a WM BL-2, by Proto-2000. The Chessie System SWMT is getting a custom made SD20-2, which is a derated SD35! The MT-6 is mated to a matching SD38 in CSX, and the #2349 RDMT's has a GP38-2 mother unit.
The Athearn GP35 slug will have a GP40-2 mother unit I do believe
I have a listing of each mother to slug lash up as CSX made them to be in real life for modeling reasons!
Thanks again guys! I put alot onto thse and I have more planed over time! I like 'em and just can't help myself as they truely are.................something different!
~John
Many have tried to, and failed, ya just can't repair stupid... 
Do NOT try to Idiot-Proof anything!!!! God, will simply create a better......IDIOT!
|
Country: USA ~
Posts: 2911 ~
Member Since: March 26 2012 ~
Last Visit: January 14 2014
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
Posted - April 04 2012 : 8:50:50 PM
|
And being I have a difficult time, "helping myself" I'll post some of the others mentioned above! 
The following picture is of whats going to become a Chessie System C&O GP39! This locomotive was saved from the trash bin, ofa friend of mine! When he had it, ran it till the motor got so hot and melted out a few of the long hood side doors! I cut 'em out and replaced them and then added what was needed for this model as it began life as an old Atlas, GP38, with the Roco drive!
This shell is currently setting in my shop, on the back burner in yellow paint!




The next set of pictures, is of a Chessie System C&O SD18, (NO not a mother unit), but a good place to post whats been done to him, to date! Hes built from a RPP SD-7/9 shell, with the high hood removed, and replaced with a TYCO GP20 cab and nose, and alot of other custom made details. He now sitts painted in Chessie colors and letteringawaiting a custom made frame!



More to come!
~John
Many have tried to, and failed, ya just can't repair stupid... 
Do NOT try to Idiot-Proof anything!!!! God, will simply create a better......IDIOT!
Edited by - EM-1 on April 04 2012 8:53:22 PM
|
Country: USA ~
Posts: 2911 ~
Member Since: March 26 2012 ~
Last Visit: January 14 2014
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
Posted - April 04 2012 : 9:31:05 PM
|
The next locomotive was named "Project Frankenstien" by my wife......for a reason it was all sorts of colors before it got painted in its base coat of primer....
I wanted a GP15-T before I EVER got my hands on 2 of these from the old Walthers Trainline......
So, here is what it currently, looks like:





This shell derived from an Athearn SD40T-2, the rear most portion of the radiator, the nose and cab section. The rear panel of the end of the locomotive shell was from a choped up Life-Like GP38-2, along with the dynamic brake as seen in the pictures. Then there was parts from was a B&M GP38-2 from Athearn that donated its non dynamic brake hatch to make the distance from the rear of the inertial air filter to the front of the dynamic brake hatch....
And now, the amazing part of this model, the frame! Have a look at what happens to an Athearn frame to be made to fit a really short locomotive shell! This frame was to an Athearn GP38-2! (Which by the way, will not only fit a GP38-2, but also the GP40-2, the GP50, AND the GP60!)




And YES the flywheel is custom turned to length, and the drive shafting made different to fit and the frame well......The fuel tank was cut out of it, and shortened by being milled, the ends for the truck mounts made to be close, to the needed length, and then the frame rails were replaced with 3/16 thich, by 1/16th thich brass stock, drilled for 0-80 machine screws and then the frame was drilled the same way and taped to except the 0-80's. ONCE all is said and done, the frame end bolts, will be soldered to the brass, and ground smooth, the screws to hold the fuel tank, will be countersunk to lesson the visibility of the head, but not soldered to be able to remove the motor in the future if ever need be!
ENJOY!
~John
Many have tried to, and failed, ya just can't repair stupid... 
Do NOT try to Idiot-Proof anything!!!! God, will simply create a better......IDIOT!
Edited by - EM-1 on April 04 2012 9:48:20 PM
|
Country: USA ~
Posts: 2911 ~
Member Since: March 26 2012 ~
Last Visit: January 14 2014
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
Posted - April 04 2012 : 9:38:32 PM
|
Back to mother units......
This is the mother unit to the RDMT #2349 in CSX....




This model is aloso just like the RDMT #2349, a Life-Like based GP38-2, which it has remained, but it has been customized, as seen! The handrail are custom fitted metal, with Athearn stanchions, the pilots have had that large couple "hole" filled in from parts of an old beat up Athearn GP35! Has original motor in it, and the 2 units together run well together and actually do pull pretty good for what they are!
~John
Many have tried to, and failed, ya just can't repair stupid... 
Do NOT try to Idiot-Proof anything!!!! God, will simply create a better......IDIOT!
Edited by - EM-1 on April 04 2012 9:39:59 PM
|
Country: USA ~
Posts: 2911 ~
Member Since: March 26 2012 ~
Last Visit: January 14 2014
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
Posted - April 04 2012 : 9:42:46 PM
|
And now, to post pictures of the CSX GP39.....I'm not 100% pleased with this guy as I have noticed a detail needing changed but other that one small thing, is pretty much a replica! I won't point out what that detail that needs changed to be a GP39, BUT if you see it, mention it......I'll tell you if your right or wrong on what it is!





ENJOY!
~John
Many have tried to, and failed, ya just can't repair stupid... 
Do NOT try to Idiot-Proof anything!!!! God, will simply create a better......IDIOT!
|
Country: USA ~
Posts: 2911 ~
Member Since: March 26 2012 ~
Last Visit: January 14 2014
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
Posted - April 04 2012 : 9:46:16 PM
|
Now to post pictures of the last message I posted, mother unit......The SWMT #1041!





This is the SWMT, that as all the others of its same body style, were built from IHC GP18's!!!!
~John
Many have tried to, and failed, ya just can't repair stupid... 
Do NOT try to Idiot-Proof anything!!!! God, will simply create a better......IDIOT!
Edited by - EM-1 on April 04 2012 9:49:37 PM
|
Country: USA ~
Posts: 2911 ~
Member Since: March 26 2012 ~
Last Visit: January 14 2014
|
Alert Moderator
|
|