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Post by URR566 on Jun 5, 2012 16:34:14 GMT -5
Its been a while since my last update. Here is the future B&LE 727A after being paint stripped. The real 727A didn't feature all of the extra MU equipment that the 728 had so it shouldnt take as long to build my 727A. The loco will recieve the following-the EMD pilot footboards will be filled in, nose door headlight will be filled in, new 48in flat top dynamic brake fan, winterization hatch, extra step on the rear set of steps, and some smaller detail parts will be reinstalled, such as cab sunshades, windshield wipers, and a few grab irons that were removed prior to the paint stripping process to prevent damage. Attachments:
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Post by URR566 on Jun 12, 2012 8:48:57 GMT -5
Well here it is-727A ready for paint. Like the prototype 727 I added the 48in flat top dynamic brake fan. There are two small details which I still need to add-horns and the grab irons on each side of the nose door. Now that all 3 F’s are built, I can now start painting them. I’m currently debating how to approach the paint process. The real A units were painted a few years before the B unit was, and as a result 721B was cleaner that 727/728. I’m thinking about painting 727/728 a darker shade of orange and do 721B in a lighter shade so that the A units (painted in the mid 70s) will appear to be a bit older/dirtier than 721B (painted in the early 80s). The photo below shows how the B unit was brighter than the companion A units in the 90s: www.flickr.com/photos/mastadon4935/3218835347/in/pool-1343808@N24/Another paint detail-has anyone ever noticed that all 3 of these F units had different colored handrails? On 727A the handrails and step edges were painted white, on 721B the handrails/step edges were fluorescent orange, and on 728 the railing/step edges were black. A problem that I knew I would encounter at some point has finally set in- if you remember when I first started, I explained how I acquired the two A unit shells. There were no chassis with them, so now I have to set out and try to locate two powered Athearn F7A chassis with the side frames detailed. I have two options-go with the blue box chassis, which I’m having a tough time locating two of them, or go with the newer Athearn RTR chassis. The bb chassis would be cheaper, but tough to find two that are powered-but I have located two RTR chassis-however they’re a lot more expensive than if I was to pursue the bb way. There is some good news though, the 721B does have a chassis and its ready for paint-seeing how I’m leaning towards painting it a lighter shade of orange I can paint it now separate from the A units. I also need to get numbers for these engines since the Highball Graphics decal set lacks the numbering font that B&LE F7s used. As I showed earlier I found a number jumble set which will work. Attachments:
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Post by BleBob on Jun 12, 2012 14:21:53 GMT -5
Great to see the progress,
One area that will help with the different color paint will be weathering. What number set are you using for the unit numbers? Cant wait to see some black & orange on them.
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Post by URR566 on Jun 12, 2012 15:47:02 GMT -5
For the numbers, I plan to use this: www.mgdecals.com/Clarendon%20Font.htmThe reason I'll use it is because its from the same place that makes the B&LE decals I got for these engines. Of course, you can intermix decal manufactures this is just what Ill be using. I think I will start to paint 721B tomorrow. Or Wednesday depending on when I have time. Definitely by the weekend there will be an orange and black B unit. |
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nkp715
Junior Member
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Post by nkp715 on Jun 12, 2012 16:11:09 GMT -5
I'm a sometimes-wannabe modeler, but just haven't taken the time to do so. My hat is off to you guys who have the talent and knowledge to make modeling an art!
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Post by URR566 on Jun 13, 2012 14:25:54 GMT -5
Thank you. Sometimes I don't know if its talent, knowledge, or just plain luck!
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Post by URR566 on Jun 15, 2012 8:27:34 GMT -5
I said there would be an orange F unit by this weekend and here is 721B moments after getting its B&LE orange. I spent most of the previous day trying to find a close match to B&LE orange. I was online on every railroad site with Bessemer photos and had two books about the Bessemer out trying to determine what looked right. I ended up going with something called competition orange, which is suppose to be almost exact which was good enough to me. I plan on finishing the paint scheme, decal this loco, then move on to painting the A units, decaling them, then weather all three at the same time. Attachments:
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Post by BleBob on Jun 15, 2012 9:32:29 GMT -5
Awesome!
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Post by URR566 on Jun 15, 2012 21:47:27 GMT -5
I feel rather discouraged right now-after the orange paint on 721B dried it turned red. Now I have to reevaluate paint colors again to try and find something that works. Good thing I didn't paint all three locos at the same time...
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Post by URR566 on Jun 16, 2012 3:00:04 GMT -5
I think I figured out what I did wrong on the paint.
As you can probably tell by my screen name and some posts elsewhere, I am a huge Union Railroad fan. I have painted their blue, apple green, and hunter green locomotives before, but had never done a yellow and red unit. A while ago I bought some yellow and red paint to do that scheme, but when I tested the red it was too light. I set that red aside until I could find a use for it.
Fast forward to yesterday-while looking for competition orange which I already had I found what appeared to be orange paint-however it was the red that was too light(the labels were removed from both cans) so 721B is now red. This is the dumbest mistake I've ever made painting anything before-however the color is light enough that I can paint right over it with the correct orange paint so nothing is hurt except my pride.
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Post by URR566 on Jun 17, 2012 1:57:47 GMT -5
I went back and repainted 721B the correct color and even got most of the black done on it as well. While I need to do some touch up work the basic orange/black scheme is basically complete-now onto decals. But first I must order the numbers. Also want to paint the step edges/handrails fluorescent orange. Attachments:
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Post by superbirdvh on Jul 20, 2012 19:41:56 GMT -5
Interesting project. I've been considering do this myself with some of my extra Stewart B&LE F7s I've got. The yellow F unit would be an interesting project as well. Keep the shots coming!
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Post by URR566 on Jul 20, 2012 21:26:10 GMT -5
As you may have noticed, I haven't been doing much with these locomotives lately. I needed chassis for both A units which I still haven't acquired yet. I was holding off on purchasing them until the next train show which is tomorrow. I figure I will look for two F7's there so I can use the chassis under my two units and save the shells for another day. If I don't find any F units then I will simply have to order two new Ready To Roll chassis for them. Hopefully work on these three will resume within the next week.
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Post by URR566 on Aug 4, 2012 7:06:44 GMT -5
Okay Bessemer fans, were gettin there. Heres 721B painted with logos on the sides. Since the last post, I finished the paint scheme by painting the ends of the locomotive and adding flourescent orange handrails and step edges. Also added the logos to each side, and on the left side I added the small "F". While looking at video of the real 721B, it appears the locomotive lacked the "F" on the right side. On the left side, there was an "F", however there was no number, so the left side of the locomotive is finished. The logo of 721B is also offset towards the front, unlike all other B units which had the logos centered in the middle. Attachments:
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Post by BleBob on Sept 26, 2012 12:40:55 GMT -5
URR,
Looking good, any updates on the other units?
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