On Track, with Deano

UP SD40-2

Senior Member
TRAIN DVD's...

Folks, I'm going to let you in on one of my favorite modeling tools...Train DVD's. i know your probably saying "Deano, your nuts, how could a train DVD be a good modeling tool?":confused: , well, please allow me to explain:winki: .

First off, i started buying train DVD's simply because i like old engines from years gone by, and the chances of ever seeing 90% of them in action is next to none:frowns: ...except on DVD:thumb: . words cant describe how cool it is to see a Big Boy, or cab forward actually running & be able to hear them, all right before your eyes. when watching the more modern era DVD's i also found that when the weather is bad, or its real late at night, and i just cant get out to railfan, popping in a train DVD satisfies my railfanning fever. i also love RR facts & RR history, and found train DVD's are jam packed full of them.

Watching trains of old & new running across your screen & listening to the facts narrated to you is GREAT, your watching the DVD at its "face value". but watching one of my favorite DVD's one night i started to see the DVD in a different way, as a "modeling tool" if you will. i really started noticing the full potential of all my train DVD's, as i was watching UP's GP7's roll by, i started noticing 100's of things that would end up being very valuable information, it started with the engines, i started noticing things like the horn placements, how the white on the railings was painted, the different types of sunshades, all weather windows, canvas sunshades, and weathering, just to name a few things:winki: .

as i watched my steam engine DVD's that had tons of footage from the transition era, i could see EXACTLY what kind of engines & freight cars made up the trains of that time, and the different degrees of weathering the cars of that time had on them. watching the trains run through towns i noticed just how the buildings, roads, signs, automobiles, and people's dress really was back then, just to name a few things. i don't know about you folks, but i was born in 1965, so being i never lived in the 40's-50's, the train DVD's really was like a window to the past, many of the questions i had were answered just by watching the train DVD's one step further then their "face value" ....pretty neat huh:winki::mrgreen: .

here's another example of great help a train DVD can give you, EXAMPLE: lets say you live in...Florida, but you find your a big fan of the Rio Grande for some reason, watching a DVD on the Rio Grande will give you a real advantage on how the terrain is in that area, giving you a chance to model the area correctly:winki: .

A REAL PLUS IS...
...that there are literally 100's of train DVD's out there with actual footage from MANY different eras & areas and railroads. i am pretty darn sure that out of all the train DVD's out there, there's at least a 95% chance that theres a DVD of your favorite railroad:thumb: . and more then likely its of the era your modeling in. there are cases that the road your modeling does not have a DVD on it, or perhaps the era is wrong, in that case pick a road that was close to the road you were modeling, and make sure its in the time frame your modeling in, where theres a will, theres a way:winki: .

ARE YOU FOLKS...
...getting what i am saying? buying a train DVD and watching it for its "face value" its self is fantastic, but looking a little deeper into it unlocks a HUGE amount of information, and will answer TONS of questions you may have, or didn't realize things that could really help your modeling go up to the next level:winki::smilie: .

COST...
you can pickup train DVD's anywhere from $20.00 - $45.00 a piece, though it might seem kinda high at first, considering not only the GREAT "face value" entertainment it will give you, think about all the hidden information you'll get from it, given that, i think you'll find them well worth the money spent...just MY thoughts:winki: .

there are many brands out there, Pentrex i feel are the best quality, Green Frog brand isn't bad either, a couple i have arnt that good a quality though, personally, i would stick with Pentrex & Green Frog brands to play it safe, though I'm NOT knocking the other brands, I'm just saying.....:rolleyes:

Deano's Picks...
for just about ANYONE interested in getting a steam DVD, "Southern Pacific CAB FORWARD collection" put out by Pentrex is just SLAP AWESOME!, a must for fans of big steam:thumb::thumb::thumb: .
for the Union Pacific fans, "Union Pacific VINTAGE WEST" put out by Charles Smiley brand is a MUST HAVE if you like "old" UP diesels, and is SLAM PACKED with TONS of UP history, facts & info:thumb::thumb: .

i hope you folks found this "write up" interesting. i have posted a couple pics of some of my favorites in my DVD collection.(pictured below)
TILL NEXT TIME....STAY ON TRACK!
:deano: -Deano
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cnw1961

Member
I'm beginning to think that maybe you're a UP fan...!!!!
OMG, Gus, how did you figure that out?:confused::confused::confused::confused: Your full name is not Sherlock "Gus" Holmes, or is it?:mrgreen::mrgreen::mrgreen::p:mrgreen::mrgreen::p:p
 

Nazgul

Active Member
Great job Deano!:thumb::thumb::thumb:

I don't own any train videos/dvds.......I always thought they were just too expensive:cry:..............however you have moved me to re-think my position.

I don't mind thinking...I just don't want to make it a habit:winker::twisted:.
 

TruckLover

Mack CH613 & 53' Trailer
I dont wanna overtake your thread Deano but this is a UP pic im posting so i dont think you would mind :mrgreen:

heres my new KATO SD90/43MAC in the "We Will Deliver" paint i was talking about.

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UP SD40-2

Senior Member
Gus, I'm just trying to figure out what exactly gave away the fact I'm a UP fan:confused: ....:119:....:winki: ....:mrgreen:

Zachary, THANK YOU!!!:smilie::smilie::smilie:

Kurt, you would have to be a detective to figure out I'm a UP fan:winki: , i don't leave many clues:twisted::toug::119::mrgreen:

Steve, I'm SO GLAD you got something out of my post on using Train DVD's as modeling tools:thumb: , THANK YOU!!:smilie:

Josh, GREAT looking SD90/43MAC!!:thumb: NICE scene too:thumb: .
I think my SD90/43MAC is from the first run:confused: , yours looks a little more updated:thumb: . heres a pic of it with the other modern day "King" of the layout, my AC6000:thumb: .

:deano: -Deano
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CNWman

CNW Fan
Geez Deano, I'm thinking that you'd willingly pay full price for, say, a discounted UP SD40-2 and use it to get to work everyday if you could!sign1
 

UP SD40-2

Senior Member
Geez Deano, I'm thinking that you'd willingly pay full price for, say, a discounted UP SD40-2 and use it to get to work everyday if you could!sign1
CNWman:wav: , SURE i would, if i had the money:winki: , but hey, I'm not picky, i would be just as happy with an SD60M, SD70M or.....:119: .

Hey CNWman, in another thread, you said some VERY KIND words towards me, i didn't want to hijack that thread, so i am going to THANK YOU here:winki::smilie: , THANKS!:mrgreen: , i really appreciated it:winki::smilie: .

********************************************************
NEW ENGINE...:thumb::mrgreen:

Well, after about 8 hours of adding a couple decals, detailing parts, installing a sound decoder, paint work and weathering, i present to you folks the KING of my Tunnel motors, my NEW SD40T-2SN:mrgreen::mrgreen::mrgreen: . One thing i really liked that i did to this engine was add the roof platform for the GPS system:thumb: . i AM NOT saying I'm the only one that models these platforms:cry: , but I AM the only one that i know of that has done it:winki::thumb::mrgreen: . the first engine i had modeled the roof mounted radio/GPS platform on was my SD38-2(bottom pic), i liked it so much i put one on this engine:thumb::mrgreen: . UP & SP have/had these platforms on several engines. i like the radio platform above the inertial filter hatch too:winki: . anyways, here it is....:mrgreen:
:deano: -Deano
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doctorwayne

Active Member
Looks great, Dean! :thumb::thumb: That version of the SD40-2 (tunnel motor with the snoot nose) is my favourite, by far, of all models of that particular loco. I like the weathering job, too: looks like a hard-working but well-maintained piece of machinery. Very nice work.

Wayne
 

UP SD40-2

Senior Member
Looks great, Dean! :thumb::thumb: That version of the SD40-2 (tunnel motor with the snoot nose) is my favourite, by far, of all models of that particular loco. I like the weathering job, too: looks like a hard-working but well-maintained piece of machinery. Very nice work.

Wayne
WOW!!!:eeki: THANK YOU SO MUCH WAYNE!:smilie: the complements coming from you MEANS A LOT:mrgreen::worship: .
as for the weathering, i dry brushed the trucks, fuel & air tanks with Polly Scale engine black & alcohol, then made a VERY DILUTED gray and airbrushed the WHOLE engine, some areas more then others:winki: . i attribute the airbrushing to YOUR teachings:worship: , both on threads you have wrote in this forum, and talks we've had:mrgreen: .
AGAIN, THANKS Wayne:mrgreen:

:deano: -Deano
 

UP SD40-2

Senior Member
The Rock Valley Sub's Tunnel motor fleet heads out of WI on its way to Proviso yard, Chicago Ill :winki: . (SD40T-2's & SD45T-2's)

:deano: -Deano
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Nazgul

Active Member
Deano...
I think you have spoiled us:cry:. After seeing your most excellent work all this time, it is easy to almost take it for granted:eek:ops:.

I just re-read your posts:


"about 8 hours of adding a couple decals, detailing parts (including adding the roof platform for a GPS system), installing a sound decoder, paint work and weathering (I dry brushed the trucks, fuel & air tanks with Polly Scale engine black & alcohol, then made a VERY DILUTED gray and airbrushed the WHOLE engine)"

:eek: How many people would do all that?......How many people could do all that?.......all in 8 HOURS!!!!!! ....and have it turn out so

"Slap Fantastic!"


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btw......I have never used the (
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) before......but you deserve it!:winker:
 

Kevinkrey

Member
I am a fan of the DMIR much to the same as you are with the UP, so I must say, I do love my tunnel motors! And I love how "ugly" you make some of them look (8615 and 8620 for example) because as far as I know, ugly is awesome! (to bad the girls dont see it that way:p).

Anyway< enough with the nonsense, I love the Rock Valleys loco roster. But as I mentioned above, being the DMIRR fan I am, I must ask, whats the story behind the SD38-2? Howd ya make that gorgous diesel?
 
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