OK so I'm planning a series of low-budget projects just for fun. I want to buy some Athearn kits and spruce 'em up a bit - and now don't go telling me that I would be better off buying Atlas or Kato or Lifelike RTR versions because that's what those sourpusses over at Atlas forums told me. That's no fun in my opinion, I get much more joy working on and making cheap units look like 'spensive ones, rather than just buying a hugely expensive unit and spending weeks just working up the guts to weather the damn thing.
Anyway, I want a switcher collection, as my layout will mainly be dedicated to switching and small industry operation, as I don't have room to run full freight trains, only as much as a short local freight. In my collection I would like an SW7, an SW1001, an SW1200, an SW1500, and a Baldwin S12. Now, obviously the SW1200 would come from elsewhere, but the rest would all be Athearn models that I've spruced up. But the part I want advice on is the SW1001, as that would essentially be a conversion. I'm planning on doing this by cutting down the frame so that the walkways and such are lower down, and then replacing the cab with an SW7 cab - what I'll do then is replace the roof to get the overhang right. Would this do it? Also, any advice for working on the other switchers?
Another thing I want is a set of GP7s. Any suggestions for this loco? I'll be getting it from athearn, this will be another low budget "spruce up" project. Not sure what colorscheme I'll be going for, but it'll probably be something along the lines of ex-Conrail, that kind of era. The latest I can possibly run it anyways.
I plan on having a line of dead locos and freight cars in my yard, so I'll probably get a load of athearn dummys for this - any tips or suggestions here? I know about putting buckets over switcher stacks, but that's about it. I plan on buying one of the walthers EMD 567 prime mover models, putting it in one of the locos, and opening up the loco's hood (I think I'll probably be taking out a lot of the access doors to reveal it or something, maybe need some suggestions on that?) so you can see it inside all rusty and oily like. I need to know which locos had this engine in so I can choose which one I want to do this to.
Another thing I need suggestions on, is industry for my layout. I really like chemical tanks, especially the short and medium length ones. I've already figured that my kaolin plant will need occasional visits from Acrylic Acid tanks (which is used to thicken the kaolin slurry), but this would be so small time that we're talking a single car making a visit once every week or two weeks. Therefore I need suggestions on what to carry, and what kind of industry supplies it (so I know what structures to put on my layout). I figure I'll probably need something like a walthers oil tank loading platform (to act as chemical loading area) and some storage tanks... but I'm not sure as I've never seen such a plant before. I figure I'll at least need a load of pipework.. maybe trailing off into the distance, and we can imagine that the chemical plant is off the board out of sight?
Thanks in advance.:thumb:
Anyway, I want a switcher collection, as my layout will mainly be dedicated to switching and small industry operation, as I don't have room to run full freight trains, only as much as a short local freight. In my collection I would like an SW7, an SW1001, an SW1200, an SW1500, and a Baldwin S12. Now, obviously the SW1200 would come from elsewhere, but the rest would all be Athearn models that I've spruced up. But the part I want advice on is the SW1001, as that would essentially be a conversion. I'm planning on doing this by cutting down the frame so that the walkways and such are lower down, and then replacing the cab with an SW7 cab - what I'll do then is replace the roof to get the overhang right. Would this do it? Also, any advice for working on the other switchers?
Another thing I want is a set of GP7s. Any suggestions for this loco? I'll be getting it from athearn, this will be another low budget "spruce up" project. Not sure what colorscheme I'll be going for, but it'll probably be something along the lines of ex-Conrail, that kind of era. The latest I can possibly run it anyways.
I plan on having a line of dead locos and freight cars in my yard, so I'll probably get a load of athearn dummys for this - any tips or suggestions here? I know about putting buckets over switcher stacks, but that's about it. I plan on buying one of the walthers EMD 567 prime mover models, putting it in one of the locos, and opening up the loco's hood (I think I'll probably be taking out a lot of the access doors to reveal it or something, maybe need some suggestions on that?) so you can see it inside all rusty and oily like. I need to know which locos had this engine in so I can choose which one I want to do this to.
Another thing I need suggestions on, is industry for my layout. I really like chemical tanks, especially the short and medium length ones. I've already figured that my kaolin plant will need occasional visits from Acrylic Acid tanks (which is used to thicken the kaolin slurry), but this would be so small time that we're talking a single car making a visit once every week or two weeks. Therefore I need suggestions on what to carry, and what kind of industry supplies it (so I know what structures to put on my layout). I figure I'll probably need something like a walthers oil tank loading platform (to act as chemical loading area) and some storage tanks... but I'm not sure as I've never seen such a plant before. I figure I'll at least need a load of pipework.. maybe trailing off into the distance, and we can imagine that the chemical plant is off the board out of sight?
Thanks in advance.:thumb: