Detailed and Weathered loco for the first time

[Motley]

I just got a new airbrush last week. So I decided to go for it on a new loco.

It's an Athearn RTR GP38-2. I picked up some details west parts. (it didn't even come with a plow).

Let me know how I did?

This is the prototype look I was shooting for

 

[BJS]

First Westhering

Looks good to me Mike. Nice job.

 

[Motley]

Looks good to me Mike. Nice job.

Thanks, I appreciate that. It took me 4 days to complete. I'm sure the next ones will be quicker, still learning.

 

[IowaFarmBoy]

It looks good to me also.

Is that a kink in the track at the rail joiner in the lower left of image 4 or just an illusion because of shallow depth of field?

 

[UP2CSX]

Fine job of detailing. I've done a couple of those RTR GP-88's and there's a lot of detail to be added. The only suggestion I would make is use a fine point black marker and replicate the vent holes in the A/C unit on the roof. The prototype shows a two unit install, but I don't know if that was common to all the locomotives in that class. As it is now, the A/C unit is kind of a white blob, so some steady hands with a marker whould spruce it up some.

 

[Motley]

No kink in the trackwork, just looks that way.

I made some minor adjustments. With the A/C unit, just hit it with a little bit of weathered black.

Took some more pics outside. And another prototype pic.

 

[jbaakko]

Just as a side note, that actual AC unit is available from BLMA.

 

[Motley]

Just as a side note, that actual AC unit is available from BLMA.

Dang, I wish I would have known that. I couldn't find the ones on the prototype from details west.

I might have to replace it, it doesn't look right.

 

[fiend540]

Looks pretty good, the only things that jump out at me are the prototype doesn't have the class/marker lights on the nose like the Athearn unit has, and the prototype has some round thing on the side of the short hood. If you're going to go through the trouble to replace the ac unit you might want to look into fixing those two areas as well. Other than that it looks pretty good, sorry if I came off as nitpicking

 

[jbaakko]

That "round thing" is a round cab vent, Detail Associates makes a good one, plus you'll get 10 in a pack, so you can save the rest for future units.

I suspect that one there is venting the toilet...

 

[tankist]

looks really good to me

It's an Athearn RTR SD38-2...

its probably a GP and not SD unit however

 

[Motley]

looks really good to me


its probably a GP and not SD unit however

oops, I'll have to edit the first post. It's a GP38-2

 

[ChevelleSSguy]

I have always wondered about this. Do you lay down the black upper and lower areas first. Then mask and paint the orange center. Is vice versa. What is the trick for laying the tape line to one or the other. I mean, you cant overlap either color when laying the next or it will show right? If one area of orange lays on top of the black, you would notice that I would think.

 

[Motley]

I have always wondered about this. Do you lay down the black upper and lower areas first. Then mask and paint the orange center. Is vice versa. What is the trick for laying the tape line to one or the other. I mean, you cant overlap either color when laying the next or it will show right? If one area of orange lays on top of the black, you would notice that I would think.

First I masked off the main body (orange) along the top of the tank. Then I sprayed the underside and tank using weathered black and rail brown. Then took the masking off (except for the windows) and just sprayed a hint of weathered black over the entire model.

I removed and painted the side trucks separately.

 

[wheeler1963]

Dang, I wish I would have known that. I couldn't find the ones on the prototype from details west.

I might have to replace it, it doesn't look right.

Michael, here's what the BLMA ones look like on a unit.