I finally dug out the GP60's and got them on the workbench. Now I've got a proper modelling cave in the garage I can work on a build without taking over the kitchen table.
In the meantime I've acquired a Proto 2000 GP60 shell which I was able to use as a comparison.
First thing I noticed was that the models weren't as correct as I remembered, the horn looks too low on one of them and the cannon sub-base was definitely sitting on a warped walkway.
So, a bit of jimmying with a scalpel and the nose and sub base are off the model and ready to be re-fitted. A small piece broke off the edge of one sub-base but it will easily glue back on.
I realised that I had glued them in place with the shell sitting flat, but due to the low pilot face that resulted in an upward bend on the walkway - the solution is to let the pilot face overhang the edge of the workbench when fitting the nose.
Second thing is that the horn looks too low down on the hood. It came with a really tall looking horn stand that I thought was too big, so I just glued the horn directly onto the top of the hood. Looking at it now I'm thinking the horn should be up a bit higher.
This weekend was the delayed NMRA winter meet, moved from it's usual Benson location to a hall in Northampton.
The meet was mostly focussed on traders and bring-and-buy with only a handful of layouts.
There seemed to be a really good turnout and the hall was very busy, it certainly seemed like more of a crowd than Benson usually attracts.
There were plenty of bargains to be had at the sale tables and as usual I picked up a few goodies.
Several trailers, containers and three kits - a pair of old Milepost 501 Furehaf Z-Vans and a partially built and slightly damaged Lonestar Trailmobile 40ft flatbed.
I also picked up a couple of blue box locos, a basket-case GP50 and a nicely painted GP60, both of which will become donor locomotives for my planned SD60 kitbash which I hope to have ready for this years convention.
The GP50 was clearly destined to be a super-detailing project before it was abandoned, presumeably when a more detailed rtr GP50 was announced. The frame has been very nicely milled and filled to allow space for piping and frame sides.
I'm mostly interested in the shell parts, but the trucks, motor and frame may see use in another project, either it's all good fodder for the parts collection along with some GP38-2 parts that were also in the box.
