Railmodel Journal Staff Publisher: LatTY Bell Editor: Robert Schleicher Regular Contributors: Louis A. Man·e, Diesels lim Eager, Today's Modeling Todd Sullivan, (c. 1960-1969) Modeling John Nehrich (c. 1945-1959)Modeling Richard Hendrickson, (c. 1940-1949) August 1994 Volume 6, Number 3 Modeling Tom Hood, Canadian Modeling Robert Higgins, Model Locomotives Doug Gurin (Layout Design SIG Layout Design Rick Brendel, Electronics All Scales: Art Director: Joe Simpson Techniques: Graphic Design: Stuart Leuthner 24 Upgrade Atlas Snap Relays Circulation Director: Sherri Patterson 26 Layout Lighting For Day, Night and Dawn/Dusk Effects Phone: (303) 296-1600 Fax: (303) 295-2159 41 Your Top Tips, Reader's "Better Ideas" For Modeling 56 Experience - At Your Fingertips, More Of What's In Contributions: Mail to 2403 Champa St., Denver, This Issue From Previous Articles CO 80205. All material must be accompanied by return postage. We assume no liability or respon­ Time Capsule: sibility for loss or damage to material. Any mater­ 51 Extra 47 On The Rutland At ial accepted is ·subject to such revision as is neces­ South Hero, Vermont, September 16, 1950 sary in our sole discretion to meet the require­ ments of the publication. Payment will be made within 45 days of publication, unless previous On the Cover: Build this modern arrangements have been made in writing, at our HO Scale: era General Electric Dash 8-40B current rates which cover the author's and/or con­ diesel on a Kato chassis with a N tributor's right, title and interest in and to the Techniques: Scale of Nevada body and deatil material mailed, including but not limited to pho­ 10 Scratchbuild A Steel Mill Frim Pikestuff Parts parts (or, in HO scale, with Athearn chassis ands Rail Power tographs, drawings, charts and designs, which 18 Upgrading And Improving MDC Products body). Bill Pearce show shall be considered as text. The act of mailing the Roundhouse 50-Foot FMC Box Cars you exactly how he builds his N manuscript and/or material shall constitute an scale model beginning on page 4 of express warranty that the material is original and Locomotive Performance this issue. - Hill Pearce photo in no way an infringement upon the rights of oth­ 46 Summary Of All Previous Test Reports ers. Readers: note that the procedures and mate­ 16 Spectrum, By Bachmann, Fairbanks-Morse H16-44 rials contained in the various articles in this mag­ azine are presented in good faith but that no war­ Freight Cars: ranty is given and no results guaranteed from any 22 CF4600 Three-Bay Center Flow Covered Hoppers use of this material. Nor is any freedom from From Accurail Kits other patent or copyright implied. Since there is no way for us to control the application of materi­ Layout Tours: al presented in this magazine, Golden Bell Press 38 Puget Sound Short Line Association's Shelf Layout, Circa 1958 and 1959 and the respective editors, authors, photographers 48 Roger Kujawa's Atlantic & Great Western Engine Terminal Modules and illustrators disclaim any liability for untoward results and/or for any physical injury that may be Diesels, One-Detail-At-A-Time: incurred by using any of the material published in 42 Electro-Motive Division (EMD) SD60 As C&NW 8032 this magazine. Advertising Director: Robert Bickley 2403 Champa St., Denver, CO 80205 Telephone (303) 296-1600; Fax: (303) Scale: 295-2159 Techniques:N 4 Kit-Conversion: GE Dash 8-40B From Kato And NSN Parts Advertising Policy: Railmodel Journal will accept advertising only from manufacturers, Locomotive Performance: authorized direct importers, publishers and 46 Summary Of All Previous Test Reports distributors for their products. No dealer or discount mail order advertising - no Diesels, One-Detail-At-A-Time: discount ads of any type - will be accepted. 42 Electro-Motive Division (EMD) SD60 As C&NW 8032 Publisher reserves the right to reject copy, text and/or illustrations or complete ads. RAILMODEL JOURNAL is published 12 times a year by Golden Bell Press, 2403 Champa Departments: St., Denver, CO 80205. Price per single copy is 21 Calendar $2.95, or $28.00 per year in the U.S.A. Individual 45,47,52 copy prices higher in Canada and other countries. 55,58 New Products Foreign subscriptions $36.00 for 12 issues, \la::jable. in. U .S. funds. RAILMODEL JOURNAL, lSSN 1043-5441, copyright 1994 by Golden Bell Press. All rights reserved. Second Class Postage paid at Denver, CO. POSTMASTER: Send address changes tD Railmodel Journal, 2403 Champa St., Denver, CO 80205. RAILMODEL JOURNAL - AUGUST 1994 PAGE 3 KIT-CO NVERSION BUILD A KATO-POWERED N SCALE GE DASH 8-40B DIESEL By Bill Pearce Thi s is one of the many projects that can he last year has seen an explo­ motor mount from Kato. If you're start­ increase your fu n in the hobby. This ki t­ sion in the availability of N ing from scratch, it will be simpler to conversi on includes basic techniques scale modern era freight cars. obtain an F317 (A or B) or U2SB, as you like painting and decaling (described TFrameless tank cars and mod­ will need no additional parts. The NSN and illustrated, step-by -step, in the ern box cars have been joined by cryo­ frame is made of a sti ffer metal than book, Freight Car Models, Vol. 1, genic reefers and auto racks. Some new some of the early retroframes and is cast Techniques), installing Mi cro-Trains™ intermodal cars have been made avail­ to better tolerances, so it should be fair­ couplers and disassem bling and able, with other styles to come in the ly easy to obtain good running qualities. reassembling a di esel locomotive months ahead. It would seem to the This kit is not for the inexperienced (described and illustrated, step-by-step, casual observer that the modern era is modeler. If you have never worked with in th e book, The Journal of N Scale quite popular in N scale, were it not for urethane before, it might be best to start Modeling) - all skills most modelers the lack of modern era locomotives. The with one of Fine N Scale's reefer kits, to eventually acquire. To build this loco­ Bachmann six-axle GE is the first recent become familiar with the material. Also, motive, you will also need to learn how era locomotive offered in plastic since it would be best if you have some famil­ to fa bricate scale-size handrails and the Kato GPSO. For those modelers iarity with the inner workings of a Kato handrail posts. Th e body and chassis ki t wishing for modern locomotives, with­ locomotive. All in all, if you have is available, complete with cast metal out a brass pocketbook, N Scale of worked with urethane kits, can correctly detail parts, etched handrails and wire Nevada again rides to the rescue. install body-mounted Micro-Trains™ fo r $99. 99 di rect from N Scale of couplers, have some experience with Nevada, 15150 Sheri-K-Bar, Reno, NV Like previous offerings, NSN's SR99 painting, and can disassemble, clean and 89150. Some dealers that specialize in N is based on a cast urethane body shell. lube a Kalo locomotive, you should be scale may also have a fe w in stock. N While many of NSN's previous prod­ ready, so let's begin! Scale of Nevada also offe rs a GP60 ucts centered around existing Kato loco­ body only to fi t th e Ka to GP50 or motives, this is more of the firm's more GP38 -2 chassis fo r $25.00, but you elaborate efforts, in that it includes a must add handrail stanchions from Gold complete frame, so the modeler can uti­ Begin Smart Medal Models and a fe w cast metal lize the guts of a Kato, while having a First, it's best to do some prototype detail parts fr om Detail Associates to previously unavailable locomotive. research. What road will you model? complete this conversion. Th e GE Dash The modeler can select from several Will you select a prototypically correct scheme, sell it to your favorite road, or 8-40B (also nearly identical to the GE locomotives to obtain the drive. If you B3 9-8 ) is available only as a complete have a GP7 or 9 on hand, you may use put it on the roster of your private road? Whatever you choose, choose now, as it ki t. its drive, with the addition of a 07-0378 RAILMODEL JOURNAL - AUGUST 1994 PAGE 4 will affect the assembly order. Of spe­ cial importance is the color of the hand­ rails and the pilot/anti-climber. A little preparation now can save a lot of mask­ ing later. Next, carefully study the directions. As NSN's John Coots says, the supplied instructions reflect the order in which he assembled his LMX leased unit. That scheme is quite a bit different from the Santa Fe unit I modeled, so I adapted the steps some, and was sorry later I didn't adapt others. It will be helpful to sort and inven­ tory the parts, as mentioned in the A. Th e Ka to U25B fra me and trucks (right) with the N Scale of Nevada chassis and instructions. Not only will you prevent fuel tank (left). loss, but you will be assured all parts are included, and you will become more familiar with the offerings. The assembly instructions are divid­ ed into eight sections. Read all these carefully two or three times in your arm­ chair, then adjourn to your workshop and compare them to the various parts.