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ATSF DASH8-40BW 530
This is a pre-decorated Atlas product that I upgraded with added details, decals, and weathering.
I also replaced the stock LED lights to make them brighter, including the ditch lights.
This is a pre-decorated Atlas product that I upgraded with added details, decals, and weathering.
I also replaced the stock LED lights to make them brighter, including the ditch lights.
Right: Here is the prototype loco
circa 1992, in about the same
condition as I've modeled.
circa 1992, in about the same
condition as I've modeled.
Below: My model is lightly weathered to represent a unit just a year or two old. I washed diluted India ink over the
trucks and fuel / air tanks, then lightly dusted on powdered weathering chalks for the road dust effect. I brushed
diluted black paint into the various grills to give them more "depth". A spray of dull-cote ties everything together.
trucks and fuel / air tanks, then lightly dusted on powdered weathering chalks for the road dust effect. I brushed
diluted black paint into the various grills to give them more "depth". A spray of dull-cote ties everything together.
Above: Artist's oil paints were dabbed onto the exhaust stack to capture the burned,
rusty effect so common on GE locomotives.
Below: The top got some diluted black airbrushed over the exhaust stack and adjacent areas.
Black powdered weathering chalk was lightly dusted over the entire top and affixed with dull-cote.
rusty effect so common on GE locomotives.
Below: The top got some diluted black airbrushed over the exhaust stack and adjacent areas.
Black powdered weathering chalk was lightly dusted over the entire top and affixed with dull-cote.
Right: I upgraded the left-side air tank piping by carving off the cast-on
plastic details (left - original part), drilling holes, and then adding
custom-formed brass wire in various gauges (right - finished upgrade).
plastic details (left - original part), drilling holes, and then adding
custom-formed brass wire in various gauges (right - finished upgrade).
Right: On the right side below the
walkway, I used a Details West
piping kit to add another detail
that stands out on the prototypes.
The kit consists of cast metal
brackets and brass wire that
threads through them, simulating
parallel pipes/conduits. Another
Details West fuel cutoff part was
also added. These details were
brush painted Aluminum.
walkway, I used a Details West
piping kit to add another detail
that stands out on the prototypes.
The kit consists of cast metal
brackets and brass wire that
threads through them, simulating
parallel pipes/conduits. Another
Details West fuel cutoff part was
also added. These details were
brush painted Aluminum.
Right: I replaced the stock LED
lights with small SMT LEDs that
have wires pre-installed. I drilled
a vertical hole in the Atlas light
insert and glued in the LEDs
using a clear rubber cement.
Far Right: to test LEDs during
the install process, I use a 9-volt
battery and a 1000 ohm resistor
jammed into one of the contacts.
The clip leads connect the
battery/resistor to the LED wires.
The LED-equipped light inserts
were then installed back into the
shell and secured with clear
rubber cement. Liquid electrical
tape was used to block light leaks.
lights with small SMT LEDs that
have wires pre-installed. I drilled
a vertical hole in the Atlas light
insert and glued in the LEDs
using a clear rubber cement.
Far Right: to test LEDs during
the install process, I use a 9-volt
battery and a 1000 ohm resistor
jammed into one of the contacts.
The clip leads connect the
battery/resistor to the LED wires.
The LED-equipped light inserts
were then installed back into the
shell and secured with clear
rubber cement. Liquid electrical
tape was used to block light leaks.
Right: This is ATSF 555, another
DASH8-40BW model, but the
530's setup is similar. Since the
LEDs are now mounted to the
shell instead of the drive, I added
2-pin micro-connectors and
current-limiting resistors soldered
to the DCC decoder board. The
mating connectors are soldered
onto the LED leads.
This way, the shell-mounted LEDs
can be easily disconnected from
the drive-mounted decoder when
removing the shell to maintain or
repair the drive.
DASH8-40BW model, but the
530's setup is similar. Since the
LEDs are now mounted to the
shell instead of the drive, I added
2-pin micro-connectors and
current-limiting resistors soldered
to the DCC decoder board. The
mating connectors are soldered
onto the LED leads.
This way, the shell-mounted LEDs
can be easily disconnected from
the drive-mounted decoder when
removing the shell to maintain or
repair the drive.
Below and Below Right: On the left side, below the sill
just behind the cab, I added new brass-wire piping to
model a detail quite visible on the prototypes. These are
tucked in behind a Details West fuel cutoff detail part.
just behind the cab, I added new brass-wire piping to
model a detail quite visible on the prototypes. These are
tucked in behind a Details West fuel cutoff detail part.