Although I am a Missouri Pacific model railroader I have always been a fan of the short-line railroad “Arkansas & Missouri” that runs between Fort Smith, Arkansas and Monett, Missouri.  I thought it would be fun to model one of their ALCO C420s. (Early version before safety stripes and ditch lights were added in the mid-90s)

This is the first locomotive project where I started with an undecorated model and made physical changes to the locomotive body requiring careful cutting.

1. An image of a “late model” A&M C420 with safety stripes along the side and ditch lights.  Unlike the “pristine”  promotional images of the ALCO locomotives used for passenger excursions, these hard working freight ALCOs have that signature exhaust stain from the ALCOs exhaust.

2. Starting with a blank slate.  Undecorated HO Scale Atlas C420 “Gold” edition. 

3. The A&M C420s have the brass bell mounted above the windshield.  Cab headlights are mounted horizontally to allow room for the bell mounting.  I have not seen another railroad using this mounting and assuming this is unique to the A&M.  The railroads new GE locomotives also use this configuration.

Admit I was nervous cutting into a perfectly good locomotive cab!  But by using a new knife blade and going slow the factory lens housing was removed easily.  A new horizontal lens housing was attached using CA glue.

4. Metal bell housing has been added and the gaps filed with modeling putty. Once the putty was dry I sanded it smooth with 800 grit sandpaper.

5. “A little color”.  Like most railroads, the A&M believes information about locomotive paint colors must remain a closely guarded secret.  So after experimenting I found Tamiya’s dull red spray paint came close.  Flat black and DM&IR yellow were the other two colors used.

6. A&M wet transfer decals added.  Microsol and Microset were used in the application.

“Hard working freight locomotive”.   Weathering added using a combination of weathering powders and acrylic paint.  Like all ALCOs, it does not take long for that smokey exhaust to leave its mark!

8. “Ready to take the rails”.