SD38-2 2809

Like my earlier SD38-2s, 2809 started out as a Kato unit with an added Tsunami decoder and Railmaster speaker.  It received Cannon & Co. 88" nose, cab, sub-base, paper air filter box, radiator grills, and fans, as well as Tichy grab irons, Detail Associates lift rings, scratchbuilt spark arrestors, and a variety of other details.

Here's 2809 (rear) with sisters 2805 and 2802.  While all share the same base components and a family resemblance (front and rear gyralights or associated housings, radio and EOT antenna locations, fixed walkway pilot extensions, etc.), they also have an interesting mix of other details (horn type and location, horn air supply piping on 2805, empty gyralight housings on 2802 and 2805, blue pilots & steps on 2809 vs. black on the other two, spark arrestors on 2805 and 2809, etc.    

With 2809 now in service, IAIS GP11 485 remains as the very last road unit to build, while GP8 481 is the last remaining yard unit on the workbench.

Photos

Ha!  Just wanted to post the pics in a reply so they weren't replicated on each page of the post.

Very nice!

Great work!  I really like that paint scheme, kind of reminds me of the Rock Island scheme.  Those Kato SD38-2s are super nice motors.  I can't wait to see you geep projects!

Looks good,

,can I have some more photos and info on that snow plow in the background though please?

Thank you

Thank you all very much!

Eric, I've thought the same thing about those looking like honorary RI locomotives. 

Sure thing.  I covered that earlier this year at  https://forum.mrhmag.com/post/iaiss-west-end-completed-jordan-spreader-12199461 .

Thanks,

,cool model

locos

Very nice

Any chance of a video?

Joe,

These are some great looking videos and I bet they sound good too with the Tsunami Decoders. Any chance of a video of all three consisted together running around your layout? Do you have your own Youtube page to post videos on?

Tim Garland

Seaboard Central

Youtube page tmh57

Videos

Thanks very much Tim!  Unfortunately, I can't really help with a video showing the three working together, for two reasons:

1. I operate fixed consists, so it's a fair amount of work to move units between them.
2. More importantly...only two of the three have sound.   The prototype LLPX 2802's only trip to my portion of the IAIS during my May 2005 era occurred after it suffered a broken crankshaft.  It moved west DIT to the Bluffs enginehouse, was prepped for paint, and then moved back east, also DIT, for forwarding to Missouri for crankshaft work and repainting into IAIS colors.  Since it was moving dead in both directions, I decided to remove the motor and gears from the model so it could be operated boxcar-style.  Rather than count it among my locomotive roster now, it's considered a piece of rolling stock, with its own records built into my RailQuik car forwarding system.

If it helps at all, the video below includes some footage of the 2805, though it's drowned out by C420 850 most of the time.  I've lowered the 850's volume since shooting this.

LLPX 2802

Dear Joe,

Maybe LLPX 2802 is prime for a "SoundCar" decoder install?

Happy Modelling,
Aim to Improve,
Prof Klyzlr

A tale of two 2809's

I failed to mention in my initial post that the model of LLPX 2809 shown earlier was actually my second attempt at recreating this unit.  Waaaay back in 2006, I finished my first attempt, and I thought others here might be interested in the story behind the two. 

LLPX 2809, Version 1.0.  Original blue paint was a mix of GN Big Sky Blue and white. 

Version 1.1.  After purchasing Dan Risdon's model of one of 2809's sister units (later to become my LLPX 2805), I felt that the blue Dan used for his model was much more accurate than what I'd mixed, so in 2010 I stripped my 2809 and repainted, decaled, and weathered. 

About a year later in early 2011, even though the 2809 was my favorite unit on the IAIS roster, I decided to renumber and redetail my model of it to represent LLPX 2802 (seen earlier in this thread) in the name of accuracy.  Operational data showed that 2802 and 2805 were the only SD38-2s to visit the West End during my era, while 2809 came out a few months later.  So while the unit is now numbered 2802, for the sake of this exercise, we can refer to it as 2809 v1.2.

Last year a friend sold me another undec Kato SD38-2, and the temptation to return my favorite unit to the roster was just too strong.  LLPX 2809 Version 2.0, the model that originated this thread, was the result.

Nicely Done

Nicely Done trio of units not usually modeled

Philip Taylor

Yo Joe,

Saw that you said GP11 485 is your last one to model.   Leaving the most fun one for last eh?    If you need detail shots of GP11s in general let me know as I took some photos of the last of the lot in the deadline at Markham a while back(obviously)   There are also a couple captive ones here in IL   8701 is down at the Carbondale IL station and a live 8711 is at the Monticello museum.   Got to watch her rumble about a bit a month ago while measuring a hopper up there.

keep up the great work,

Thank you

Thanks very much Philip and Loren.  

Loren, thanks for the offer of GP11 assistance.  I may take you up on that when the time comes.  If it's meaningful, IAIS 485 is the former IC 8724.

As for saving the most fun one for last...that may be!  I really am looking forward to digging into it, as it's been a number of years since I've tackled a major kitbash, and I'm excited to have this unique unit in service.  On the other hand, I'm a bit burned out on locomotive work at the moment, so I think some time building bridges and doing scenery will be good for me.