Well things have been going well since the crisis of the breaking plastic (due to using Easy Lift Off on AZL's plastic). Tenax liquid cement for styrene has also given strength to the parts. Below are the progress shots of my efforts to date. somethings are not correct, but are reasonable to allow (in my opinion): the cab nose is about a foot too long, but trying to redo it would result in a worse looking nose, i'm cerain; there should be one more door under the exhaust, but to modify this would have created worse problems, because the motor fits in the plastic/brass at this point. and the air intake filters in front of the exhaust should be lower by about 8" (scale inches) -- so this made the top of the shell not come out even with the top of the cab roof. it's slight, but i wish i could have done something about it. all in all i think it came out well. if you saw all the parts i cut, refitted and added it's frankly a wonder that the shell came out straight. if you have ever tried a kitbash, you know that one misaligned part can throw off the whole thing down the line. so, it is what it is. painted up i think it will be a dream (if i do say so myself). there are still many details to add, the sill to finish, etc, before paint, but i think the shell is 90% there. i can't wait to finish it. dave f. a shot of the left/right sides follows ...
here are two shots of the sides. i now need to draw and etch the railings, and i've never done this before. i know i'll have the help i need at every step of the way from members of this forum, so it will get done. more to come as time and opportunity allow. I WISH TO EXTEND MY MOST SINCERE THANKS TO ROBERT RAY FOR THE FANTASTIC DECALS HE CREATED FOR THIS PROJECT. I AM DEEPLY GRATEFUL. thank you, robert, dave f.
David, we could get Tim to do the mold and the rail etchings. The only thing is that have to let him sell the kit. I woud take at least two. hemi, I like your idea.
hi hemi, i don't know how to cast. it could be done, i guess. the one draw back i could see is that the resin might be too thin at the center (doors) where the motor is. AZL used brass over the plastic with the area for the motor trimmed out. if we made a cast of the AZL without the motor room doors and then etched replacement door/sides (the way AZL built it) -- it would avoid a potential melting of the doors. i've thought about doing another, which then could be made to cast -- but we'd have to work around that door/sides issue. i'm open to it, if someone would want to cast it for me/us. dave f.
I agree. Let's see some paint soon. It looks good already. I guess I need to invest in an Optivisor or similar
HI David, looks already fantastic! As "normal" I would say!!! Fantastic details, looking forward to see the "finished good" Another great kitbash from you, do you still know how many you have done? I lost the overview
A perfect plan! If you do that, maybe create a correct photo etch hood side, so as to not get into copyright infringement issues.
David very nice work! I can't wait to see the finished product. I am sure glad it worked out for you after your initial problems with the shell.
Master David!!!!!! As usual, you pull a merical out of your hat when you least expected to!!! Please tell me why you rejected my offer to buy both you'rs and mine SD's to cut up and make into heratige units....... If you did then i would be getting one of these for Christmas!!!!!! LOL Looks very good indeed...... if you plan to do more, please don't forget about me.. Your friend Tony B..... Wasatch Z Club
Someone say Casting??? David, that is one Sweet looking loco!!!! Wow!!!!! I heard someone mention something about casting!!!! Here is a photo of two of AZL's Dash 9's. They are brass etched and brass casted to build the shell and the walkway/handrails. Here is a photo showing 3 successful castings of the AZL Dash 9. The only modification done to the shell was to clay up the fragile radiator area for a strong casting. The shell is just as thin as the brass shell. I plan on making cast resin walkways and etched brass handrails. When finished I plan on putting these on SD70 chassis for they make a perfect match. I will cast truck side frames, sand them thin and sand the SD70 truck frames detail off and glue the Dash 9 frames to the SD70 trucks. Waa-Lah!!!! Dash 9!!!!! So, who needs some casting done????? Hobo Tim
That is some great work David, but a word of caution on casting and selling or giving some to friends, there might be some copyright violation. You might want to get permission from AZL before you proceed, if you are using any part of AZL shell during casting. Kim
Got Got to have one At all costs Dave one helluva job. Stand up and be cited. Do you hear all that deafening applause in the background? Man I have been seeing these units regularly on the Norfolk Southern ex Conrail line. Everytime I see Them, I mutter under my breath, I am gonna have one of you baby some day. Now maybe that day has come. I love those monstosities, they are so predatory looking. Big bad motherf-----s. Dave i am speechless your work looks so good. Tell me where did you find the plans. The scale drawings. I need them. Dave before you paint it let the master (SGT. TIM) cast some shells for you. Maybe about 25. This is a splendid money making opportunity for you. I will pay you $150 for a cast shell or a handmade one. Let me know. Sgt. Tim and Dave I hope you guys can work out some sort of deal on this shell. Cause I want one really bad.
Tim, That casting is great, If you can cast parts that are that thin, it as as good as injection molding. There are a lot of things that you can do in Z with this level of casting... Kim
Got Got to have one At all costs Dave one helluva job. Stand up and be cited. Do you hear all that deafening applause in the background? Man I have been seeing these units regularly on the Norfolk Southern ex Conrail line. Everytime I see Them, I mutter under my breath, I am gonna have one of you baby some day. Now maybe that day has come. I love those monstosities, they are so predatory looking. Big bad motherf-----s. Dave i am speechless your work looks so good. Tell me where did you find the plans. The scale drawings. I need them. Dave before you paint it let the master (SGT. TIM) cast some shells for you. Maybe about 25. This is a splendid money making opportunity for you. I will pay you $150 for a cast shell or a handmade one. Let me know. Sgt. Tim and Dave I hope you guys can work out some sort of deal on this shell. Cause I want one really bad.
