This is my first article for the modeling column.
I just want to share with you fellow members and other enthusiasts
my recent work on a local EMD G16 in HO scale.
Some years ago, I planned to
work out an one-off G16 in HO because no commercial models were available
on the market at that time.
I collected some useful drawings and information via different
channels. Someone suggested to me using two
G12 body shells to convert to a G16.
I was told where to source the trucks with the correct wheel-base,
etc. I really appreciated
the assistance and materials provided by those helpers. However, I did not start anything in the
end because the project was too difficult for me and, more importantly, I am not skilful
at scratch-building.
Until now, I discovered that some small suppliers
e.g. Balkan Models of UK and Jovanovic Slavko (JS) of Yugoslavia do supply G16s in HO. Although
their G16s are in European versions, I decided to give it a try.
I kitbashed it a little to represent a local G16 in the previous
Kowloon-Canton-Railway's livery (KCR).
I selected the one from JS finally because none was
available from Balkan at the time when I wanted it.
The stock model from JS was actually a replica of the class 661
ex-Yugo Railways. Those class 661s had some
details that the local G16s did not or vice versa.
Therefore, modifications to the stock model were supposed necessary
for serious modelers. However, I did not go for any major modifications
for convenience. In fact,
the original appearance of the model looked very much like the local
G16, I personally think.
In the first place, when I received the model via
mail, I disassembled it. It could be divided into a few sections,
namely the hood (with cab), the walkway, truck side-frames, fuel tanks, pilots
and handrails. So it was
pretty convenient for painting.
I separated the parts and washed them in warm soap water. I first painted the top of the hood and
all the handrails aluminum. Then
the lower hood and walkway were painted British green with appropriate
masking. Finally all the
truck side-frames and the fuel tanks were painted in black. I used spray cans because I did not have
the air-brush set. I set
them aside for about 24 hours to let the paint dry before I reassembled
them together.
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 |
Then I proceeded to the pilots.
All the G16s in Hong Kong had barricade stripes on their pilots. That was also the most challenging job
for me. I tried to paint
them myself but failed after several attempts.
I gave up and sought help from a custom decal supplier in the
USA. I mail ordered the stripe decals for the
pilots and the logo decals for both sides of the long hood. Those decals
were custom made according to my specifications and samples given. I was very happy with the result.
It took me less than one hour to complete the job with the ready-made
decals. As for lettering, another fellow member
did it for me voluntarily. After
that I also applied the builder's plate decals on both sides of the
cab.
However, I still had to scratch build some tiny detail
parts from styrene sheets and bars for the pilots by myself including
coupler pockets, lift rings, uncoupling bars, brackets as well as the
lower parts of the pilot. Then I also added some commercial detail
parts to complete the model such as horn, window wipers, headlight lens,
air-hoses, door handles and MU cable receptacles. I used scale working couplers from Sergent Engineering for two reasons i.e. its realistic look
and operation. For details,
see parts list as below.
I sprayed a clear overcoat to protect all the lettering
and decals. At last, I applied a little weathering
to the radiators, couplers and wheels to achieve a more realistic appearance. Now the G16 that I have been dreaming about
for many years is finally on my service roster.
Raymond Lam
Member
The Hong Kong Railway Society
P.S. With my special thanks to the materials and assistance rendered
by Gary To and Wong Wai-lun.
| Parts
List |
| Jovanovic Slavko |
unpainted HO Class
661 (G16) |
|
|
|
| Detail Associates |
Lift Rings (LR1105) |
|
|
|
| Detail West |
Air-hoses (AH302) |
MU Cable Receptacles (MU236) |
|
|
| Sergent Engineering |
HO scale AAR Type E Couplers |
|
|
|
| Trackside Parts |
Alco Horn (S1) |
|
|
|
| MV Products |
Headlight Lens 0.063" (LS22) |
|
|
|
| Tamiya Color |
Aluminum (TS-17) |
Gloss Black |
British Green (TS-9) |
Gloss Clear Overcoat (TS-17) |
| A-Line |
Window Wipers (29200) |
|
|
|
| Precision Scale |
Door Handles (HO-3998) |
|
|
|
| ELS Trains |
Barricade Stripe / Logo Decals |
|
|
|
| Mircoscale Decals |
Builders Plate (MC-4056) |
|
|
|
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