More Color More Color - O scale trains

Detailing a Weaver GP38-2“It’s not as hard as you think, and very satisfying when you’re finished”Richard A. Madonna Jr.It’s amazing what changes a fewyears have brought to the hirail community.It seems like ages ago we wereforced to suffer through a continuousstream of overpriced, under-detaileddiesels. The release of the RS-3 by BobWeaver of Quality Craft, quite possiblythe father of today’s hirail movement,was a wake-up call to the three railcommunity. Our 2 rail brethren alwayshad scale sized engines, but most 3 railerswere used to 1950’s “toy train”remakes. I was born in the 1970’s andso had no interest in the trains of myDad’s youth. I wanted trains that werescale sized, detailed, and prototypical. Ican remember the day in 1987 whenmy father drove me up to a large Bostontrain dealer, and seeing that RS-3 inNew Haven McGinnis colors, I couldnever look at a Lionel Alco the sameway again. Weaver followed up the RS-3 with the FA-2 and GP38-2. Weaver’sengines were good runners, true to52 • O Scale TrainsProvidence and Worcester is a 400+mile regional railroad in Southern NewEngland. The P&W’s motive powerconsists of second generation GP38’sand U23B’s. They have just begun topurchase GP40’s and even some 40-8’s.PlanningTo begin, do a little research on theroad you plan to model. Each road mayhave ordered with different features.Get an idea of the details, location ofhorn, plow, mu hoses, airlines, sunshades,etc. With the help of the internet,technical societies, pictures, and atrip down to the railyard, you can coverthe main areas rather easily. The P&W2010 was a former Conrail GP, so startingoff with a Weaver Conrail model isgreat, talk about being accurate.Getting StartedI would first recommend taking theengine apart. Note: Take care whenunscrewing and reassembling the bodyas the body plastic can break if thescrews are over tightened. Remove thescale, had fixed pilots, but lacked separatelyapplied details.Fast forward to 2002, and we’vecome a long way. We now have seethrough grilles, separate lift rings,windshield wipers, grab irons, andmore. This has caused the demand formany of the early Weaver engines todrop off. The chain drive models canbe had for around $100. At theseprices, this is the perfect engine to tryyour first kitbash and detailing projecton.Detailing a model carries a littlepride. It might not come out perfectlike a mass produced model, but it’s asymbol of craftsmanship, a conversationpiece, and a lot of fun. For manyof us interested in shortlines, you haveno other options but to redetail and/orkitbash.This article will describe my attemptto detail and repaint a Weaver ConrailGP38-2 into a Providence and WorcesterGP38-2, road number 2010. The