What’s on your Workbench?

[sarge]

Jim,

Having known you now for a fair number of years, I must say I've very much enjoyed watching your machining skills broaden and improve as they have.

Well done!

[Rufus T. Firefly]

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[sarge]

Events in life have conspired to keep me from the bench for a little while during the beginning of the month, but I've gotten back to it recently. This project has been in pieces on a couple trays for far too long, so returned to a tear-down and rebuild exercise of a pair of OMI GP30s. I have sidescreens for the cabs coming in the mail yet, and a couple other details to do, but...







A word regarding the prototypes of these particular units. 2228 and 2229 were minor celebrities back in the mid-70s, assigned to DeWitt engine terminal for use on the daily run from Syracuse up through Fulton to Oswego and return. This line was the old RW&O, known colloquially as the "Hojack". DeWitt was the system Alco shop, so this pair and some old NYC Fs being assigned was a bit unusual, the Fs used on transfers between DeWitt and Selkirk or Mech'ville.

One operating scenario on the layout here is a tacit nod to the Hojack in those days, so doing these two particular units were a requirement.

[healey36]

Very cool, Sarge; they look like a couple of beasts. What's in the box on the walkway ahead of the cab on 2228?

[sarge]

What's in the box on the walkway ahead of the cab on 2228?

The electrics for cab signals.

Thanks for the kind words. GP30s were stylistically very cool, like nothing else EMD ever made. I liked that look.

[Chris Webster]

2228 and 2229 were minor celebrities back in the mid-70s, assigned to DeWitt engine terminal for use on the daily run from Syracuse up through Fulton to Oswego and return.

"These aren't the Dewitt Geeps you're looking for." - Obi Wan Sarge

My pile of to-get-to projects includes an old Weaver and the partial hood section (from Shapeways) needed to build the other type of Dewitt Geep... hope it turns out half as nice as your GP30s!

[healey36]

What's in the box on the walkway ahead of the cab on 2228?

The electrics for cab signals.

Thanks for the kind words. GP30s were stylistically very cool, like nothing else EMD ever made. I liked that look.

Didn't we once see a GP30 operated as a slug by CSX on one of our jaunts up to Highfield/Mainline Hobbies? I think I snapped a pic of that thing; I'll have to look around.

[sarge]

Didn't we once see a GP30 operated as a slug by CSX on one of our jaunts up to Highfield/Mainline Hobbies? I think I snapped a pic of that thing; I'll have to look around.

Yep, we did. I suspect those are probably pretty well gone, now that they are running these up and down that line:

[sarge]

My pile of to-get-to projects includes an old Weaver and the partial hood section (from Shapeways) needed to build the other type of Dewitt Geep... hope it turns out half as nice as your GP30s!

I'd like to see that hood section and know which seller has them, if its one of the earlier coffin style covers.

I knocked this one together for one of our ops sessions last summer:

[De Bruin]

Pretty cool looking Dewitt Geep you got there, be great if someone did the stack detail and top-hood in 3D or vacu-form as an aftermarket kit.
I know I'd buy one.

[sarge]

3d prints are getting really nice, and the machine capacity and capability is growing as pricing is coming down, ever the way of new tech.

I have a couple SW1 bodies here, full bodies 3d printed. There is a company who sell chopped noses and cabs for rebuilt Geeps á la Paducah. Surely a full hood for both versions of a DeWitt Geep are practical.

I'm interested in seeing what Chris has to hand, for the earlier version that was the true DeWitt configuration just screams to be done in all its hideousness:

[Rufus T. Firefly]

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[sarge]

A mate in the UK in collaboration with several friends of his.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

.

[Chris Webster]

I'm interested in seeing what Chris has to hand, for the earlier version that was the true DeWitt configuration just screams to be done in all its hideousness:

Exactly!

Here's the part I ordered: O Scale EMD Switcher Hood Made by VeniceHostler It was expensive - the part cost more than I paid for the trashed Weaver RS3 it's going on - but I did save a few bucks by ordering back in November, when Shapeways had their annual CyberMonday sale.

The part itself is not handy right now, but it does seem to match the dimensions I have and prototype photos - the Conrail Historical Society did a really thorough article on the prototypes. There isn't much detail on the part - just the hinges. You could probably scratch one pretty easily out of some sheet styrene and brass tubing, but I'm not sure what to use for the hinge detail.

I will also using EMD cooling fans from the Red Caboose Geep part sprues.