Detailing a Walthers Mainline GP9 Illinois Central locomotive

Рет қаралды 11,994

4 жыл бұрын

In March 2020 Walthers released both high hood and chop nose GP9 locomotives in their Mainline specifications. I purchased 4 Illinois Central locomotives with DCC/sound (2 road numbers of both high hood and chop nose). This video shows the process of super detailing the locomotive. In addition to the external detailing of the locomotive, the factory installed ESU Essential Sound Unit decoder was replaced with a LokSound 5 DCC decoder. Here is the parts list of what was used to super detail the locomotive:
QTY Part number Manufacturer/Description
1 910-258 Walthers Mainline/Diesel Detail Kit for GP9
1 ATH01097 Athearn/Nose mount bell (for high hood units)
1 BE-176 Details West/Side hood mount bell (for chop nose units)
1 pkg MU-265 Details West/MU hose, 4 cluster set
1 pkg AH-267 Details West/Locomotive air hose with bracket
1 RA-276 Details West/Can type radio antenna (2 per package)
1 MU 1501 Details West/ MU Stand (early EMD GP)
1 DS 1404 Details West/Drop step
1 190-522 Cal Scale/Coupler lift bar
2 N/A KV Models/Cab sunshades (available on eBay)
4 N/A KV Models/EMD Windshield wipers (single blades for high hood units. Available on eBay)
5 N/A/ KV Models/EMD Windshield wipers (4 single blades + 1 double blade for chop nose units. Available on eBay)
4 N/A KV Models/Illinois Central cab wind deflectors (eBay)
1 N/A HO scale chain (available on eBay)
1 N/A Clear plastic for wind deflectors (I used spare windows from a Walthers structure kit)
1 bottle 16-73 Badger Precise Design/Illinois Central Orange Paint
1 bottle R99091 Model Master/Flat White paint
Tools/supplies
Testors clear parts cement
Pin vice with #80, #75 and #75 bits
Micro tweezers (various point shapes/sizes)
Modeler knife
Sandpaper
Small pin
Magnifying glass
Small desk lap or room with excellent lighting

Пікірлер: 43

@boomerdiorama 4 жыл бұрын

Big improvement on the Geep. Good stuff.

@BoxcarJerry 4 жыл бұрын

Outstanding job on detailing that engine . It really does make a difference on the look . Great job on the video work too . Thanks for sharing . BTW great tip on replacing all the screws and parts on the frame and shell to keep from losing anything . Take care and be well .

@donnieshaffer8807 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you for posting this video. I recently ordered Walther's Mainline's EMD GP9 - Phase II Western Maryland #6419 (Chessie System) this year. I thought all I needed was the winterization hatch as seen in prototype photos but you showed me a great deal more needed to be done. Thanks again.

@danasoroko 2 жыл бұрын

I am a 69 year-old man. There's no way I can do what you've done. I enjoyed your video.

@timtate226 2 жыл бұрын

Great job! Those are some tiny fiddly bits to deal with but they certainly improve the looks of this engine immensely.

@Manleyman3 4 жыл бұрын

Great details added to the locomotive! I am using some of your techniques on my GP7 Paducah Geep.

@artystaar 2 жыл бұрын

I have observed some nice best practices. Thanks!

@DavidAllen-dj7sd 3 жыл бұрын

Awesome video! Wow!

@Form44208 4 жыл бұрын

Nice video! I usually would only order a Proto when getting a loco from Walthers, but I do have a Walthers Mainline on order so I will use your techniques. Not sure if I have the skill like you to put on all the details, but the grabs for sure I would try.

@bradleyogden5688 4 жыл бұрын

Easy peasy. Take your time and be patient. When buying your #80 drill bit, buy several. I can break several in a night. Have your area will lit and try to stay away from carpet. Good luck!

@josephjoestar3275 3 жыл бұрын

For spark arrestors, try Details West SA-319/ #319. They're accurate to IC GP7/9s as delivered and I believe for these as well

@longviewkelsolinesRR644 2 жыл бұрын

I have 2 athearn blue box illinois central nw2 switchers in black with white and green lettering love both of them.

@WeMustRebell 4 жыл бұрын

CK-fantastic job with the detailing and the video! I have ordered most of the parts to get started on my high hood. Can you clarify the drill bit sizes as far as which size to use for which part? Thanks!

@ck7813 4 жыл бұрын

Sure, everything is a #80 bit with the following exceptions: The MU hoses are #70 and the train air hose is a #75. The bell size was some random bit I had, it was pretty big, probably about a 1/16” bit (it was not in my mini-bit set).

@WeMustRebell 4 жыл бұрын

@@ck7813 Awesome! Thank you so much!

@theamericangamer2696 3 жыл бұрын

What did you use to score the drill holes?

@ck7813 3 жыл бұрын

Just a plain sewing pin.

@bradleyogden5688 3 жыл бұрын

For more detail, go check out Atlases HO parts. SD35 for speed recorders. Go through every HO diesel so that you get an idea what they carry. Who made your cut levers?

@ck7813 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks, Bradley for the head's up on the Atlas parts. The cut levers are made by Cal Scale. I bought on eBay, search for early GP 9 and you should find them.

@hamiltonsullivan6563 4 жыл бұрын

Is the illinoise central your favorite railroad?

@whiteknightcat Жыл бұрын

Logging chain is WAY too large for the walkway opening, with each link being about 4 to 6 inches large in scale and weighing several pounds. I might suggest something far finer like A-Line's 40 links per inch chain. Detail Associates also has one but it may not be available or hard to find.

@MosriteCharlie 10 ай бұрын

with the cost of all the detail arts, would you have been better off to buy the proto unit and save the labor?

@Gaz3801 2 жыл бұрын

Great tutorial ! I would like to know if you fit wipers to all 6 x windows and how did you remove the molded wipers on the wind screens ? Cheers, Gary.

@ck7813 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks, Gary. Yes, wipers on all 6 windows and I was able to glue them over top of the molded wipers which were essentially paint lines.

@Gaz3801 2 жыл бұрын

@@ck7813 Thanks for your reply. I'm in the process of fitting out my GP9 with your tutorial as reference. I have been looking at replacement window glazing, but the way you have accomplished your model, I think I'll do the same. I'm still on the hunt for other detail items and the price on postage from the US to Australia (via ebay) is horrendous ! Cheers, Gary.

@pedullabass 3 жыл бұрын

Have you thought about putting bulbs in the fake angled lights?. Bugs me they don't work like on the Intermountain GP10s

@DMRJ 3 жыл бұрын

I continue to have issues with pin vices not holding the bits as soon as they bite into the plastic. Do you recommend a specific vice? Is the a technique specific to using the vice. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for this vid!

@ck7813 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks, Dan. I am sorry you are having issues. I got my pin vice off of Amazon and the bits came with it. I just tighten the vice as tight as I can and I didn't have issues. The biggest advice I can give is to not force the drill (it is significantly different than using a power drill). You just have to work it and be patient. It does take awhile to drill out a hole.

@gregorywarmoth1996 2 жыл бұрын

Have a question. What is the exact Orange you use for IC or ICG for painting? I bought an IC caboose kit and want to be authentic to the color. I have an air brush but prefer to use a spray, just easier.

@ck7813 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks, Gregory - I use “Tru-Color” railroad paint that is called “Illinois Central Orange.” You can get it off eBay or most online hobby stores. It is ready for an airbrush. I do not specifically know if any over-the-counter spray paint is a true match to the IC orange and I haven’t tried to test any to see how close they are. If you want to skip the guess work on the color, just go with the Tru Color paint.

@bradleyogden5688 3 жыл бұрын

So have you added any speakers or DCC Tsu2 or Loksound to any of your GP9's?

@ck7813 3 жыл бұрын

These came with factory installed ESU essential sound unit decoders and speakers. I did upgrade to a LokSound 5 (see my other videos for a how-to). The speaker is still the factor installed version.

@ReadingAreaRailfan 2 жыл бұрын

Don't they already have small notches where you can insert the drill bit into? Their advertised as not needing to have to mark it and it and says they already have small notches for the bit to go

@ck7813 2 жыл бұрын

Technically, yes they do have the locations of the holes already molded; however, I was having trouble with the bit slipping until I was able to get the hole started so by scoring the location with a small pin, I had much less slippage of the bit. You can certainly try it without scoring the location.

@joelrichardson8751 5 ай бұрын

Here's a question from one IC fan to another: Is the latest Walthers GP9 Phase II worth buying, given that it would need to be detailed just to compete with Intermountain's GP10? I wouldn't ask except that the first batch of Intermountain's GP10's (which are the most accurate "Paducah-rebuilds" I've ever seen) are very hard to come by these days.

@ck7813 5 ай бұрын

Thanks, Joel. It is funny you should ask, I am just finishing up one of the Walther's "Death Star" IC GP9s by installing a decoder and speaker as well as super detailing with all of the grab irons and stuff. I am guessing I will have the video up on KZfaq by 2/20/24. The short answer is, if you have the time and skill to detail this locomotive, get one. I would recommend getting the DC version and adding your own Loksound 5 decoder (the factory installed decoder is not the best, see my other videos for details). This model that Walther's produced, is a GP9 body, but with a GP10 road number. If you are okay with that, you can sort of make it into a GP10 (ish). I am putting a horst air filter on mine so it will look somewhat like a GP10 but is still missing some of the spotting features like the tool box on the engineer's side of the front. I agree, it will be hard to find an Intermountain GP10 at this point but you can keep an eye on Ebay, one might pop up every once in awhile. Walthers is coming out with a Proto version of the IC GP9 high hood unit in orange and white, fully detailed with grab irons and a Loksound 5 decoder. It should be out sometime this summer. That may be your best option at this point!

@joelrichardson8751 5 ай бұрын

@ck7813 I'll likely keep an eye on eBay. One got away from me with 20 seconds left a few weeks ago. If I didn't have a mountain of other projects (including a rare, IC transfer caboose) already, I'd dive in on the Walthers version. As it is, I'll bide my time on getting my IC 8174 a mate for locals. Intermountain is releasing a "frog-eye" version in the death star scheme but I have mixed feelings about that particular headlight. I tend to favor the standard, vertical nose-mounted headlights.

@ck7813 5 ай бұрын

@@joelrichardson8751 Thanks for the head's up. I had not seen the Intermountain product release. Look's like I have some pre-ordering to do!

@ck7813 5 ай бұрын

@@joelrichardson8751 Check out my page, I just uploaded the video of the super detailed GP9 Death Star. It turned out better than I expected, I am looking for a few more parts to add on like exhaust pipes (to have 4) and possibly some roof access hatches. You can pull this off to be a GP10(ish) for your layout!

@72zodiac 4 жыл бұрын

Nice video, but one thing I notice is that the HORN is wrong. I seen pictures of them and they have two forward and one long horn facing rear..

@josephjoestar3275 3 жыл бұрын

IC (G) units didn't have that. They came factory with Nathan P3 3 chime horns. Throughout their life they were swapped with all sorts of horns in different bell arrangements.