Locomotive build number one: SD-50F in CN livery.

I feel so stupid. I believe I finally figured out the Macro setting on my camera. Amazing what can happen when the instruction manual is found. I haven't had to use the close up function since acquiring the camera 10+ years ago. My bad. It took a couple of hours to find the book which removed me from the project. No new progress to report today as a result other than the better quality photos.

This was also my Monday on the graveyard shift this morning so the brain is not as ...

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After reading Astotrain64's comment on Thursday, I deviated from the instruction sheet and did a soap water bath for the shell completed up to that point and parts yet to be attached. Through the tooth brush scrubbing, a couple of the etched pieces did come off requiring some repair work after everything dried.

The instructions did list this as step #21 followed by cleaning with alcohol. I think the reason this step is listed so late into the build (just before applying paint) occurred ...

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Well, got back to it after the last blog entry. Got the holes drilled for the MT 1023 couplers and got them all fastened up. Performed a test fit onto the chasis and .....SURPRISE! The draft box is far too long. Interfered with the trucks to the point they had to be angled down to fit the body on. After filing and cutting, the draft boxes had nothing left of them and the coupler operation was comprimised. Fortunately, the Accumate couplers on the Atlas shell from the donor engine did ...

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Pulled the shell and various detail parts out of the box and started on the project in earnest. There is a significant amount of flash that needs to be taken care of and before disposing of any of the 'trimmings', a check for very small details is essential. Almost lost the bell! Went to the next step in the instructions and already have the first snag to overcome. It's to drill the holes in the pilots for the couplers.

Of all my drill bits, I don't have a number 50 ...

I've been procrastinating long enough on starting the first of 8 projects. First up is an SD-50F. I'm using the Kaslo Shops NL-3 Body shell kit. I will be using an Atlas SD-60M frame as the platform. The SD-60M is in UP livery but the price was right. The trucks will be weathered anyway so the grey to black then weathering shouldn't pose to much of an issue. We'll see how this progresses. And yes there will be pictures as I proceed.

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