Model Railroading > BNSF white-face SD40-2 #7812, from the "new" Kato Model

I hinted earlier this week that I nabbed a couple of the new Kato SD40-2 releases (BN #6770) off of ebaY for around $100 each. Both models have arrived and one is already sporting a new appearance and number. BNSF 7812 is a unique creature among the hordes of "Green Dragons" still running around the mainline today. 7812 is one of the few BN units to wear the orange and black Tiger Stripe on the nose. It no longer has it's stripes, but is still a white face BN unit with the large BN logo and "BURLINGTON NORTHERN" lettering down the long hood.

Here it is in HO scale form with a few details added including I-bolts, cab vent, fire-cracker, correct horn, MU cables, paint touch-ups, ???, and an assortment of new decals. Personally, I like the numberdoard.


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http://www.pbase.com/mrmrl/bnsf_stuff


Mr. MRL - BTW, Sergent Couplers...

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Let there be, two more.

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The couplers are Proto-87 Type E scale couplers "EC87A-12" from Sergent Engineering. I bought a couple sets for sh!ts & giggles. They are cool, but I don't think I'll convert my whole fleet. At least they couple up with Kadee #58s. The lights are the stock LEDs from the Kato light board. Kato uses light pipes to direct the light out to the headlight & ditchlights. It's way too yellow, a step back for Kato, but I can live with it for now.

Mr. MRL

I don't think it wore tiger stripes, I think 8002 did though. IRC, 7812 was one of, if not the last repaints for BN and there happened to be a GP50 decal set so it got the big lettering.

The model looks good though except for those scary yellow eyes.

After a second look, I am puzzled by the focus in the first photo. The nose is sharp, the sunshade is fuzzy, the handrail stantions on the middle of the hood are sharp, then a fuzzy band near the back of the unit and another sharp band on the Warbonnet. Is it a composite image? Just wondering.

Looks like you have been busy again Robby,nice looking rig.
Regards,Daryl Kay.

pmack Wrote:
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> After a second look, I am puzzled by the focus in
> the first photo. The nose is sharp, the sunshade
> is fuzzy, the handrail stantions on the middle of
> the hood are sharp, then a fuzzy band near the
> back of the unit and another sharp band on the
> Warbonnet. Is it a composite image? Just
> wondering.


Sure is. I have been playing around with multiple depths of field. Usually three images is enough, but in this case I should have had a forth or fifth image to help the illusion. Good eye! The three images were shot in Manual mode on my Canon S2 at f8.0, ISO 50, and 3.2 second exposures.

Here is another one from the past...
http://www.pbase.com/mrmrl/image/73885148

Mr. MRL

Great looking model, but I am confused about the front number boards......

USRailfan Wrote:
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> Great looking model, but I am confused about the
> front number boards......


Proof is in the puddin'

http://www.locophotos.com/PhotoDetails.php?PhotoID=14428



Mr. MRL

I received one of the same from local pusher and have it in service. It is running with a Kato SD45 (ATSF). I model Santa Fe in 1989 in Oklahoma, so sthe BNSF junk on the side doesn't exist on mine. However, this consist of ATSF and BN runs on my modeled part of the Avard Sub from Enid to Avard in 1989, which was a common event for both roads.

PS that is one sweet running Kato.

Bob

Like I said, great model, great attention to detail and thanks for the link.

Here's a link to a pic in 2004, http://sipacific.hp.infoseek.co.jp/tehachapi/2004_01/7812.jpg

No hi viz striping then!!

Great looking model..but how do you get air to your train? ; )

cct24 Wrote:
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> Great looking model..but how do you get air to
> your train? ; )


(reccord scratch)


Hmm, good point. I have 4 packages on order, sorry, MP38 was out on Tuesday.

Mr. MRL

The numberboard reminds me of an oops at Livingston Rebuild Center around 1994. A few of us went there to get dimensions of interior structures for a scale replica of the LRC shops, which now exists at the Livingston Model Railroad Club.

Anyway, while we were there we stopped by the paint booth and was watching a friend removing the last of the number stencils for a white-face repaint of a C30-7. Under the cab window was the standard "Burlington Northern" except Paul forgot the L in Burlington. Pual was finished and ready to report the unit as done when one of the guys with us pointed it out to him. I tried to keep him quite so it would go out in the world for all to see but that wasn't the case.

YM