Electro Motive diesel FT #103 A + B units

[Murdoch17]

Behold: the diesel units that broke the back of the steam engines...

Built by General Motors (GM) / Electro Motive Division (EMD) in 1939, this is the diesel that showed the way to the future, signaling the start of the diesel era. However, as one day must start, another must end. This two A & two B locomotive set got the ball rolling towards the end of steam as mainline workhorses (and eventually regulated to excursion trains, infrequent freight moves, and museums) by pulling a modern two steam engines backwards - while said engines were at full forward throttle.

Anyway, this particular engine was originally owned by Electro-Motive as a demonstrator. It was sold to Southern Railway and eventually the cab unit was placed in the Museum of Transportation in St. Louis, Missouri. It was repainted in it's original Electro Motive colors for it's journey to Railfair '91 held in Sacramento, California. It is currently on display once more in the St. Louis Museum of Transportation.

The B unit was given to the Virginia Museum of Transportation, and was also present at the 1991 rail fair. It is currently on loan to the St. Louis Museum for connection with the original A unit for five years (in return for the loan of 2-8-8-2 steam Norfolk & Western 2156 to Roanoke)

Front view.

Please note, all the printed tiles are missing from the engine. The numbers "103" should go near thew windscreen, while "ELECTRO MOTIVE" should go on the sides of the cab unit. The initials "GM" should go on the nose of the engine, on top of those two yellow 1x2 jumpers.

rear view. I want to use this part for the exhaust fans instead of the ones shown: http://alpha.brickli...P=15535pb01#T=C

Here are the units in McCook Illinois 1989. (NOT my picture, I just found it on Flickr. Photo taken by user Bill Johnson)

The LDD file is available: http://www.mocpages....1437180710m.lxf

Comments, questions, and complaints are welcome!

EDIT:

You are probably wondering why I dragged this model out of the dark abyss known as my hard-drive: I needed the model to be updated to the standard set by my Santa Fe Bluebonnet engines so i can carefully consider which to get... if either at all.

EDIT #2:

I forgot to add this to the LDD file / pictures, but it should be pretty easy to figure out how to build it.

This plaque is supposed to have this printed on it: http://alpha.bricklink.com/pages/clone/catalogitem.page?P=3068bpb0655#T=C

This clip-and-tile setup is supposed to replicate the National Engineering Landmark plaque on EMD FT 103's A Unit. it is usually placed on the rear doorway, and clips onto the two railings beside the door, whereupon it fits quite well. (just like the real thing)

I don't have the plaque 's wording memorized and can't seem to find it on the web. You'll just have to visit the engine yourself in St. Louis to find out what it says!

Edited July 18, 2015 by Murdoch17

[Feuer Zug]

Very nice work. It reproduces the design superbly.

[Murdoch17]

First post edited 7/18/15:

You are probably wondering why I dragged this model out of the dark abyss of time: I needed the model to be updated to the standard set by my Santa Fe Bluebonnet engines so i can carefully consider which to get... if either at all. The engine would be built along-side SP 4460, as they both are stored at the same place - the Museum of Transportation in St. Louis, Missouri. Thus the ldd file and pictures have been updated.

[THERIZE]

cool! but i think the side 'fans' should be changed with 1x2 technic bricks with one pin in the middle.

[Murdoch17]

cool! but i think the side 'fans' should be changed with 1x2 technic bricks with one pin in the middle.

Yeah, I did that originally, but it didn't look big enough for me, and putting a 2x2 dish on their didn't help matters. This was the best compromise i could see without custom stickers.

EDIT: Oh wait.. you mean the grilles tiles on the sides? I did change the side fans to black, with dark bluish gray headlights underneath after taking these photos. Also, the trans black glass has been changed back to trans clear, as it's not on BL in that color in the USA at the moment.

P.S. I parted out the model at around 110 US dollars. It's actually kinda low for what I thought it would be....

EDIT #2: I just remembered about the National Engineering Landmark plaque on the engine! It has now been added to the first post.

Edited July 18, 2015 by Murdoch17

[THERIZE]

I ment the firsT thing.