Speaking of Models
by Steve Hile

I have always been fascinated by the Rock Island�s box cab diesels.  It is my opinion that these little locomotives are really the progenitor of the road switcher which the RI pioneered in Alco�s RS-1.  I was especially taken with several that received Rocket paint.  For many years, I looked at the resemblance of Model Die Castings box cab switcher to the Rock Island units.  Years ago, Bill Graham gave me one of the MDC bodies and I began to hatch the plot.
The first order of business was to find an appropriate powered chassis.  I settled on the Athearn switcher as being reasonable both in size and cost.  Its major drawback is that it is 5 feet short on the truck center to center dimension (22 as opposed to 27 feet.)  This is a major compromise which makes the model a bit of a caricature, which still captures the character of the prototype.  With that choice made, the modifications of the body can proceed.  Clearly new Athearn switchers are readily available, but I was able to pick up a used one at a swap meet at a good price since I wasn�t interested in the appearance of the body shell.  As it turned out, the pilots and steps from the body will work for the new model and provide a good reference for mounting the body to the chassis.  So I started with them.

The MDC shell has two major drawbacks.  It is too short for the Athearn chassis and it looks the same from each side.  That is, it has two entrance doors that are at opposite corners.  The first step was to remove one whole side.  The remaining portion of the shell is then cut in half about 15 feet from the rear end (the one with out the small door.)  The removed side is also cut in half and the two pieces reversed to place the small door at the same end as on the other side.  These small doors mark the engineer�s end of the car body.  The side I sectioned became the fireman�s side.  Here again, you can see the locations of the doors and windows was dictated by what the MDC shell provided as opposed to an exact match with the prototype.  A strip of heavy styrene formed the frame between the step/pilots, helping to hold the body together.  It should fit fairly snugly around the chassis frame.  I hacked up an old Athearn round roof coach to salvage the arched section of roof.  A portion of the model�s flat roof had to be removed (leave enough flat area for the radiators.)  The roof had to be sanded to fit.  Another strip of styrene was mounted just below the roof forming a letter board and solidifying the basic body.

When I got to this point, I was stymied for what was probably a couple of years, looking for appropriate baggage doors.  Finally, I came across New England Rail Service #211 which filled the bill and got the project rolling again.  A vertical strip of styrene fills the remainder of the side as the door is installed.  A body modification that will help better visualize the RI version is to remove the vertical mullions from most of the windows changing them from four panes to two.  The engineer�s side window had a vertical mullion.  A new large center window needs to be added in the front with a vertical bar.  The cast on head lights are removed and the holes are filled.  In the rear, an opening for another door must be added.  For this I used Grandt Line�s #5063 caboose door.  The two rear windows received a series of horizontal brass wires.  Two sets of grab irons are provided to reach the roof, on the engineer�s side front and the fireman�s side rear.  I used the Athearn switcher end hand rails.  The other hand rails, like along side the baggage doors are bent brass wire.

With the basic body complete, I turned to the roof.  The radiators are boxes built of styrene covered with a Detail Associates GR2709 covers.  These have a fine mesh screen.  The sides have three flat plates with half circle cut outs.  These were fairly fussy to make, but are clearly visible.  The front side of each box was made from scribed styrene.  The other sides were flat.  I built a service platform on one side of each radiator as they are accessible from the side ladder and added an appropriately bent wire grab.  There is also a wire across each side of the radiator.  I spent a lot of time on the radiators, but they are a prominent feature that gives the model its character.

Other roof details include Detail Associates SA 2106 spark arresters, a Cal Scale BE-281 bell, a Cal Scale steam locomotive headlight (I have lost track of the number), a variety of roof vents (again, I don�t have all the names and numbers, I worked from photos and what looked good) a Grandt line smoke jack, and two long wire coils.  These are more for effect than any kind of exact prototype match.  Two Detail Associates single chime air horns (AH 1608) were mounted in front of and along side of the front radiator.  Cal Scale also provided the marker lights (number 280.)

The �spoiler� behind the rear radiator was made from a sheet of styrene and four small pieces of flat brass wire.  In the center is half of a Detail Associates LT 1012 headlight with a red MV products lens.

I added few details to the chassis.  Three stirrup step ladders were added to the body on each side.  These were made from A-Line stirrups with an additional rung of brass wire attached across with ACC.  On the engineer�s side, I used Century Details #211 Pullman battery box cover attached to the area of the frame below the baggage door.  On the fireman�s side, a portion of an air tank (origin now unknown) filed flat on one side to keep it from protruding out to far was attached.  Kadee couplers fit in the Athearn boxes with no problem.  The snow plow was Details West #PL-110.

As you can imagine, masking for the Rocket paint job was a significant task, but can be done with care.  I purchase some model masking tape (Pactra in 1/2 and 1/8 inch widths) which helped a lot.  I used Accu Flex Erie Lackawana Maroon and Santa Fe Red along with silver (I don�t remember whose) and black.  Some hand touch up was required.  The decals are a mixture.  The most important find was a road name small enough for my letter board.  It came from a Walthers set.  The striping is from my E&F unit set.

The final touch is two small stainless steel grills on each end.  These are pieces cut from Detail Associates GR 2705 F unit grills.  Especially in the front where they contrast with the maroon, they are very effective.

I was pleased with the way this model came out.  I hope this description provides inspiration for you to try you hand at this or one of the other more unique pieces of Rock Island motive power or rolling stock.  I am sure that the Proto 2000 E7B units will provide an excellent starting point for an AB6.

I would encourage all of you to continue to support manufacturers who make accurate Rock Island models.  In recent correspondence with Al Westerfield, he reminded me that future RI models from him (such as the steel ended versions of the B-2 boxcars) will depend on the success of his current offerings.  We cast our votes for future models by what we buy today!  Between Westerfield, Sunshine and Rocket Express, we have a good selection of Steam and Transition era box cars.  Try em, you�ll be pleased with the results.

Short Hauls