Speaking of Models
by Steve Hile

While I am not normally a Rock Island modeler, I had a Trains Unlimited GP-7 shell and frame kit, and nothing to do with it.  The Perspective photos in the September 1993 Railroad Model Craftsman provided the inspiration and Steve Hile provided the decals.  I was off and running.
The frame is a soft metal casting set up to receive an Athearn-style drive.  In order to use the Proto 2000 GP-l8 trucks I had on hand, I had to remove the reinforcements that spanned the area between the bolster and the frame.  A cutoff wheel in the Dremel tool took care of that obstacle.
I also added the weight from a GP-18.  This involved drilling and counter-sinking two holes in the fuel tank in line with the motor mount holes for the mounting screws.  The weight was trimmed to fit the body shell and cut in front of the forward flywheel space so I could add a Keystone Interior kit.  The front section of the weight was friction fit into the shell.  I reduced the outer diameter of the female universal on the front drive shaft so that it would not grind against the floor of the cab interior.  The floor also needed a trough cut in it so there was enough clearance for the shaft.
Once the drive operated quietly, I added a constant, directional headlamp module in the recess in the weight above the motor.  A bulb connected across the diode bridge yielded a cab light on in either direction.
The truck sideframes are the Proto 2000 units with the bearings replaced in a random fashion.  I added a speed recorder drive on the rear axle of the right front truck.  (I think this is the correct location!?)  Brake air lines from thin wire and sand lines from micro-bulb insulation were glued on with ACC.  I used Kadee #5s in the 30 series boxes and the coupler height was perfect.
Next, I fired up my pin vise and small drills to open holes for lift rings, grab irons, horns, m.u. and air hoses, coupler lift bars and wipers.  I added everything except the grabs on the ends, wipers and hoses.
The cab kit was assembled and painted light gray, the dials and levers black.  I didn�t get too excited as you can�t see much through the windows.  The crew are Preiser truck drivers glued to the Keystone seats.  The horns I used appear too short in the trumpet, but they were all I could get on short notice.  The correct ones are �blat� horns.  The winterization hatch is glued over the third fan back from the cab.
Next, I added the battery box sides and steps to the walkway, but proceeded to break off the steps whenever the hood was separated from the walkway.  The m.u. stands were made from strip plastic with short sections of plastic rod used for the receptacles.  The buffers were added above the coupler openings after cutting them from the kit cover plates.
I primed the shell and walkway with Krylon white spray primer.  Letting these cure for a couple of days, the sideframes and frame were sprayed flat black with a heavy dusting of Model Master FS 36081 dark gray.  For the red, I used Scalecoat caboose red.  This was applied to the hood and walkway sides.  After this cured, I masked with strips of masking tape and shot Accu-flex black.  This was quick cured with a hair drier and I was decaling as soon as the airbrush was clean!
The decals from Steve Hile and Railgraphics were great.  They were opaque and strong enough to withstand my heavy handed application.  The only additional decals needed were Microscale builders plates and number board numbers.  Thanks folks!
Finally, I added the m.u. and air hoses, wipers, grab irons and handrails.  I painted these their appropriate colors and sealed the whole shebang with Dullcoat tinted with a little dark gray.  A little weathering and I was done

Short Hauls