The two SW1200m’s that I’m building are listed below with the detail differences based on Baldwin phases.


2709

Built 9/44 as VO-1000 #59 – 2709 has 3 sets of louvers on the short hood section next to the cab. Straight wall cab and angled side sill at the steps. I will refer this build as #1



Photo credit and permission by Ellis Simons.


2707

Built 1/44 as VO-1000 #78 – 2707 has no louvers on the short hood. It has the curved trim on the cab and side sill. This is #2



Photo credit Kim Piersol.

you have to choose from photos when modeling the curved sides. when I did my #2706. I found a photo with the curved sides on the walkway and a later photo of it with them removed.

Dug out my copy of DIESEL ERA March/April 1996 last night, I am eagerly awaiting to see your postings of this kitbash. In a puny effort to make use of the remains, does anybody have a photograph of a gondola or flatcar with the load being the long hood off a Baldwin switch engine? I understand that more than likely EMD just used a cutting torch to quickly remove what was to be replaced with no salvage of parts concidered save for scrap value alone. Pity, for that would be an interesting load.

Frame

I will start the build with the Stewart frame modifications that have to be done in order for the bashed bodies to fit.

The front of the Stewart frame is where the mods take place. The cast block weight has to be cut back a minimum .150 from the front. This will allow the body to sit correctly without any interference from the frame. If you don’t have a mill, you can use a modeler’s hack saw and clean the frame up with a file. I milled #1’s frame and #2 shown below was cut with a hand saw and cleaned up with a Dremel and file.



Not as clean as a mill but was faster to do. I cleaned and washed any metal shavings off the frame. With that mod out of the way, I’m going to start detailing the fuel tank area.

Here is the shot I have of the cab/control stand on the SW1200m - from the back of the photo, this is from #2704.

Here is a couple of shots of my SW1200m that I did back in the early 1990's.
It is a kitbash using an Athearn Baldwin and an Athearn SW7. The 2 kits hoods don't match on the top of the hoods. So I had to do a lot of sanding to make them match with each other, I also added a Walthers Prime Mover for that extra detail. Open Hood doors are .010 styrene. Also added were the round corners along the steps by removing them from the SW7. After the glue setup. I rounded the step corners with a file (as the SW7 step corners are angular). Also added the round corners at the walkways next to the cab with some scrap styrene. The firecracker antenna is a piece of 22 gauge "telephone wire" that was stripped 1/2 way for the base and the top part had the insulation left on it to represent the antenna. I used Floquil RDG Green paint and Herald King decals to finish the model.
John Caples