Background
I have always wanted to have a model of Seaboard Coast Line’s BQ23-7, since they were transferred into CSX I can use it with a bit of modellers license.
Page last updated 30/06/2013
The project
One Atlas N scale B23-7 was acquired with a thin anti climber,
The whole model was dismantled and paint stripped.
A cut made to remove everything from the long hood forward.
A light sand down of the main flat surfaces on the cab and test fit everything together. I decided to glue the long hood to the frame as well because I had now lost the front mounting lug.
I used Eve Stick’s serious glue and let it harden for 24 hours.
I acquired a pair of Blomberg truck frames from Atlas, these were sprayed blue along with the fuel tank and when dry the original frames removed and the new ones installed and the under frame all rebuilt. Atlas part number 480305. Common to GP-7, 9, 30, 35, 38, 40 and 40-2
I filled the original horn mounting hole and drilled a new one on the cab roof, note not all BQ23-7’s had the horns on the cab roofs.
I then bent 2 lengths of wire for the front cab handrails and fitted them, these are the only 2 handrails that are required to be made.
I fabricated a piece of styrene to mount the hand brake wheel on the front walkway and glued this into place.
Since I was going to paint the loco in CSX stealth livery I then fitted the remaining handrails.
The whole model was then given a coat of tamiya fine grey undercoat and checked for defects.
Remainder of painting and decals applied by usual methods.
