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MP 13755 - Short Bay Window Caboose
One of my favorites, I wouldn't part with this model for an expensive brass import. Details include see-through steps (made from Plano roof walks) and flooring (brass screen), detailed endframes and underframes - Kitbashed/Scratch-built, using parts from Walthers bay window caboose kit and Herald King and Microscale decals. Built by T. Greuter.

Screaming Eagle Era
Diesels & Rolling Stock

When not railfanning or working on the MOPAC - Screaming Eagles website, I like to work with my models... that is, when my busy 3-year old lets me.

My main modeling influence has been the equipment I remember from growing up along the Union-Lincoln Branch of the 1970-'80s. I think my all time favorite resource for prototype photos would have to be Joe Collias's excellent book Missouri Pacific Lines in Color, for the shear variety of equipment in color. No brass kits for me - below is a sampling of my cheap plastic HO projects.

Modeling the MOP
I unfortunately am an addict. I was bitten by the modeling bug. It has robbed me countless amounts of dollars which I'll never see again. It has caused me to huddle indoors in a dark corner like a recluse for days on end. I has forced me to work-away all my free-time going blind handling microscopic parts a brain surgeon wouldn't touch. It has made me throw out perfectly good clothes to make more closet space for the tons of kit boxes I have no place to store. My wife has given up all hope for a cure. Below are some of the sad results of my addiction.



Click on the thumbnails for a larger image.

Model
 Description
MP 3155 - SD40-2
A weathered SD40-2, MP 3155, in the double-eagle scheme. The actual prototype once wore a C&EI buzzsaw under the cab. Crews simply pasted an eagle decal over the lettering after the C&EI ceased to exist as a seperate entity on the MoPac system. - This model is a heavily customized Athearn kit - Detail Associates and Details West detailing including thin-wall cab, wire grabs and lift rings, see-thru fans, "chicken wire" grill, mu hoses and cables, sand & fuel fillers and guages, pump brake, headlight assembly, snowplow and lift bars, leslie horn, sun shades, wipers, firecracker antennae, side-mount bell, speed recorder, and Microscale decals. Thre's more on the #3155 prototype here.

MP 3307 - U30C
An unfinished project - heavily worked Athearn U30C unit with lots of custom brass, Microscale decals and layers of aging. This model is based on a specific prototype like the other kits, but I chose the #3307 in particular for its rugged appearence and patch-up jobs. A photo of the #3307 can be found in Joe Collias's Missouri Pacific Lines in Color book. Based on prototype photo in Joe Collias's book Missouri Pacific Lines in Color.

KO&G 30012
Just a rattle-in-the-box Athearn PS-1 boxcar kit with Walther decals and weathering.

TrailerTrain Auto Rack
This is an Accurail kit with some custom detailing done to it. After painting it was decaled with Oddballs MP buzzsaws and lettering and Microscale lubeplates. The Ford pickup is also custom painted.

MP 4814 - B30-7
The only thing lacking is the smokey chug-chug-chug of a GE motor. - RailPower Shell, Athearn chassis with Detail Associates and Details West detailing including: wire grabs, mu hoses and cables, snowplows on both ends, lift bars, leslie horn, bell, sun shades, firecracker antennae, speed recorder, and Microscale decals. Based on prototype photo in Joe Collias's book Missouri Pacific Lines in Color.

MP 2512 - GP35
The small engines were the first to have the large turbo/screaming eagle emblazened sides. - RailPower Shell, Athearn chassis with Detail Associates and Details West detailing including: wire grabs and lift rings, see-thru fans, bell, mu hoses and cables, footboards and lift bars, leslie horn, sun shades, firecracker antennae, speed recorder, and Microscale decals.

MP 1659 - GP7
Patterned after a local Geep nic-named "the Greaser" for the sooty oil dripping down the body from it's exaust stacks - One of my first projects, customized from the old wide-bodied Athearn kit, Detail Associates and Details West detailing including wire grabs and lift rings, spark arrestors, see-thru fans, mu hoses and cables, pilots and lift bars, single chime horns, sun shades, firecracker antennae, speed recorder, and Microscale decals. Based on prototype photo in Joe Collias's book Missouri Pacific Lines in Color.

MP 1519 - SW1500
SW 1500 - MoPac owned only four units of this EMD-built model, they went on to purchase the newer MP15DC switchers. - Athearn kit with Detail Associates and Details West detailing including: wire grabs and lift rings, spark arrestors, mu hoses and cables, brake levers, bell, sun shades, firecracker antennae, and Microscale decals.

MP 13309 - Standard Steel Caboose
Scratchbuilt model based upon a DeSoto Steel-sided display Caboose near Papillian/Omaha Exit, Nebraska. - from Roundhouse parts and modified Tichy Train Group underframe, Microscale, Herald King and Oddballs decals. Based on this prototype - MP #13309

MP 13564 - Extended Vision Caboose
The major work here was moving the cupola farther back on the body and adjusting some window positions. Microscale and Herald King decals. - Customized model using the Athearn kit. A much more accurate model can be made today using the current EV caboose kit offered by Atlas.

MP 706224 - Covered 2-bay Hopper, Cement Service
Customized Roundhouse kit, wire grabs, Plano roof walk and Herald King decals. Based on this prototype - MP #706224

UCLX 3009 - Chlorine Tank Car
Standard tank car with the body-shortened from an Athearn kit and Microscale decals. This Tank Car was patterned after plans from an April 1996 Mainline Modeler magazine article.

MP 16883 - Ballast Hopper
I cut off the molded grabs and replaced with bent brass wire grabs for this Walthers kit, then used Oddballs decals for MOP coal hoppers. The small speeder is a white metal kit and the brick structure is a free-handed model from a Roundhouse 3-in-1 scratchbuilding kit. Ballast hopper based on this prototype - MP #16883

MPX 186 - Snowplow
Looking freshly painted from the car shops, this model isn't quite finished yet (the Proto-type plow has an attachment thing at the wedge's front, possibly used for a detachable coupler?) - customized Walthers kit, Oddballs and Microscale decals. Based on this prototype - MP X #186

BN 970504 - Wheel Car
Tichy Train Group kit, with Champ, Oddballs and Microscale decals.

MP Greenville Flatcar
Walther's kit using Microscale and Oddballs decals and heavy weathering. Like the protype, this flat has a fullcolor buzzsaw rather than a white stencil. Based on this prototype - MP #828074

MP Thrall Gondola
Walther's kit using Microscale and Oddballs decals, weathering and an molded acrylic scrap load. Based on this prototype - MP #640569

MP 96340 Cushion Boxcar
Athearn kit using Champ and Microscale decals, and heavy weathering. Based on prototype photos in Joe Collias's book Missouri Pacific Lines in Color.

MP Difco Dump Car
Walther's kit using Oddballs and Microscale decals, and Micro Scenics ballast rock for load. Based on this prototype - MP #55228

Water Tower
Your basic AMH kit with some airbrushed weathering. It doesn't fit with the SD's and the B-boats, but I wanted to try my hand at an older RR structure just for fun.

Model Railroad Magazine References:

  • "Pete Fordyce's MoPac Arkansas Division" - Model Railroader, June 2000 - HO Layout noe on display by a museum
  • "50 ft IPD X-Post Box Cars" - Railmodel Journal, Jan. 2001 - MP prototype photo
  • "MoPac EMD GP18 " & "Car Spotters Guide -Center Flow Hopper" - Railmodel Journal, Feb 1997 - HO Model details list & MP Cylindrical Hopper Prototype photo
  • "Open top Auto Racks" - Railmodel Journal, April 2000 - MP HO model
  • "Missouri Pacific Cabooses" & "MP Diner/Lounge Plans" - Mainline Modelor Jun 1995 - Jerry Michels' cabooses
  • "Ballast Cars" - Model Railroading, Nov 1995 - MP protoype photo
  • "Deisel Shops - UP's Jenks Shop" - Mainline Modelor, April 1996 - page of photos
  • "E7, the Standard Passenger Diesel, part 5" - Model Railroading, Mar 1997 - photos of MP & TP examples
  • "A&S Sw1500" - Model Railroading, Dec 1996 - Jerry Michels' models
  • "Thrall's 52' Gondola Cars since 1963" - Model Railroading, May 1996 - MP, CEI protypes
  • "Greenville Gondolas" - Railmodel Journal, Nov 1995 - Lots of MP Protype photos, including black MP Mexico-builts

 



Last Updated: January 23, 2009



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