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| Prototype Locomotive Manufacturer |
Baldwin |
| Model Manufacturer |
Stewart
Hobbies |
| Scale |
Proto:87 (HO) |
| Date Acquired |
June 2003, Timonium Show |
The VO-1000 is another excellent model from Stewart Hobbies. Stewart has
only gotten better in terms of detail and smoothness. In this particular
model, all the grabs and other details are molded in acetal plastic and
separately applied by the modeler.
Here's the most recent photo (August 20, 2003). I added the number plate
to the front (it is electrical tape with dry-transfer numbers). I'm not
too happy about the way the number plate turned out (the 3 jumped when I
applied the plate to the body, and the numbers are not very crisp), but I can
always remove it and create another if I would like to later.
You can also see the newly cast smoke stack in this photo. All it is
missing is details such as rerail frogs and poles as well as the horn.
I'll add the latter as soon as I figure out where it was on this specific
VO1000.
Here's a photo I took on 10/19/2003 under the new full-spectrum fluorescents
above the yard in my layout room. (Thanks for the color-correction tips, Ron!)
Also, looking at the photo here (taken without flash) the weathering seems to be
too subtle. I may dust the front a bit more later.
Here's a side shot, also from August 20, 2003
Here is an earlier photo of the model with the grabs applied, a Sergent
Engineering coupler installed, and wheels converted to Proto:87. Some
basic artist chalk-based weathering has also been done. Only the
weathering on the trucks and underside has been affixed with Polly Scale flat
finish. The body and walkway weathering is temporary for this photo. This
was my first attempt at weathing anything, so I wanted to make sure I could
remove what doesn't come out well.
This little switcher appears to be a long way from the yard. I think he's
lost ;-)
Unfortunately, my particular model came missing the side body railings. I
emailed Stewart and requested another set. They replied back immediately
and sent me the whole sprue only two days later. I really like
Stewart's customer service.
As with all mass production models (and even quite a few of the one-off custom
or brass runs), there are some minor differences between the model and the
prototype. Here are some interesting differences between the Stewart
VO-1000 and the Western Maryland prototype :
1) The air hoses should be on the right-hand side of the couplers, not the
left This can easily be fixed by drilling a hole on the correct side, and
filling the hole on the opposite side. You will also need to heat-bend
the air hose so it fits the opposite side. The valve might be a problem,
however. If this is important to you, I'd recommend looking to a
third-party casting or similar.
2) The trucks project out too far on each side. This is a normal HO thing
- nothing specific to the Stewart model. I haven't decided if I will try
and bring them in now that the Proto:87 conversion has given me a lot more room
to play with.
3) No builder's plate. I might try and dig one up.
4) "Western Maryland" has too much space between the letters. I'm going to
ignore this, though, especially as this is pretty much universal with all
the models from all the vendors :-)
Other than what is listed above, I need to do the following :
1) Add rerail frogs and a push pole as per prototype.
2) Possibly add classification lights
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