Construction on the F Unit nose

Work has started on the Standard Gauge F 3 diesel, with the hardest part first

< Slideshow > < Return > to the F 3 photo section Created 11/19/08

Words from Barry on the start of this project:

Some pictures of my nose of the F unit that I want to build in G scale. Ward Hammond helped me with the sizes and shapes of the base

plates that are the general shape of the nose. I add blocks between the three plates to space them out and then wrapped the plates with

a 40 thou sheet to form the nose. I then added the top couture arches and bent the 40 thou sheet over the top and glued them together.

Over the top of the 40 thou, I added a 20 thou sheet to make it smooth. Once all trimmed up, I started adding solid blocks of plastic strip

1/4" thick, around the 1" tube for the head light, to build up the area where the shaping was to be done. Once I roughed it in, I scrapped

it with a #11 Exacto blade to take off the material. It made a big mess, but worked ok. I have to putty up some holes and re-sand the

entire nose next. Hope to start on the cab windows next. It takes a long time to shape it correctly, but I have enjoyed the project so far.