918 April 2005 update

918 April 2005 update 918
April 2005 Update

Getting down to the wire... Our deadline is June 29th (end of lease with OTR) and we want this thing painted and blue-carded by then.

Priorities now are finishing up the exterior paint and checking off the items that need inspection and/or repair for certification. The left side was painted this month. In the meantime, Al Fowler and Don McPherson have been working on getting the cab side windows back together and working properly. Guy Kelley, Don Pomplun and Phil Orth have been helping me with masking and final preparations for painting. And as usual, Don has been running around fixing last minute metal problems before they are painted. There have been a many...

Engineroom doors masked and then painted orange.

	Right side finally completed with the engineroom door painted and the stainless plates reattached.

	View of gauges in cab with cover plate removed. The gauges will be individually tested for accuracy as part of the certification process.

	Black stripe is for the 6 5/8th" lettering.

	We actually got both Phil Orth and Bones Andrews at the same time this week to help prepare for paint. Don McPherson center.

	Ready for paint!

	Painted... Had to let it sit for a couple hours before pulling off the masking paper. Short video of it being painted - click here (1.4 mb) Video by Don McPherson.

	2 hours later...

	Another view.

	Another view with door closed.

	In the meantime, Guy Kelley has been hard at work on the floor plates. Some had to be replaced, while others were re-secured to the floor.

	Last week in April, the weather has not been cooperating at all this month. Here we are (me, Guy and Don) trying to figure out the somewhat complicated curve where the black, silver and orange meet. Unfortunately, EMD did not provide a clear blue-print for this part. Guy finally got the curve right and got the masking ready for it. Richard Silagi photo.

	Here I am getting last minute prep work done for silver paint around the cab window. Richard Silagi photo.
	Cab window painted silver. The upper part of the door will be done later. Another metal issue was found here where the window frame was separating from the door. Don will address this next so it can be painted.

Photos and text by Dan Furtado except where noted.

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