Athearn BB Gunderson Maxi-3 Project

Greetings All,

A couple of weeks ago I once again blew the dust off a box of Athearn BB Gunderson Maxi-3 well cars. I'd been wanting to build and paint them for 1:1 Sir Neal's Atlantic Pacific RR for several years but getting the right decals stymied the project each time. 

Finally I found the set I was after, it was in stock and I cleared the project with Sir Neal. No sense doing all this work if he didn't want them!   

The undecorated well cars get ready for assembly after sitting in their box in my layout rooms for over 20 years.

For this project we'll be using Microscale decal set #87-1480. Several times in the past I tried to find this set for this project but it always seemed to be out of stock wherever I looked.

Fans of the A.P.R.R. know that orange is their basic corporate color. 1:1 Sir Neal continued the tradition opting for an orange five unit set. Here they are drying on the Patti-O Paint Shop.

Cars and parts are painted, ready for partial assembly and decals.

A pair of Atlantic Pacific Intermodal units just lettered. I removed the CSX lettering using only the Intermodal portion of the decal.

Four of the five units is the Solvaset phase.

A surprise bay window caboose in A.P.R.R. colors for 1:1 Sir Neal dries on the Patti-O.

The five unit set has received a shot of Testor's Dullcote to protect the decals. The caboose is still in the solvaset phase.

The A.P.R.R. well cars are ready for their first load at the Terminal Yard intermodal ramp.

The loaded well cars are pulled past 1/87th scale Sir Neal and the NYCTL trainmen on their way to a departure track.

A close up of the B unit with two 48' trailers. The decal lettering was challenging and I often used a magnifying glass to see what it said and to place the decals properly.

The A unit followed by the E, D and C units. This five unit set is considered one rail car as all are dependent on each other. 

The A.P.R.R. set is coupled up to single CSX  and Coe Leasing stand alone cars and another five unit set of well cars.

This will be CSX Train Q-160. Terminal Yard to the CSX Terminal in Rock Ridge NJ. My one and only CSX engine gets the call.

Bringing up the rear of Q-160 will AP 79, Sir Neal's newly painted bay window caboose.

Q-160 leaves Terminal Yard for the CSX Rock Ridge NJ Ramp.

The Atlantic Pacific Intermodal set rumbles over the Empire City viaduct for the final time. This time they went back into their box fully painted, operational and headed for a layout where they will be appreciated and see their fair share of running time. After 20 plus years of waiting patiently they deserve no less. 

I really enjoyed this project and look forward to seeing this set in service on 1:1 Sir Neal's layout. If and when I get to visit I'll definitely look to run them again.

Here they are on Sir Neal's Atlantic Pacific Railroad.

Thanks for reading and watching!!!

See ya soon!!!