03/06/2008
| BUILDING HOOD SIDES WITH CANNON & CO. PARTS |
Before I start this article, I want to make it clear that my method for building these hood sides
are by no means the only way to do this. This is just my methodology for building the sides
and what I found worked best for me with the tools and resources I have. I would like this to
just be a guide. Please feel free to adjust it to your needs. Also before I start I want to thank
Gordon Cannon for all the excellent parts he has produced over the years that allow us to
build these models.
The concepts and construction methods you see in this article will apply to any EMD hood unit
model using Cannon & Co. parts. This article is mainly aimed at the modeler who is a little
reluctant to try their hands at scratch building a model. I want to show you how simple it can be
if you just take your time and develop a method that works for you.
Since I first published my hood building article, I have changed some of my methodologies and
also developed a new tool to help make cutting the styrene parts necessary easier.
are by no means the only way to do this. This is just my methodology for building the sides
and what I found worked best for me with the tools and resources I have. I would like this to
just be a guide. Please feel free to adjust it to your needs. Also before I start I want to thank
Gordon Cannon for all the excellent parts he has produced over the years that allow us to
build these models.
The concepts and construction methods you see in this article will apply to any EMD hood unit
model using Cannon & Co. parts. This article is mainly aimed at the modeler who is a little
reluctant to try their hands at scratch building a model. I want to show you how simple it can be
if you just take your time and develop a method that works for you.
Since I first published my hood building article, I have changed some of my methodologies and
also developed a new tool to help make cutting the styrene parts necessary easier.
What you see above is the GP38-2 & GP40-2 template tool I designed. It is not a one time use
part. It is intended to help me cut out the parts I need so I can reproduce the cuts the same
each time. Let me go through what each part is here. The backing sheet template can also be
used for other GP units that use the same length hood as the GP38-2/GP40-2.
A - This is the backing sheet. This is the heart of the hood. All the parts will be glued to the
surface of the backing sheet.
B - This is the right side of the clean air room or otherwise known as the generator room. If
you notice the little hump at the left top side of the backing sheet, you will see that part B fits
this area perfectly. Cut out part B from styrene and laminate it over the same shaped area in
part A. You will also notice three little holes. These are the drain hole locating points.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Do not cut out the door shape. It is only there for reference. The door
should lay on top of part be. Use the cutout as a template to draw the door outline.
C - This is the blower duct side of the clean air room. Again, after cutting out part C from a
sheet of styrene, laminate it onto the backing sheet.
D - This is the roof to the clean air room. It will fit in between the backing sheets and flush with
the top. It has holes in it to help you locate where the inertial filter hatch will sit so you can glue
it from the bottom.
E - This is not a part to be cut out. This template is used as a reference for where the
joint/seam is just after the cab. Part E will lay over part C.
F - Again, this is not a part to be cut out and is used as a reference for the joint/seam just after
the cab. Part F will lay over part B.
G - This is the template to cut the radiator piece out that sits above and aft of the radiator
doors. It also locates the Cannon & Co. GP40-2 radiator grills.
H - This template serves the same purpose as template G except it is for a GP38-2.
IMPORTANT NOTE: If you are using the late corrugated grills, DO NOT cut out the inner
portion.
J - This also serves the same purpose as template G except it is used for the late corrugated
GP40-2 grills.
K - Template K is a very important part. The wider part is used to build the door spacer that
goes in between the two banks of four doors.
L - This template is for a non-dynamic equipped GP38-2 and is used to build the non-dymanic
hood side that would sit above the engine room doors.
M - This template is for a non-dynamic equipped GP40-2 and is used to build the non-dynamic
hood side that would sit above the engine room doors.
part. It is intended to help me cut out the parts I need so I can reproduce the cuts the same
each time. Let me go through what each part is here. The backing sheet template can also be
used for other GP units that use the same length hood as the GP38-2/GP40-2.
A - This is the backing sheet. This is the heart of the hood. All the parts will be glued to the
surface of the backing sheet.
B - This is the right side of the clean air room or otherwise known as the generator room. If
you notice the little hump at the left top side of the backing sheet, you will see that part B fits
this area perfectly. Cut out part B from styrene and laminate it over the same shaped area in
part A. You will also notice three little holes. These are the drain hole locating points.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Do not cut out the door shape. It is only there for reference. The door
should lay on top of part be. Use the cutout as a template to draw the door outline.
C - This is the blower duct side of the clean air room. Again, after cutting out part C from a
sheet of styrene, laminate it onto the backing sheet.
D - This is the roof to the clean air room. It will fit in between the backing sheets and flush with
the top. It has holes in it to help you locate where the inertial filter hatch will sit so you can glue
it from the bottom.
E - This is not a part to be cut out. This template is used as a reference for where the
joint/seam is just after the cab. Part E will lay over part C.
F - Again, this is not a part to be cut out and is used as a reference for the joint/seam just after
the cab. Part F will lay over part B.
G - This is the template to cut the radiator piece out that sits above and aft of the radiator
doors. It also locates the Cannon & Co. GP40-2 radiator grills.
H - This template serves the same purpose as template G except it is for a GP38-2.
IMPORTANT NOTE: If you are using the late corrugated grills, DO NOT cut out the inner
portion.
J - This also serves the same purpose as template G except it is used for the late corrugated
GP40-2 grills.
K - Template K is a very important part. The wider part is used to build the door spacer that
goes in between the two banks of four doors.
L - This template is for a non-dynamic equipped GP38-2 and is used to build the non-dymanic
hood side that would sit above the engine room doors.
M - This template is for a non-dynamic equipped GP40-2 and is used to build the non-dynamic
hood side that would sit above the engine room doors.
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