Throwback Thursday - More 44 tonners (& specifically, DEY-4 #0806)

As I try to bring the Valley Local blog up to speed, I'm realizing that I dropped a few balls along the way.  Case in point - the DEY-4 (GE 44 tonner) #0802 I weathered for Randy and which ended up being the subject of my latest article in Railroad Model Craftsman. In addition to yesterday's Wordless Wednesday, you can find some additional pics of it on Randy's layout here.

My last actual post on it was from October of last year(!) There I'd only just started the process. And there, for all intents and purposes for the blog at least, it sat. Thankfully, even though I failed/forgot to log my process on the 0802, it's distilled and recorded in the June 2026 issue of RMC :)

One of the reasons I keep the blog going is not so much for the feedback (since, disappointingly, there aren't many comments left here - not like on the Valley Local Facebook group), but to document what I've done in the past so I can refer back to it. In that sense, it's a true "web(-based) log" (e.g. "'b'log") of my builds, processes, etc.

To that end, here's yet another DEY-4 - this one for my layout!

Although I'd weathered (and "crewed") my own #0802 a while back (click here for pics), I really wanted a DEY-4 in the New Haven's original Pullman Green delivery scheme. Unfortunately, that wasn't one of the decorated units Rapido offered, so - thanks to Bill - I got an undec . . .

 and tried out my newly developed airbrushing skills . . .

Modelers Decals & Paint (MDP)

3 Pullman Greens: Tru-Color, Badger, MDP

I recall there being some debate about which brand of "Pullman Green" to use. I'd used Tru-Color before (on DEY-5 #0604), but it looked too yellow/olive to me (I salvaged it with weathering), and I used Badger on DEY-3 #0967, but didn't really like it. Unfortunately, Randy got the MDP paint to me a bit too late - but I look forward to trying it in the future. It behaves MUCH better than the Badger (more like Tamiya, which is my fave), but I ended up using Badger again for this model.

For the lettering, I used Highball Graphics decals, sealed with a gloss coat of Tamiya.

The Rapido model runs beautifully and the body is gorgeous, so it doesn't really need anything to create an accurate model. Nevertheless, I decided to use Cal-Scale door handles instead of the brass bits Rapido supplies, and I replaced the stock headlights with MV lenses. I also moved the front airhose to the engineer's side and added fuel caps on both walkways just in front of the cab.

That's where the fuel spills come from :^)

As you may notice, if you compare this model to my #0802, not only will you notice there's no crew - but I also removed the beautiful Rapido cab interior(?!), opting to replace it with a Scale Sound Systems cab-filling speaker. Let me tell you - it makes a HUGE difference in the sound quality!

That being said, given the later runs of Rapido 44-tonners which have better (or at least better mounted) speakers, I think I'd actually keep the interior if I had this all to do over again. Check out this comparison of the early vs. later run of speakers (spoiler alert: while the SSS cab filling speaker beats all, the SSS drop-in replacement speaker isn't noticeably better than the later-run Rapido stock speaker).

Since by my 1948 era, this engine would have been working pretty much nonstop for about 7 years (mostly during busy wartime), I applied moderately heavy weathering - certainly heavier than I've ever done before on a loco.

It's certainly no rust bucket - it's just supposed to look a bit worn, certainly used, but cared-for.

Although I finished the 0806 in May of last year, I hope you've enjoyed my taking some time to catch y'all up on it - especially if you missed it on FB. If nothing else, at least I have some documentation of it on my own(ed) content, unlike FB which can be a bit ephemeral.

Stay tuned as I bring back some more "blasts from the past" on the next "Throwback Thursday!"