Update-1/20/2013

Well, here's a new brief update on my progress so far.  I did recieve the Forney and it is a beautiful model.  I decided to start with the tank in the back since the Gurley's tank has higher sides and also a flared edge that is not on the Bachmann model.  I traced out templates out of a sheet of paper and test fitted them to the engine.  This past weekend, I finally cut the first side of the tank out of styrene and it looks good so far.  The new tank's demension will be a little off since the original drawings for the Gurley are for a 36" guage, not 30" guage.  I also swapped out the outside frame pilot truck for an inside frame one.   On a side note, my HO collection has also received attention.  I currently have two projects in the work, Southern Pacific GP40-2 #7395 as she appeared in 1989 and Santa Fe GP38u 2307 as she appeared in 1993.  Both engines are going to be kitbashed from Bachmann GP40s, one from my childhood Santa Fe 6067 engine and the latter from a Bachman DCC Equipped #3507.  So far, I have removed all the plastic light bars from the 7395 in order to remove all the paint to get an empty shell to work with for detailing.  As for the 2307, I'm in the process of removing the numberboards on the long hood since it appears that the ATSF GP38s were delievered without them.  Hopefully I get some more work done on this long weekend and I will have some photos up on my Flickr shortly.