About 2 years ago I purchased a 60s-70s United(PFM) Berkshire off a local dealer, it was in pretty sad shape but looking through the chipped paint, seized open face motor, and broken parts, I still liked it. Plopped down the cash and took it home where it sat on my shelf waiting for its time.
One day I pulled it down and started working on it. Tore it down to the frame, stripped the 40 years of paint and glass beaded it. Ah that nice brass finish came through. Replaced all of the broken components, pulled the open frame motor with a Sagami Can, NWSL gearing, and installed a Tsunami DCC decoder with a Hi-bass speaker from Tony's. Threw some primer and paint on the body and placed the Herald. She runs sweet. I went with Cotton Belt because all of my Motive Power is Southern Pacific and with my wife's family history involved with SSW, I thought it would be a nice addition. Now, Cotton Belt never had Berks but it is close enough to the 800 series for my taste. I chose 800 because it was done by the Baldwin Shops versus the Pine Bluff shops by SSW. The builders plate on this United model has a Baldwin plate. Anyway, I really like the way it came out and it gives me some more experience in airbrushing so I can tackle my other unpainted brass on that shelf.
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