more and more sd70acu in canadian pacific colors show up out there. seems like none of the main manufacturers intends to bring out these models. so far i was not able to find correct shells on shapeways or other 3d-printers. how many of you would buy such a kit (including shell, etched parts, windows but no drive) ?
Hang tight - one is on the way... I'm in mid-development right now. There are some modifications around the battery boxes that pose some problems with a straight plug-in, but my goal is to make it as easy as possible. In the shot below I haven't made the adjustments to the battery box area (angled) yet and I have several other adjustments to make but I'm inching closer.. Cheers -Mike
I thought the Canadian pacific sd70acu s were rebuilt sd90s with a new cab , prime mover and traction motors
Almost - there's a little more to it than the cab. This picture illustrates nicely the spotting features in primer gray: https://live.staticflickr.com/733/32357028795_9771a2ac50_h.jpg My project is to mimic the prototype and retrofit a Kato SD90 as opposed to doing an entirely new shell. I'm still at early stages though so plans may change. -Mike
Sandro, To answer your question, assuming the shell will fit kato sd80/90 mechanism. I may buy 1 or 2 depending on the price Envoyé de mon SM-A510F en utilisant Tapatalk
Norfolk Southern has rebuilt over 90 SD90MACs to SD70ACUs. These can be seen over their entire system as well as many other Class 1 roads. This will be a great project for many modelers since the only (and expensive) alternative now is to use a Kato or FVM SD70ACe cab on a Kato SD80/90 shell.
The NS SD70Acu's still have the original 710 Diesel engine, Main Alternator and Siemens AC traction motors. Basically from the electrical locker back they are original SD90Mac's. The biggest part of the conversion is removing the original Siemens electronics and replacing them with the Mitsubishi electronics used in the SD70Ace's along with the SD70Ace style cab and electrical locker. There are other items that are also upgraded but beyond the scope of this thread.
All the SD70ACUs, both CP and NS, are based on the SD90MAC. The SD80MAC has a slightly different body to the SD90MAC. Among other differences, the SD80 has three smaller radiator fans instead of the SD90's two larger ones and the rear sand boxes are differently shaped. The remaining 29 SD80MACs will be undergoing a rebuild to SD80ACU specifications. They will be keeping their V-20 710 engines, with a horsepower bump to 5,500hp. IIRC they were going to receive new cabs like the SD70ACUs, but NS appears to have changed plans and will keep the originals on all but one SD80MAC, no. 7210, with a fire-damaged cab. More details on the NS rebuild programs can be found here: http://www.altoonaworks.info/rebuilds/ns_sd70acu.html http://www.altoonaworks.info/rebuilds/ns_sd80acu.html
The only external differences are the sand boxes, where the 90 has a full height versus the 80 with its shorter one. Both have 3 radiator fans
I made mine by making a casting copy of kato sd70 ace(for private use)than duping with resin cast 2 so far when I can figure out how to transfer pictures I will
Both the 90 and the 9043MACs have 3 radiator fans, the different is the hood shape over the engine compartment
NS is picking up used SD90MACs to rebuild into SD70ACUs, not really having that many in pure 90MAC form
The vast majority of the SD90MACs came from UP. I read somewhere the reason they were available was that the frames were cracking from the fuel tank weight and UP was having to deadline several of them. NS purchased a few of them and worked with EMD to come up with an acceptable repair or replacement for the cracked frames. When they solved the problem, NS purchased several more. I would think that the experience of the personnel at the Altoona Shops with the Conrail SD80MAC program from the beginning was also a factor in the SD70ACU program. If anyone knows anything differently, please chime in and correct me.
Their are some internal difference between the SD80Mac and SD90Macs, but the new control systems on the SD70ACU are closer to what's on a SD70Ace and are a world apart from the control systems on the SD80Mac's. As everyone knows, the one major difference between the SD80Mac and the SD90Mac is the 80Mac's have a 20 cylinder 710 while the 90Mac's have a 16 cylinder 710. The 4 extra cylinders require an additional EMDEC receiver. Not a biggie, but a difference the SD90Mac's, SD70Ace's and SD70ACU's don't have to deal with. If I remember correctly, there are a few internal differences in the Main Alternator between the two models. From a maintenance standpoint, it probably would have been better to put SD70Ace main alternators in the SD70ACU's, but that would have opened up another can of worms.