You guys in the USA should be seeing them soon... Life Like ships to Australia direct from Asia so we get new releases down here first. Anyway - the SOO color looks great. There are a few detials to add (I will replace the pilot details, and Life Like's plow is the wrong type so that won't be used - all up there is about a dozen detail changes - and of course working, above the anti-climber, ditch lights. The air tanks should be black. Easy to fix - might even replace them - need to check my drawings... Don't know what I am going to do about the cab windows tho. These arn't so great... Oh, and the truck sideframes are too wide again. But that's OK - I fixed my SD60, so I know what needs to be done... [ 17. September 2002, 13:03: Message edited by: yankinoz ]
The much maligned nose seam doesn't look too bad there, and doesn't on the pics of the BN one either. Looking good!
I remember seeing a photo of a pre-production sample where the cab didn't fit quite right. I seem to remember the original anoucements said this were going to be available back in June - maybe the intenet hupla over the 'issues' caused a rethink? Of course the conspirisy theorists are already about saying that LL has reduced production to keep the price high etc - don't undersand that - I paid HALF what the going rate is for Kato SD90s and the latest Atlas releases. OK, the level of detail is not as high as on the Atlas locos, but that just gives me something to do. And that's why it's a hobby to me...
Rob, Looks as though you have another project ahead of you? Could make a good topic here as you detail and weather the locomotive. Look forward to seeing your progress.
They also have 6058. I think these are the only two that got the SOO lettering on the nose. The others only had the strips (I'm going by memory here) I've since compared the model to drawings in the Diesel Era SD60 Book - the long hood represents a different phase than the Soo purchased. The most obvious differences are the Electrical Cabinet Air Filter box (it should have a 'dash 2' style box) and the position of the Dynamic Brake air intake grid (it should be right next to the air filters) To change these on an undecorated model is rather easy - but on a decorated one... well the paint matching is the hard part. I think I can pull it off but I am checking prototype weathering patterns to see if I can easily cover up the paint differences....
Is LL offering a CSX version of the SD-60M ??? It be nice to see LL to make a older Spartan cab SD-50.... in CSX and even Chessie for HO scale... Just faster in gearing with the same motor. Faster then the second phase SD-60 that came out a year or so ago.... To run with the rest of the world of diesels!
They have CSX ones listed in the second run, along with Conrail & NS. The first that's just arrived has roadnames with 3 windscreen cabs, the second has all the 2 windsreen cab versions (BN and UP had both styles) Here's P2K's page with a pic of a Conrail 2 window one... http://www.lifelikeproducts.com/proto/sd60loco.htm I'd like to see that. If the company that does it eventually is clever they can also do the normally "chessie-only" feature of the mailslot battery box door as well, the DRGW order also had these, so that version would be right for Chessie, CSX (multiple schemes), DRGW and some SP, and possibly (but I haven't checked it out) some of these may even have got to UP paint whilst still keeping these doors. Ref the drive, I'd like to see (but it won't happen) all of the companies change to the P2k SD60 gearing...I think it's really good, and has produced a superbly running machine. If you want to run other stuff with it then get an Athearn dummy! I know there will be folk that won't agree with me there, don't worry folks, i'm just stirring things! [ 20. September 2002, 11:30: Message edited by: Martyn Read ]
Well your both not the only 2!!!!!! I'm just slightly the opposite to the comments on the slow gearing! I like to run my steam at really slow speeds! 30 scale MPH if I get to setting it that slow, (being at times I don't get to) So I just fire 'em up and all. But I run my diesels faster then I do my steam. Diesels are for higher speeds and look good running about 50 to 60 scale MPH where the slower you can get steam to run the better it looks! Great to actually see the rods work instead of a motion streak! I most of the time at home run 2 or 3, 2-8-8-0's, 2 on the point one pushing as slow as possible on my layout pulling my MOW train and let it "crawl" along. And then even a heavy coal drag. Like 30 cars or better just slightly faster....
Grrrr - the Electical Cabinet Air Filter box is incorporated into the clip that holds the walkway onto the shell. I don't mind glueing the walkway to the shell - but the hole in the walkway is an issue - filling it will be an issue with the walkway tread patern. The more I study the model, the more difficult the modificatoins are. BTW - it is perfectly speed matched to my P2K SD60 - top speed 50 Scale Miles per Hour.
More GRRRR - Closer examination of the prototype dynamic brake installation reveals that it's not just the intake grill that has to be moved, but the whole dynamic brake and it's associated hatches. Way to complicated to do to a decorated model. The good news - I finally got off my rear end and repainted the white on my SD60 - I'll be weathering it sometime this week and should have some photos soon. As for the SD60M - ditch lights and some basic Soo details will make a good 'stand in' until I decided to do a new shell.
