SP Black Widow SD-40's

Carl Sowell Dec 1, 2021

  1. Carl Sowell

    Carl Sowell TrainBoard Supporter

    3,032
    8,077
    82
    A month ago I started what I thought would be a short term paint project. Boy, did I have my head you know where. So to review and get on with the locos project.

    I posted this 1st as an opener
    [​IMG]

    That produced this, and I am quite happy with it. Could it be better, sure but it is what it is
    [​IMG]

    Now to get on with the SD-40's. My problem is one is an early non dcc ready and the other is dcc friendly. Oh well, bet I can over come that for decoder install. These are gloss coated and ready for decals
    [​IMG]

    I am going to put the black widow decals on the nose and maybe on the rear end as well. I plan on using GP-40 speed lettering SP decal. I need to paint the red stripe and I discovered that I had drilled both shells for 15" drop grabs so that application will take some time.

    Be well,
    Carl
     
  2. HemiAdda2d

    HemiAdda2d Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

    22,014
    27,407
    253
    This should be a nice result! The Black Widow is a classic scheme.
     
  3. freddy_fo

    freddy_fo TrainBoard Member

    1,091
    4,329
    47

    One of the best done factory diesels IMHO was the atlas trainmaster done in the black widow.

    [​IMG]
     
  4. JMaurer1

    JMaurer1 TrainBoard Member

    2,310
    1,731
    53
    SP had some of the BEST diesel paint schemes...black widow, daylight, tiger stripes. Then came what I call primer grey (waiting for them to decide on the next great paint scheme). Too bad they painted Armour yellow over that primer grey...
     
  5. Doug Gosha

    Doug Gosha TrainBoard Member

    3,595
    7,664
    80
    I have one I got t a train show. I couldn't resist the scheme.

    Doug
     
    JMaurer1, Hardcoaler and freddy_fo like this.
  6. DCESharkman

    DCESharkman TrainBoard Member

    4,396
    3,025
    87
    Two of my favorite locomotives are a pair of SD70M's. One is painted in Black Widow and the other is painted in Daylight colors. I lost the disc I had the photos on or I would post them. Arg......
     
    Doug Gosha and Carl Sowell like this.
  7. Carl Sowell

    Carl Sowell TrainBoard Supporter

    3,032
    8,077
    82
    David,

    thanks for the reply. Yep, those are my favs as well. In my world the SP is alive and doing well ! ! Did you ever see the SP diesel lettered as "Suffer'n Pacific" ? MY understanding is that one of their own paint shops actually did it. Sacramento ? ?

    When I finish my 2 paint projects, I'll post an image with an SD-60M in Daylight and at least one of my SD-40's in black widow. I say at least one because I had already drilled bot Sd-40 to accept BLMA 15" drop grabs as well as hollow out all the fans nd have BLMA 48" fans to go in. A lot of detail work as yet.

    Be well & thanks for the SP boost,
    Carl
     
    BNSF FAN likes this.
  8. DCESharkman

    DCESharkman TrainBoard Member

    4,396
    3,025
    87
    I do not worry too much about the fans and the uber detailing. I am more interested in the running of long trains. If you can not see the details when they are running then I see no point in them. Shelf queens maybe, or if I was in detailing contest, which I would undoubtedly fail.
     
  9. DCESharkman

    DCESharkman TrainBoard Member

    4,396
    3,025
    87
    IMG_0991[1].JPG

    Got me thinking about mine.........
     
  10. DCESharkman

    DCESharkman TrainBoard Member

    4,396
    3,025
    87
    I would have to agree, I have several of these, every number released and then 6 more of the un-numbered with custom numbers. The Train Master is one of the best pullers and I just love them.
     
    freddy_fo and mtntrainman like this.
  11. mtntrainman

    mtntrainman TrainBoard Supporter

    9,982
    10,820
    143
    Agreed !! The Trainmaster I received from David will pull the paint off the walls ! It is pulling THE Wifes excursion train at the moment...until I can get here E5 running again. It nevers slows down on inclines and never stalls ! (y)(y)
     
    Kurt Moose, BNSF FAN and Carl Sowell like this.
  12. Carl Sowell

    Carl Sowell TrainBoard Supporter

    3,032
    8,077
    82
    David,

    Thanks for posting your 2 heritage units, they are nice. Did you paint them ? You are certainly correct about the detailing that I am doing but if I don't add all the fans and grabs I would have holes all over the shell. I drilled out the fan housings and drilled with #80 all the grabs attachment holes 2-3 years ago. Never again !

    I am jealous of you guys with the Trainmasters. I never purchased any and next release will probably not be great pullers as I hear the older runs are. Oh well, snooze and loose.

    Be well,
    Carl
     
    Last edited: Dec 8, 2021
    BNSF FAN likes this.
  13. mtntrainman

    mtntrainman TrainBoard Supporter

    9,982
    10,820
    143
    Edit !!! EDIT!!!! :LOL::LOL::LOL::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO:
     
  14. DCESharkman

    DCESharkman TrainBoard Member

    4,396
    3,025
    87
    I wish I could say that I painted them Carl, but that is not my skillset, they were custom painted for me.

    I am in model railroad more from a design engineer standpoint, calculating the power needed and isolation into Power Districts, the programing of the decoder and the layout devices sort of thing and track planning and implementation. I am terrible with scenery. So I pretty much stick to what I can do and help others with.
     
    BNSF FAN and Carl Sowell like this.
  15. Carl Sowell

    Carl Sowell TrainBoard Supporter

    3,032
    8,077
    82
    George,

    I was checking to see how close you read these posts ! !
     
    Kurt Moose, BNSF FAN and mtntrainman like this.
  16. HemiAdda2d

    HemiAdda2d Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

    22,014
    27,407
    253
    Lol! Well-played. :D
     
  17. Carl Sowell

    Carl Sowell TrainBoard Supporter

    3,032
    8,077
    82
    Some progress :

    [​IMG]
     
  18. Doug Gosha

    Doug Gosha TrainBoard Member

    3,595
    7,664
    80
    Beautiful!

    Doug
     
    Carl Sowell likes this.
  19. Carl Sowell

    Carl Sowell TrainBoard Supporter

    3,032
    8,077
    82
    Finally !!!!

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    Be well,
     
    Kurt Moose, bremner, MK and 8 others like this.
  20. Traindork

    Traindork TrainBoard Member

    1,299
    393
    35
    Very nice!
    If I had painting skills my railroad would be today's modern power all painted in SP scarlet and gray. A trio of SP ES44ACs hauling a domestic 53' stack train across the desert southwest.... Mmmmm!
     
    Carl Sowell likes this.

Share This Page