I'm sure I'm not the only one that needs an SDP40 to complete the Kato BN Bicentennial trilogy. Of course, they can be used for other roads, too. Would LOVE to find a shell that fits Kato SD45 chassis without major surgery to the loco or myself !!! There HAS to be a way, or Micro-Scale wouldn't make decals for 'em !!! Thank you for any info or help.
Kind of on the same note --- I'd love to come up with an SP GP40P-2. For the same reason. I have a U25B and the SSW SD45T-2 in Bicentennial - just need the GP to complete the set. Wolf
Well... maybe... GN to BN NdeM to FNM to TFM to KCSM So there you have it... only two original buyers (like the SDP45, CN and SP)... some secondary ownership but they are not really all that popular of roads... (Microscale does not base their offerings on what can be done in a given scale... they offer what the think will sell without regard to model availability... if they considered what "could be done" we would have decals for 90% of what we would seek to do in N-scale but that simply is not happening and even with top quality artwork to use it doesn't mean that they would use it. I speak from experience... Donnie Dixon's artwork for Southern steam, diesel and passenger cars on the Southern Modeler is top notch artwork that has been offered to MS some years back but still they have not chosen to do any of it... a real shame!!!)
Couple ways to do an SDP40, the "easy way" and then the "correct way" Easy way, take an SD40, as the SD45 and 40 share the same frame/mechanism, along with the SDP40, and add the steam generator room to the rear of the hood. While not 100% correct, it gives you the basic look. The correct way, you need an SD40 shell, and SD45 sill and handrail set. The SD45 sill will push the SD40 shell forward to the correct location, then add the steam generator room. However doing it this way, you'll need to thin the inside of the SD40 shell to get it to fit on the frame correctly. Both of my SDP40s are done the "easy way"
Thank you !!! Would like to do it the "correct" way, although thinning the shell does sound a little scary. The part I really don't get is "add steam generator room". Can't get those at 7/11 or Walmart, ya' know ??? I'm guessing rear light may have to be relocated also, right ??? I REALLY want one of these things !!!
The steam generator room is the rear squared off section, sheet styrene takes care of that, and some spare doors out of a parts box
I think I remember seeing an SDP40 shell on Shapeways, I'm still pretty leery about the quality of the printing, but that could be an option as well.
There's still a live one out at the Osceola & St. Croix..... saw it in October. https://i.ytimg.com/vi/RR6IcHLwjMM/maxresdefault.jpg
This pic shows the different pilot, steps, and handrails, too. Contacted the guy from Shapeways. He said he downsized it (probably from Athearn HO) for a customer. Had no info as to how it was mounted to the Kato chassis.
The Shapeways one is based of the NdeM version, not the GN version. There were twice as many NdeM units as there were GN. It would be a time saver if the designer would make a detailed steam generator room that could be spliced in for the build.
