Here's my appeal to the 'Board. I've been wanting to kitbash a mid-production SD40-2 without dynamic brakes for a while. In the past, I shaved the dynamic brake blisters and fans from Kato SD40s, but it's tricky to do without damaging the hood door detail. I wasn't happy with one, so I actually spliced in an Atlas GP40 long hood, but had to file down the Kato frames since the Atlas shell is narrower. Fortunately the joint is just behind the air filter, so it's less noticable: Here are my options so far: Option 1. Find an early non-DB SD40-2 (I've been looking - no luck so far). Chisel off the chicken wire radiator grills and replace with corrugated ones taken from an Atlas GP40-2 shell (or maybe BLW will release some etched ones, *hint*). Replace ratchet brake with brakewheel. I have a few UP non-DB units relettered into Mopac, so I might just have to send one to the "shop" to be updated. I prefer Jenks blue anyway. Option 2. Shave off the DB blister and fans on my Kato snoot donor. (Cut down snoot.) Work slowly... a good option while watching baseball games. Option 3. If #2 fails, use my spare Kato non-DB GP50 shell and splice into snoot. The SD40-2 and GP50 shell widths are a match. A couple of cuts with the razor saw, some careful sanding and squaring should do it. The shells are still available at Kato ($10). Option 4. Mark4Design.com? Maybe Mark would consider making a non-DB SD40 too? Any other suggestions? I figure Kato won't release one until a few of us make some.
I'd use the dynamics brake section, well non dynamic I guess from an Atlas GP35, they have the same hood width being both are Kato made
Have you made a search for this here on TB? I'm certain similar has been done before. Anyway, maybe start with a snoot as these seem to be plentiful and they have the brake wheel already. Then it would be a matter of shortening the nose, or even replacing it entirely with an Atlas SD60 nose, and changing out the DB section. I would either check one of the Atlas offerings for width (the GP40-2?) for the non-DB section then splice two together. Otherwise you need to scratchbuild the replacement non-DB section which would be relatively simple compared to changing radiator grills for example. A bonus may be the grills from the donor GP40-2 body available to be used on one of the early UP units you have.
Just closing the books on this one for anyone that might be interested in a similar project. I wound up shaving off the early SD40-2 chicken wire grilles and gluing on some corrugated grilles cut from an Atlas GP40-2 shell. I also covered the ratchet brake with a fabricated brake wheel stand, added a bell and and cab vent (other side). I shortened the Kato snowplow and added some doors to better match the MP plows. It still needs paint on the handrails and some weathering, but otherwise ready for revenue service. Not a very complicated kitbash, but hopefully this will help in getting Kato to release a non-DB mid production SD40-2. I'll probably make one more just to provide some variety to the Mo-Pac SD fleet.
Good job Tim! What color blue did you use? I have a couple U30c's that I am doing in MoPac, but the MP blue paint that I can find are all too dark for my tastes.
Thanks guys! Chuck, I use Badger Modelflex Mopac Blue (16-86). It looks dark under some lights and lighter under others, such as bright sunlight like this picture. One trick I use is to weather my older units hoods with light blue or light purple chalk dust. It seems to lighten the finish a little as if it were oxidized and provides some depth. If I can get up the nerve, I might try experimenting with a thinned alcohol wash to really lighten up some old units...but I'll try it out on some scraps first.
Hey Chuck, I just compared this loco to my others and this is clearly a shade or two lighter than my other locos. It will be getting a new coat of paint and is already disassembled. I can only speculate, but I must have used an old jar or one that was contaminated.
I have also found the latest batches of Badger Mopac Blue lighter than previous jars I have purchased. I have been adding a drop of Engine Black (1:10) to darken it up to match previous paint jobs.
Tim and ntex - I have also used the Modelflex Mopac blue and found it to be too dark for my tastes. I prefer the lighter color that was used on Tims SD40-2. With the lighting in my house, the lighter blue just looks right to me. But then again, I really love the faded, used look....
Tim, are you saying the SD40-2 is already disassembled and will receive the darker blue paint? Say it ain't so!
Sorry Chuck...yes it's true. MP 3306 will be getting a new coat of darker Jenks blue, mostly to match the other late model Mopac units I have since it should be fairly fresh from EMD. I would have shot it last night, but lost my Paasche airbrush spring (arg). BUT...springs from two Pilot G-2 Gel inkpens did the trick, so I may fire it up tonight. I hear you though...I wish my older U30Cs and SD40-2s w/early 3" striping were this lighter color.
