I never had either, so I can't speak to this more than just by looking at the website, but I assume that the upshot is that you need to use the SD7/9 - Japan link to determine parts rather than the generic SD7 and SD9 which would be the newer China (Sanda Kan) models. http://www.atlasrr.com/pdf/PartsPDFs/NRepairManual/NSD79Locomotive.pdf It looks to me, after studying the PDF that the shells are exactly the same just one was made by Kato and the other in China with the same mold.
Probably SD9Es. SP rebuilt a lot of SD9s and added a roof extension. Check out Jerry DeBene's Motive Power thread. He does some quick and easy mods to make his Atlas SD9s into SD9E rebuilds. I'd say it was a heck of a pick up for $15. :thumbs_up:
No, turns out they're slightly different but the one you linked is the one Atlas has the parts for and is also the one I have. The frame on this unit matches my frame, along with the serial number on the side 17724L/R http://www.atlasrr.com/pdf/PartsPDFs/NRepairManual/NSD79Locomotive.pdf Since I fear I'll end up destroying more parts if I attempt to strip the paint, I'm just going to order the complete undecorated assembly with the dynamic brakes. This other one has an open side frame and has the DCC ready slot along the top. http://www.atlasrr.com/pdf/PartsPDFs/NParts/NSD9Loco.pdf
Acetone is not that nasty--except to plastics, of course. It certainly has a lot of cleaning uses as a substitute for stronger, more poisonous materials like MEK. Brake fluid is just nasty stuff and deserves one use: to stop cars.
I'm wondering if a Life-Like shell would fit. I've got eight of them, along with their mechanisms, and I doubt I'd ever spend time putting a decoder in them. Also I think the L-L flanges are too big for Atlas C55. I'm not advocating L-L shells, just wondering.
