Edit post

Edit your reply below.

Post Body
Enter your post below.
Athearn already has their money wrapped up in the new spartan cab SD70, which is supposedly hitting the shelves this summer. If it does show up, it will have arrived something like 3 years after it was announced. They also have their money tied up in the Genesis box cars and Trinity hoppers, so it might be awhile before something totally new comes from them. Their comments, from their web site, regarding the SD70MAC: "A note about the SD70MAC: "The SD70MAC is an engine that we are considering as a possible future project but we have not made a final decision as to whether we will produce it or not. The decision whether or not to produce the SD70MAC hinges on the fact that it would require completely different tooling since the SD70MAC is longer than the SD70 series. The body, the walkway and the under frame are all longer, hence the need for new tooling. Please subscribe to our on-line newsletter, "The Athearn News," to get the latest information about what we are and will be producing as well as the latest release dates on new products. To sign up just go to the bottom of the Home Page of our web site (www.athearn.com) and register for free." There are many significant differences between the SD70M and the SD70MAC. If you'd like to round up parts for one, it's going to be expensive and you should have some experience kitbashing and scratchbuilding. For starters, I'd suggest checking out this web page to see the differences between SD70M and SD70MAC locos: http://www.qstation.org/mexico/mexico.html Then I'd peruse a Walther's catalog and look through the detail section paying careful attention to the Cannon & Co. section. You'll probably need an extra Athearn SD70/75 body shell to get the extra 3 feet out of, but you're on your own with the frame. You'll have to bend your own handrails as well since the SD70MAC is longer and has different walkway features than the SD70M. Now, I custom build and paint models and sell them, so believe me when I say I get a ton of requests for these models. I haven't built one, but I have painted two Athearn SD75M locos as Premium Heritage SD70MACs. They look great and they capture the overall look of the coal hauling beasts. The other option is to haul your coal train with SD75M locos painted as any of the 11 units BNSF has painted into the Premium Heritage scheme. These are what I have sold many of and they look great. From a painting standpoint, they are only slightly different than the SD70MACs, with the primary difference being the side sill stripes. So, what it really comes down to is the size of the white stripes on the sill and the number. If you can live with the minor paint differences, then maybe you can live with the detail differences. I have contacted Athearn on this one and have sent them my photo resources for painting these models. If I had better photos to give Athearn, we might be able to expect Premium Heritage SD75Ms to roll out of their factory. So, if you happen to catch a freshly painted Premium Heritage 8200 series SD75M out there, shoot some photos and send them to Athearn! Who knows, once they see how popular these really are, they might find that the SD70MAC is next on their list. RC
Tags (Optional)
Tags are keywords that get attached to your post. They are used to categorize your submission and make it easier to search for. To add tags to your post type a tag into the box below and click the "Add Tag" button.
Add Tag

Update Reply

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Model Railroader Newsletter See all

Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!

Subscriber & Member Login

Edit post

Post Body

Tags (Optional)

Subscriber & Member Login

Users Online

Search the Community