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First of all, Rail Power Products has been purchased by Athearn (see the press release at: http://athearn.com/chicagoshow/RPPDW/rppdw.html). So, if you're fortunate enough to have found a shell or shell and frame, grab it. These kits are the shell only (or shell and frame for some models) and do not include the handrails, trucks, couplers, motors, lights, etc. and few are offered painted. However, they are designed to accept Athearn components, which made the purchase of RPP by Athearn seem natural. In the scenario you present, i.e., kitbashing an SD50 from an SD60, a good starting point would be Athearn's powered SD40T-2, an RPP SD60 shell and frame kit, and about 36" of 0.015" wire (to bend your own handrails and use Athearn's stanchions). At this point, you can simply ignore the differences between the SD50 and SD60 and fire up the airbrush. Should you choose to go the kitbashing route, you'll also need 0.010", 0.020" and 0.040" sheet styrene (for the new engine compartment sides) and the appropriate Cannon & Company doors to replace the SD60's engine compartment doors. You can add more details to your shopping list as you see fit. Since Cannon & Co. offer most of these detail components, this (expensive) process is known as "Cannonizing." RPP's shells are a great starting point (much better than the days of keeping loads of Athearn SD40-2 shells on hand!), but the longer you look at them and the more you long for "prototype fidelity" the more you'll start replacing "offending" parts such as RPP's cab, hood ends, fans, grilles, doors, blower ducts, anticlimbers, nose, brakewheels... you get the idea. Since I haven't done the SD50 conversion, I can't offer you specifics on what the conversion involves, but I have done a number of other conversions and can attest that it gets expensive if you're looking for an accurate model. Maybe not "brass" expensive, but Life Like's Proto 2000 series SD60 (even at list price) will become very attractive. Best of luck to you in this project. I hope my post is helpful. RC Harris Roanoke, Texas
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