need something to do? building a SP/SSW SD40T-2 step by step (finished pics!!!!)

[Anonymous]

Nice job Night Crawler!

[AntonioFP45]

QUOTE: Originally posted by NightCrawler

i used some "Gap filling" CA. it is pretty thick stuff. i spread some around the edges of the hole then placed the grill on top. it seems to hold really well so far.

Thanks! Will give it a shot! The next FP45 I do is the Santa Fe Dark Blue/Yellow " " Face- Mask Scheme. I'll paint the model after putting on the grills.

[:D]

[fishplate]

HEY!!!! Quit crawling and STAND UP and TAKE A BOW. [bow]
EXQUISITE WORK!!!!! [tup] [tup]

[SP4449]

Great job. [bow] to you. It would be interesting to see what you could do with a bash of the SD45T-2.

[SSW9389]

Dang, NightCrawler even did a COTTON BELT tunnel motor. What a novel idea.

[Anonymous]

Great job really nice craftsmanship NightCrawler! What kind of chassis did you use on the SD40T-2? And how did you secure the shell to the chassis?

[Anonymous]

That was enough to make me want to go to walthers.com and buy some detailing parts!!
A+++++++[tup][bow][tup]

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Great job really nice craftsmanship NightCrawler! What kind of chassis did you use on the SD40T-2? And how did you secure the shell to the chassis?

i used the regular Athearn SD40T-2 chassis. the SD50 motor fits right in. i just use the couplers to hold the body onto the chassis. i had to grind down the coupler mounting pads a bit so i could screw on the Kadee coupler boxes. that way everything is isolated for DCC and the screw-on coupler boxes hold the shell on pretty well.


thanks for all the compliments[:D] i was thinking of doing a SD45T-2 once till Athearn announced theirs. now i just have 12 on order, but i still have to add new cabs with the rebuilt L windows to make them right for my era. i wish someone would hurry up and make a really nice SD40T-2 that's up to todays standards. i could use 12 of those too[:O][:D] i dont think i could talk myself into building more of them myself....that was a lot of work!!![:D]

[jfugate]

Here's hoping Athearn does an updated SD40T-2 as well ... they can add DRGW to their paint scheme collection if they do.

Since I model the SP in the 1980s, a DRGW SD40T-2 or two would not be out of place on the Siskiyou Line in the late 1980s ...

[Anonymous]

Now that's good modelling. I've always felt the late Athearn SD40 drive was one of their best BB ones (with one piece driveshafts) and the detail work looks brilliant too. I think my SD40T-2 will now be one of my first BB DCC conversions, especially if I can find the detail parts - inspired by this project. Great stuff!

[ericsp]

Outstanding. Unfortunately it has been too long since I have seen a real SD40T-2 with SP, SSW, or DRGW numbers. I am starting to go through withdrawals.

I noticed you plan to have 16 SD40T-2s. Is this to model them close to the proportions of the real ones, 8 SP short nose, 1 SSW long nose, 3 SP long nose, and 4 DRGW short nose? That is my plan.

[JohnT14808]

Really cool work, Nightcrawler!! Excellent photos to go with the detailed commentary. A great job!! ....Now, if I could only find a similiar post having to do with installing a DCC decoder in a older Roundhouse (MDC) 2-6-0 Mogul....with pics, of course!!!
A wonderful post, NC...thanks for the inspiration.

[AntonioFP45]

Whew!

Took me a while, but I saved 25 of those pictures that are on page one of this topic! Great references for kitbashing as I'm modifying two Athearn U-Boats.

This, IMHO, has been one of the BEST TOPICS posted on this forum. If there was ever a "Forum Hall of Fame", created for the MRR Forum, this topic should be the first one inducted!

Peace and Thanks a lot.

[AggroJones]

Crawler, you could've turn that whole thing into an article in MR or somthing.

You put the "model" in model railroading. [tup]

[jfugate]

This is one case where I could really use a "print topic" function!

Great topic ... like to see more like this -- which is why I've posted my FORUM CLINIC posts.

Any other takers?

[brothaslide]

QUOTE: Originally posted by jfugate

This is one case where I could really use a "print topic" function!

Great topic ... like to see more like this -- which is why I've posted my FORUM CLINIC posts.

Any other takers?

Joe,

I converted the thread to a PDF. Hope this helps.

http://www.twinimaging.com/Trains.com_-_need_something_to_do__building_a_SP_SSW_SD40T-2.pdf
Sean

[Anonymous]

wow...this thread lives again [:D]

thanks for the compliments. I still havent got around to installing couplers on them, but they look good in my display case.

i really need to get my layout running....but i am having too much fun building locomotives[:D] I have 10 SD45T-2's, 3 SD39's, 2 TEBU's, 1 SD7R, and 1 SD38-2 sitting on the workbench to finish. the SD38-2 is the only one almost done, it only needs decals and weathering.

[jfugate]

Crawler:

Love to hear more about the TEBU and how you did it ... maybe another thread like this one?

Would you accept a bribe? Do you like chocolate? What's your address ... ? [:D]

[jfugate]

QUOTE:
Joe,

I converted the thread to a PDF. Hope this helps.

http://www.twinimaging.com/Trains.com_-_need_something_to_do__building_a_SP_SSW_SD40T-2.pdf
Sean

Sean, that's perfect!

Thanks!!!

[Anonymous]

I am just getting started on the TEBU's all I have done so far is to take the Stewart U25B walkway/frame section and cut off the battery boxes and sand down all of the details on the sides(except for the jacking pads.) now i have to break out the ruler and the styrene and start constructing the sides and ends. looks like it's going to be a bit of trial and error to get it all right because i really dont have any accurate measurements.

i'll post more info and some pictures as i get farther along. but the other SD38-2 and the SD7R are in front on the assembly line right now.

[GDRMCo]

Nice work Night Crawler. Wish u did consignment work cuz I'd have u doing heaps of stuff.
Mitchell

[oleirish]

What out standing work[#ditto][#ditto]What do you use to cut your plastic??
[^][^][8D]
JIM

[steveblackledge]

ACE, FANTASTIC, ETC, ETC, 10/10 for this post

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by oleirish

What out standing work[#ditto][#ditto]What do you use to cut your plastic??
[^][^][8D]
JIM

I just use an X-acto knife and a metal ruler for a straightedge. I really need to invest in a chopper for projects like this.

thanks for all the compliments[:D] I can never seem to finish a project. I have put the TEBU's on the back burner, along with the SD39's. right now I am working on a small fleet of lease SD40-2's. and then I really need to get some work done on my 12 SD45T-2's. I have to convert 4 of them to SD45T-2R's, then assemble and detail and paint them all. sometimes I just get bored with one project and move on to something else, leaving a pile of unfinished junk laying on the workbench.....

[Darth Santa Fe]

Great job!! Everyone must really enjoy your work, because this thread's been brought back about 5 times in the last year!![:O][:D][:O][:D]

[TrainFreak409]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Darth Santa Fe

Great job!! Everyone must really enjoy your work, because this thread's been brought back about 5 times in the last year!![:O][:D][:O][:D]

Really? This is the first time I have seen it. That is stupendous work, and in my opinion, award-winning quality. I wish I could do the same.[^]

[AntonioFP45]

As always NightCrawler, your work is still inspiring.

By the way, I'm in a similar boat as you. Sometimes I'll get bored with one project and shelve it for a long time to work on something else. I was working on my Metroliners and then suddenly shifted to fixing up my Rivorossi passenger cars and then to hopping up freight cars again. I make myself dizzy! [:p]

I've decided to discipline myself and stick with no more than 2 projects at a time til finished.

It's all fun! [:D][;)]

[dxr8007nz]

Nice locomotive 10/10 good work nightcrawler

[pcarrell]

Bump

[jfugate]

Sheesh ... finally found this guy back on page 108!

By giving this a bump, it should start showing up in searches again ...