Re: (erielack) EL 3672 and my tonsils!

["Bill K." <pontiac_@_dreamscape.com>]

I say the same thing, although I cannot tolerate the cab appearance on the
Athearn SD45/SDP40/GP35.  They just look so bad next to a correct scale
width model.   What I want to try is the same frame with a Rail Power shell
(Bachmann's might also be a possibility) and a new hood end from either a
Cannon high short hood kit, or possibly an Athearn GP38/40/50 (those shells
are $6 and give you a nicer looking cab).   Then the only missing detail is
the nose brakewheel notch.  You spend about $10 more on the parts, but if
careful you can rival the appearance of the brass.  There was a conversion
like this shown in the March/April 99 RMC's, although that one went so far
as to use Cannon doors to build dead on hood sides.  (come to think of it
some folks who do the show circut, GATS etc, have a backdoor source at
Bachmann and usually have a box of shells for $5/ea... so if you got one
SD45 and one GP35, you're in business, although with a Plus shell you need
some other cab on it as they got it way off the first time).

Bill K.

- ----- Original Message -----
From: "John Swiecki" <jswiecki_@_pactech.com>
To: <Steve.Adair_@_rayonier.com>; "'Erie Lackawanna List'"
<erielack_@_lists.railfan.net>; <erielack-owner@lists.railfan.net>
Sent: Tuesday, May 29, 2001 8:19 AM
Subject: RE: (erielack) EL 3672 and my tonsils!


> Steve:
> I couldn't afford the brass SDP45's.   I've been playing around with an
old
> Athearn SD45 shell
> and a GP35 shell.   I had some old scrap parts and wanted to try to
kitbash
> a SDP45.
> I prefer Athearn, only because parts are readily available and I have a
big
> junk box of
> usable stuff.  I also know they will be around in 10 years or so if I need
> more parts.
>
>  I cut the GP35 shell to add the 5 feet or so of the back end.  This gave
me
> the back hood, the back stairs,
> and the back 5 feet (or so)  extension which is the difference between the
> SD45 and SDP45.
> I literally sand out all the door detail on the GP35 shell as well as the
> roof detail.
> The inside detail of the GP35 steps are slightly different than the SD45
> steps,
> so I need to figure out how to handle that issue.  I also will take a
crack
> at the brake wheel detail
> for the short nose.
>
> I cut the SD45 shell right at the back steps, in fact, lining up the saw
> using the steps as
> a guide.  This allowed me to use the taper on the SD45 shell roof sides as
> is with a little filing.
>
> I then add thick plastic pieces inside the SD45 shell over which I slide
the
> GP35 piece.
> The thick pieces hold the GP35 piece aligned to the SD45 piece very well.
>
> By messing with scrap pieces, I've learned I'll have to make sure the rear
> truck has room to
> pivot inside the GP35/SD45 shell area.  Thats why I mess with the scrap
> pieces first before I make
> the final model with new, undecorated parts.
>
> Interesting enough, the hoods line up and the roof lines up well.   You do
> have to sand the
> GP35 frame rail where the handrails go to make it the same thickness as
the
> SD45.
> Adding on doors is reasonably easy to get the door configuration  close or
> exactly right.
>
> So far, with less than $10.00 of junk parts, I have a reasonable looking
> unit.  I'll work on the frame
> using the (FP45 Athearn frame which is available via Athearn parts.)once I
> feel the shell looks good enough.
>
> If I like it, I would then upgrade the little jigs and fixtures I used to
> get ready for making two or three units
> with all brand new, undecorated shells.
>
> Now, if you see it from 6 inches, you know the rivet counts are probably
> wrong.
> If you see it from 3 feet, it looks darn good to me.!!   It'll never show
up
> at a EL Convention in the modeling
> contest, but it'll be mine, and close enough.
>
> I call this whole activity SMODELING.   It stands for Simulated Modeling.
> In other words, its not an exact model
> of the real thing, its a simulated model, the best I can do.
>
> Anyways, its a little different than the articles, but it gives me a
chance
> to simulate an SDP45 at a lot
> lower cost than the $700 or so Brass models.    Based on the 6 inches vs
36
> inches, (3 feet), thats about
> $25.00 or so an inch !!!!!
>
> John
>
>
>
>
>

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