Late model SD40s

[chessie77]

Has anyone built a late (1971-1972) SD40? I had an idea for building a C&O unit (7527-7536) using a Kato SD40 as a basis but using an early SD40-2 for the shell to get the extended dynamic brake housing. Replace the SD40 body with the Sd40-2(early) body, fill the sight glass and use the SD40 cab. Fill the slot behind the cab from the dash 2 overhang. This should be an easy kitbash. I haven't tried it yet but I checked out the bodies a number of years ago to see if they would fit with some N scale units. I didn't have an HO unit at the time. do the dynamic brake housing on the HO units come off, if so just exchange the housings and add an electical cabinet behind the cab. Would Athearn's new units work better? Let me know what you all think. Thanks.

David

[Deleted]

The Kato SD40 dynamic brake hatch is part of the shell moulding and therefore has to be cut off. A couple of years back I tried splicing an Athearn -2 dynamic brake hatch (didn't have a Kato one at the time) into the forward section of a Kato SD40 dynamic brake hatch. After cutting out the turbo hatch and area upto the grilles I had to then shorten the same part of the Athearn hatch to fit it into the gap. The doors/hatches I was then adding on to the side of the dynamic brake hatch didn't fit on to the straight section but had to bend on to the fairing. This I subsequently found to be unnecessary as the NS ex-Southern loco I was modelling didn't have these doors.

I haven't got an Athearn SD40, but if the dynamic brake hatch is removable I would suggest it might be a better starting point as you will be able to construct the dynamic brake hatch in one piece and then add it to the shell once it is the correct length and square. You could also do this with a Kato SD40-2 shell, which, is your intention, if I read you correctly. You may have problems mating a Kato SD40-2 shell to an SD40 subframe as the mounting lugs are in different locations but if you cut these off it can be done.

[Deleted]

I only cut the tabs off when I do things like this, change shells and sub frames, usually I like to leave them on as they hold the whole thing together quite well.

[milw199]

The door arrangement on the long hood is still the 40 series style, not the Dash 2 style. I believe the clean air room on the Dash 2 is longer as well. It would be not quite right to use a Dash 2 body on a non Dash 2.

At work we have the ex CO 7519, 7520, 7522, 7523. So close to the numbers you are looking at.

Extended dynamic housing.



Here is an early (1972) SD40-2, with extended range dynamics.

[T]

Speaking of late model SD40's, wouldn't CP's Red Barons fit here being that they're SD40-2F's?

Tom

[redneckwes]

Tom,

I think they are talking about late production straight SD40's which were something of a transition into SD40-2 production. the F's were built in '89 (?) vs '71 or so for the last standard 40's.

[iomalley]

CN's SD40s went late, 1971 I think up to 5240. They mostly lacked DBs so there's no comparison there. there were a couple SD40s with ext range DB added, but that was it. (5131 comes to mind)

CP's early SD40-2s had SD40 style subbases and 81" noses. Is that what you mean?

[chessie8553]

Just to add: the extended d/b housing came into use on early 40 series units and was carried over the -2 line. The extended housing in and of itself is not an indication that the unit is equipped with extended range dynamic braking.

[Deleted]

Aug 3, 2012 13:19:18 GMT -5 chessie8553 said:

Just to add: the extended d/b housing came into use on early 40 series units and was carried over the -2 line. The extended housing in and of itself is not an indication that the unit is equipped with extended range dynamic braking.

I think the doors in the DB fairing are the indication of extended range DB's.

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[chessie77]

What I ment when I posted this topic is that the late model SD40s had an extended DB housing similiar to the SD40-2s. Here is a pic that shows them.

[deez]

'71 built EMD's are one of my favorites. Check the unit but also on '71 built SD40's & 45's ther is the introduction of support ribs on the blower hump. It the early hump but with support ribs. There is a specific Cannon & Co. Part number for this hump. As far as the '71 built dynamic extensions the are the same as -2's except for the larger extended range door (-2 only) if so equipped. Look closely and you can see a small rectangle door on the early extended housings.
You can see this extended housing on '71 built SD40's, 45's, and '71 built GP40's.

[Deleted]

You would be better just adding a -2 fairing onto a straight SD40. As has already been mentioned to SD40 and SD40-2 hood arrangements are different and the DB housing is the only real spotting feature here.

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