Gulf Mobile & Ohio #950

[deez]

Starting life as EMD 434 this unit was the very first SD40X demonstrator and housed the first 645 prime mover. Built in 1964 on the SD35 platform of the time, this unit has features that are very unique to 1964. According to my book "Diesel Demonstrators" this unit #434 was originally painted in the GP35 demonstrator colors which were orange & white. Then went on to the Santa Fe for testing and painted in their blue & yellow scheme of the time but devoid of any markings but the #434 road number on the cab. This unit finally was sold by EMD to the Gulf Mobile & Ohio and painted in their beautiful red & white scheme. In later years the GM&O was swallowed up by the Illinois Central Gulf and wore another 3 paint schemes for them before finally being retired as IC 6071.

Here is EMD 434 in Santa Fe paint:

And later in ICG paint:


As I mentioned above #434 has very unique spotting features that make it different from the other 8 SD40X demonstrators built in 1965. First off #434 has three features that give it the EMD '64 look. It has the engine compartment door arrangement with only 3 latched doors, next is the flat dust bin above the clean air room. and finally the cab has the headlight/number board that is flat under the headlight and no bulge under the light like on later cabs. Details that are unique to #434 are the vertical louvers on the last radiator compartment door on both sides. The radiator screens are the same as late SD35's but built to a custom longer length for the three 48" radiator fans. It also uses the standard GP/SD35 exhaust hatch of the time. One detail probably not notice by most are the lack of hinged doors at the bottoms of the short and long hood ends. They are bolted.

[deez]

To build this special SD40X unit I started with an Atlas Master SD35. I mainly used the frame/drive and walkway of the Atlas SD35. Below is the modified Atlas frame/drive:

Since im using a Kato GP35 shell for the cab, sub base and engine compartment I needed to cut the Atlas frame so the cab & sub base will fit. I want to build and fit in the Cannon & Co. cab interior kit also. Here is the frame set up for the Kato sub base:

Here is the Atlas walkway modified for the Kato sub base to sit on also. These pieces (once finessed correctly) all fit well together.

[deez]

I used A Kato GP35 shell (although I'm not sure of the phase) for the cab, sub base and engine compartment as it has the correct 3 latched engine compartment doors and crisp details in the sub base & cab. As you can see in the pic below I have cut out the crappy Kato ratchet nose brake detail. It can be replaced with better Cannon or Atlas pieces.

The flat dust bin and inertial filter screens are replaced with Cannon parts. Note the dust bin is not glued yet but rather just set on for the pic. The inertial filter screens need to be changed to the EMD Geeps type. They are Cannon & Co. Pt#FS-1303. I like the look of the Cannon blower bulge so it will be replaced also. The Kato cab has also been modified to show the flat headlight/number board style.

This Kato GP35 section will be mated to a spare Atlas SD35 radiator shell for the whole complete body.

[upguy1981]

Keep them coming I am really starting to get in to building this kinda stuff hope to have my first build going in a few weeks.

[Jack Napier]

Very nice so far - I can't wait to see how this one turns out. ;D

[Deleted]

The GP35 shell you are using is a Ib. The Ia and Ic had more latches.

Looking very good so far. I look forward to seeing this one progress. It is a very cool and unique locomotive. Nice choice for a project.

[chessie77]

:)Sounds like a great project and its off to a good start. How many paint schemes has this unit worn?

[deez]

Thanks Guys. EMD 434 wore 6 maybe 7 different paint shcemes in its working lifetime. I'm doing this unit in the GM&O scheme because in my opinion it looked its best in that scheme.

Progressing on, here is the modified front nose.


The hinged boxes at the bottom of the nose and rear are cut out because as you can see in the pictures this unit had bolted boxes which stayed the same for a long time perhaps up until it was rebuilt by IC. What I plan to use to represent these bolted covers are Cannon & Co. Pt#1018 bolted generator plates. I dont usually use the bolted plate and instead just the door that comes in Pt#1018. So these spare pieces will be modified and cut up to fit in and represent the bolted doors on the nose of #950. These bolted doors are on both ends of the locomotive. Note: this unique feature was also implemented on SD40X unit #434A also.


Next I installed the blower hump in its correct spot to line up with the Atlas walkway's cut-out in the tread for this feature. These pieces went in and lined up perfectly. Usually when splicing different brands of shells & walkways etc. this is hardly the case. Also when the Atlas walkway is glued to the Kato body the gap at the bottom of the Cannon & Co. hump will disappear too.

[deez]

Here are the Atlas pieces to make up the dynamic brakes and rear radiator sections of #950. The back of a spare SD35 I had already cut the radiator screens out of. A piece of a spare SDP35 shell to fill in the gap just after the SDP35 dynamic brake hatch to make up the front of the radiator section. And an Atlas SDP35 DB blister with the stock turbo exhaust hatch removed and replaced with the much nicer Cannon & Co. piece.


I got everything sanded good enough to line up correctly. The only thing left to be done is notch the little middle piece to fit the custom radiator screen which I will build from cutting the rad. screens out of two late phase Atlas SD35 radiator sections and sanding them flat similar to a Cannon & Co. radiator screen part then cutting and splicing them together to make the one of a kind screen for this SD40X. It's a lot of work to perform but unfortunately nobody makes a replacement screen in this style.

[Deleted]

Yes, it may be a lot of work, but that's what makes you "The Man"!

It is only a lot of work if you ar enot enjoying it. Great job!

Was there only one of these or were there two of this type built?

I noticed your signature has two varieties of the SD40X.

[deez]

Brian, there were actually 9 SD40X test units built. The first one (the one I'm modeling) was built in mid 1964. It housed the first 645 prime mover. This one is unique to its features according to its time of build. Then there were 8 more SD40X units built in 1965. They were numbered 434A-434H and painted in all black. 6 of them sported flared radiators while the last two 434G & 434H had flush radiators. All 8 of the later 65 built SD40X units were sold to UP in 1966. The two in my sig. are ex-434F(UP3045) & ex-434G(UP3046) other than the SD39 these are my favorite locomotives. The GP/SD35 line was the coolest. Just about every railroad out there at the time bought GP35's!

[Randy Earle]

I still haven't painted 434D.

[Deleted]

Why was there are prototype followed by 434 A-H? Was it purely for barnstorming purposes?

Sent from my GT-I9100 using proboards

[WC#3026]

Randy,

How did you build the flared rad section? I would love to see more pictures of that unit?
Mark, thanks for this build! I never noticed that the 3045 had flared radiators, and I have read a number of you posts and things. Keep up the great work and inspiration!!! Keep the updates coming

LCM

[deez]

You did a damn good job for taking the cheaper routes of making a flared radiator unit Randy. I like how you used a GP/SD38-39 radiator screen for the canted screens on your model. This is one part of making a flared/canted radiator SD40X that is seemingly overlooked. The Cannon & Co. GP/SD38-39 radiator screen while just a few inches too long makes probably the best representation of these screens. Although probably the most beautiful and accurate, even Liz Allens SD40X model is not quite correct in this area. I'm sure Liz Allen used two radiator sections from the P2K SD45. These sections are actually too short. The real length of the SD40X's flared radiator screens are the same length as an SD35's radiator screens.

[deez]

Hey Niel, to answer your question. The SD40X's 434A-H were not even refered to as demo's but rather test beds by EMD. Thats why they were all painted in black with just a unit number stenciled on. I love how they were to be used as bad ass stealthy test units under cover for EMD

[Randy Earle]

Thank you Deez, you project looks great. LCM, here is a link to all of my projects, it is also linked at the top of the forum: www.dieseldetailer.fotki.com/ho-diesel-projects/

[Deleted]

Dec 30, 2012 19:35:42 GMT -5 deez said:

Hey Niel, to answer your question. The SD40X's 434A-H were not even refered to as demo's but rather test beds by EMD. Thats why they were all painted in black with just a unit number stenciled on. I love how they were to be used as bad ass stealthy test units under cover for EMD

Thanks for the answer. I have a thing for hybrids so the SD40X's (both versions), SD40 prototype and the SD50S are some of my favourite loco's. Id love to build all of these one day.

Keep up the good work this thread is very interesting.

Sent from my GT-I9100 using proboards

[roadkill]

Nice build so far. I've been wanting to model my favorite W&LE engine, the 3046 for some time but haven't gotten around to it yet.

[deez]

I've have been working more in this unit lately since I received a very nice book on the Gulf Mobile & Ohio in the early 70's. The author added some great pictures of 950 also including a large 2 page center pic of this SD40X.
Moving along all I have to make the custom length radiator section was two Kato GP35 Phase IIc shells. I would have liked to use the Atlas late phase SD35 radiators as they look finer & nicer IMO. Cutting up Kato GP35 shells is not my favorite thing to do but oh well, the other parts of the shell went to other projects as well. As you can see in the pic below the Kato shells radiator sections are harvested to make the custom length radiator grills for 950.