Missabe SD-M

[danraitz]

Lately I've been doing some research of the Missabe Roads (Duluth Missabe & Iron Range RR) SD-M's.
www.missabe.com/diesellocos.html
There were 22 of them built from #301 in 1979 to #322 in 1991. They were built from phIV SD9's and SD18's at the RR shops in Proctor, MN.

Here a couple of shots of #316
www.rrpicturearchives.net/showpicture.aspx?id=708311
www.rr-fallenflags.org/dmir/dmir316an.jpg

I have not been able to locate any modelling articles on these units, so far. But seeing that they were rebuilt from phIV SD9's and SD18's I did an article search under those locos. I found quite a few articles on these units. The articles showed me what the main differences were between these and the earlier SD9's. The phase IV SD9's were built with the cab, cab sub-base and nose of the GP9, so this area was about 9" taller then the long hood. So I figured that to build one, first I needed to build a phIV SD9 and then rebuilt that into a SD-M.

I looked at a few ways to do this -

#1 - Use a P2K SD9 with the Cab, Cab-base & Nose from a P2K GP9.
#2 - Use a P2K SD9 with a Cannon 35line Cab-base and modified SD nose.
#3 - Use a Atlas SD24 and replace the long hood with one from an P2K SD9.

I've decided to go with the first option, but with couple of changes. I'll be using an Atlas GP7 shell as the donor for the cab and nose and using the Cannon Cab-base.

I'll be posting progress shots soon.

Dan

[antlorch]

Hey Dan,Bob Rivard did a small atricle a few years ago in Railmodel Journal on a Missabe SD9,when I get back home this afternoon i will try to find it and let you know what the date is..

[riss2509]

You may be able to do a query on the model railroader website for articles also. I may also have a copy of the article, Im currently at the firehouse today, when I get home tomorrow I can take a look!

[Randy Earle]

I'd say stick with either a P2K SD-9 or a RPP SD-9 shell and the P2K GP-9 nose & cab. The RPP shell might be easier to modify up on the fan area.

[danraitz]

Apr 15, 2009 8:14:48 GMT -5 antlorch said:

Hey Dan,Bob Rivard did a small atricle a few years ago in Railmodel Journal on a Missabe SD9,when I get back home this afternoon i will try to find it and let you know what the date is..

I've got that article, it was in the February 2002 RMJ, there was also an article on the Missabe SD18's in the November 1992 MR by William R. Edgar. Jim Six did an article on the B&LE SD18's in the May 1989 RMC. There is also a very well done article on the C&S phIV SD9's by Chris Munson in the August 1997 Mainline Modeler.

The reason I've decided to use the P2K SD9 and Atlas GP7 body for this built is that they are both in hand. Plus I've got enough left over Cannon parts to do the sub-base. This could almost be a candidate for the "Cheap Build" thread.

Dan

[stillbre]

Dan,
If you're building a SD-M you won't need to replace the P2K nose. Just chop it down. You'll need to need to rebuild the front wall of the cab to get the split windows and of course build the headlight assembly. You might want to look at picking up an Atlas SD24 cab to get the headlights. You can cut the split-pane windows out of a Cannon cab kit or any spare cab for that matter.
I'm thinking about doing this unit:
www.missabe.com/sd315.html
But I'd build it under its new guise as Carolina Coastal #815.

[RunningExtra]

Dan,

There is a really good article in the October 2008 issue of Model Railroader on kitbashing a Milwaukee Road SD10, not exactly the same engine but a very good article that looks like it could help with the hood modifications and cutting down the high hood, his starting point was a LL P2K SD7.

[danraitz]

Ahh, the joys of trying to model RR rebuilt units
I've been going thru photos of these units and noticed a few things.

First, there are 3 different battery box styles on the rightside and 2 different styles on the leftside.

The 1st rightside style has a single latch "L" shaped door at the forward end. (see photo)


The 2nd style has a double latch rectangle door.


The 3rd style does not have a door in that area. Locos #315 and #316 appear to be the only ones with this feature.


On the left side there are 2 types.
the 1st is the single latch "L" shaped door. From what I can see, if a unit has the single latch "L" shaped door, it is on both sides.


the 2nd style there is no door.


Now I need to decide on which style do I model.
I'm currently leaning towards #316.

Dan

[Randy Earle]

I'm pretty sure some of these units were tossed back and forth with Bessemer units also.