CSR SD40T-2B unit build

[Deleted]

Inspired by Paulie's build, I decided I had to have one of these for the Copper State Railway. The prototype that I am using to build this model is SP 8354. It has been owned by at least three leasing companies and from the photos I have found looks to be in sad shape now which gives a good story for this unit to be turned into a B-unit. So the build begins. I am using this build to jump start me back into modeling again after a short break and a move. Something unique and fun. Then I will get back to finishing the ex QNS&L units.

I am starting with an original Athearn "Blue Box" SD40T-2 shell. Today I went out to my local hobby store and picked up a snoot version shell and a few detail parts to get me started. I still need to get a frame and drive. Hopefully I can find something cheap on Ebay.

Tonight I made some progress. Pictures will be posted later. Or possibly I will start a new article on my web site tomorrow. That would probably be best. So tonight I got a few things done.

1. Quartered the upper radiator core grills. The original SD40T-2 model has incorrectly two long grills running down either side. I split these two into two to make four core grills.

2. Removed the DB hatch and glued in a non-DB hatch.

3. Removed the exhaust hatch and the inertial filter hatch so I can replace them with Cannon parts.

4. Trimed the back end of the DB hatch to where the taper comes back to the hood.

5. Cut a notch in the clean air room to accept the DB hatch.

6. Removed the exhaust, fans and T-vent from the DB hatch.

Tomorrow I will try to get the nose and battery boxes off. I will replace the battery boxes a Cannon battery box.

[railfansd40t2]

Sounds like you are off  to a great start and I am looking forward to seeing this take shape.
Looks like we will be in competition on Ebay for frames with trucks because I have 2 more BB Short hood shells and what I think is a Proto Power West shell that has the really short hood and long front porch.
Thanks again for all the kind words about mine.

Build on my friend !

Paulie

[Deleted]

Well Paulie, if I have to, I will just get a ready to run model. But I do hope I can simply just get an original BB model to use.

Today while waiting for my wife to get up and start the day, I built the power assembly removal doors that will sit atop the non-dynamic brake hatch. Putting the doors on top gives reason to moving the DB hatch foward over where the cab would be.I have some N-Scale brackets I had made a while ago that I think will work very good for the center door stops. I'll have to dig them out today.

Later today I will start removing the nose and cab sub base. I also need to cut out the radiator intake grills. I still have a few sets of the RTR etched intake grills from my last tunnel motor build. I can put them on this model.

[railfansd40t2]

Hey Brian
While window shopping on Ebay today I was watching a BB powered unit that went for $46.00 which would have been a steal for you since your going to run yours but a bit pricy for me since all I wanted was the frame and truck assemblies.
There will be more for both of us I am sure.


So..... How are are you progressing?  Have you started  build pictures somewhere?  I like the description of what you are doing and just would like to see it too. Yours will be much more advanced than mine but I like the way you are describing why your doing things like you are because it helps to educate people like me that just are fans but don't know all the ins and outs like a lot of you guys do. That is what keeps me interested and I look for things on the 1:1's that we all discuss here be it in photos or videos of the old school stuff or the new generation of power that is out there now.

All you guys here as well as my wife and my brother are my inspiration that helps keep me going.

I will will be standing by for more updates.

Puulie

[Deleted]

Thank you Paulie. If it was not for the teh folks on here that work for the real railroads, I would be lost too. I understand what things are. WHat I do research on is WHY things are the way they are and that is where the modelers here that also work for railroads come in. Lots of help fromn them. A wealth of inforamtion.

No pictures yet, but soon. I want to have time to sit down and properly take good photos. This week though, I promise. I would put them up here, but I hate loading them into photobucket and then pasting them here. Today I got sucked into helping my son work on his new or used car. I did get more done though.

The rest of the day I worked on the radiator intake grills. I cut out three of four and fitted the Athearn etched grills. They fit like a glove and look fantastic. I'll get the fourth one done tomorrow. I did nto get the nose and cab sub base cut off. Before I do that, I need to get all the other stuff cut off. After I fit the grills, I will cut the anti climbers off each end. Then I will cut the cab sub base off and nose.

Today I ordered from Cannon & Co the 116" nose kit, walkway tread kit and jack pads. I failed to order more doors. I'll have to wait a little and get some hood doors. I also have to order a couple sets of Precision Scale (PIA) handrail stanchions. I am on a tight budget right now with the new ouse so parts come as I can get them. No more ordering a lump of parts for a project. Buy as I go like in the old days.

I just want to add Paulie, please do not at all talk down your model. It is EVERY bit as important than anyone elses. My modeling efforts are in no way anymore important than yours. We have different build styles and ideas of what we want for our models. Please keep posting the progress of you rmodel to your thread as well.

I still hope to have this model done before August. It is a tall order, but I am going to try.

[railfansd40t2]

You are just going to town on this bad boy.
Thank you for the words of encouragement about mine it is really nice to know that there are people like you that appreciate the effort that goes into my stuff without picking it apart.
I know there are things about it there may or may not actually fly with the railroads but again I go as far as I feel comfortable with on my kit bashing and hope that it is at least respectable.
You are right about the knowledge base here because some of these guys I think have it in there blood and always will. I know my love for trains will always be with me even after I call the modeling quits. I will always be a railfan and will always have my video collection to keep happy too.
I just really enjoy being a part of this site to see what all of the rest of you come up with and the talent level here always  amazes me.

I will keep posting on mine as I go with it but right now it is in the cabinet where it is safe because I want to work out the handrail pattern for it and I have to keep checking Ebay for Athearn stanchions. I like them and they are easy to work with but getting hard to find in a decent count for a good price.  I have plenty of piano wire waiting to be bent as I have done with a few of the other builds but running short on the stations as of now because I have to save some for the SD60M as well and a few others

Looking forward to the build photos and I can respect the fact that you want those to be real good quality so folks can really see what you have put into this project.
It sounds already like it is going to be bad to the bone.

Paulie

[Deleted]

I finally finished working on my sons car and now I can get back to building this thing again. I was able to find the necessary parts I need to continue and Anthony here has stepped up to help me out with a frame and trucks. Thank you VERY much Anthony!!!!!

Tonight I will continue the surgery on the shell to remove the unwanted parts that I will replace with new parts. Once that is done, I can start adding detail parts. I'll photograph it first though.

I was going to order some Precision Scale stanchions, but I have a few extra SD40-2 blue box sets. I think I will take my time and cut them apart, drill out the heads and just use those. It takes a while to get the PS stanchions and I would have to spend yet another $50.00 for two sets to complete the model. I'll use what I have and make a go at it. The only big ticket item I have left to get is the lok sound decoder.

For some reason and I do not know why, but over the weekend I placed a bid on a newer R-T-R SD40T-2. I placed a very low bid so hopefully someone will out bid me and I will not have to buy it. There is a day left on it so I'll just have to wait and see. If I have to buy it, I guess I can use it and build a second B unit.

[railfansd40t2]

The way the T-2's are going on Ebay I would not be surprised if you get out bid on it if you went low. I have been out bid a couple of times lately on BB  units and I put in fairly high bids.
There are two dummies I am watching now that I don't expect to stay down where they are by auction end. I just keep shopping i will get lucky like I did with the others I bought last year.

Glad to hear you are doing well on this build and I may start fooling around a bit with the handrails on mine. I have to count out what I have in BB stanchions because I am exhausting my supply and have locomotives that will need them.

Speaking of stanchions when you say you are going to cut and drill out the SD40-2 ones you have I am assuming these are the new plastic style ones that are on the RTR units?
Is it hard to drill them out because I wondered if those plastic ones fit correctly on the BB units but did not get any from Ebay because of the uncertainty.  Would be interesting to see pictures of how you do this because this may be the way I go soon.

looking forward to pictures of the B !!

Paulie

[Deleted]

I received the outbid notice on that SD40T-2. Good. Now I can use that money to buy the decoder for this model.

Last night I wasn't able to get a whole lot done. I cut off the anti-climbers and cleaned off the pilot plates. Now if I can just get my family to stop bothering me with stuff.  I can sit down and get some real progress done on this model. Tonight my plans are to get the steps cut out and finally get the nose and sub base removed.

[Deleted]

Last night I uploaded the first video for this build.

Today I ordered the Precision Scale/PIA brass stanchions. I ordered two packs so I will have enough. I know I originally said I was going to use the Athearn stanchions and cut the hand rails off and drill out the stanchions. I decided against that because I need the stanchions that sit on top of the deck for the ends as well as the battery box. None of the Athearn stanchions do this. So best to do it right.

While studying the BNSF SD40-2B units. The ones where they left the battery boxes in place. I noticed they put the stanchion on top of the deck. I'll use one of the end top deck stanchions in this spot.

With all the parts cut off the shell now, tonight I will start adding details. This is the first model where I am working from the top down rather than the bottom up. Usually I start with the trucks and frame. My first order of business will be to build and install the battery boxes.

[upguy1981]

I am glad you are making videos Mabey seeing them will make me want to get back working on some of my stuff

[Randy Earle]

Great to see you getting back into the groove Brian, now I gotta find my mojo again.

[Deleted]

I am thirsty for modeling again. The mojo is coming back. Not quite all the way there, but getting close.

I need to get a few more lights up. I hate shadows and dark areas when I work on models. Once I get the lighting up, I will be fully back into the swing.

[stevef45]

any new updates?

[Deleted]

Just got back from vacation. Spent the week out on Topsail Island, NC.

Got back Saturday and started a new project. This one RPM oriented. A MoPac SD40-2 #3320. I need something to bring to the RPM meets that is RPM oriented. I also wanted to put together a presentation for the meets. It is fun doing clinics and I have been wanting to do a full project clinic for a long time. So the MoPac unit is for that. I'll be getting back to the videos very soon as well. No video though for the MoPac unit. Just still photos for the clinic.