RE: (erielack) Request for opinions concerning EL SD60M

["Tupaczewski, Paul R (Paul)" <paultup_@_lucent.com>]

Michael Dye asked:

> With the upcoming release of the Proto2000 SD60M, I've been 
> looking at 
> adding a few to my "What if?" EL layout (set in the 1990-2000 
> timeframe), in 
> order to run them with the SD60s which I showed at Marion. 
> Considering the 
> changes that UP made to the paint on it's widenose units, I'm 
> toying with 
> using a variation on the EL PA's nose paint style. So, 
> assuming that the EL 
> is around and is viable (We make a good bit of money on 
> intermodal, military 
> movements, high/wides and bringing BNSF's coal to the eastern 
> powerplants), 
> would the EL take the time and effort to use that paint, or 
> just paint a 
> wider yellow nose and let it go at that?


I've seen several people do up "modern what-if" diesels and here are my comments on what I saw:

* C44-9W in EL paint with the PA-style curved nose stripes - YEEEECH! The PA's nose, though square in appearance, defintely had some curve to it. These stripes just don't seem to fit well onto the nose of modern wide-nose diesels (personal opinion)
* SD60M in EL paint - styling a la EL's hood units - solid yellow nose. NICE! Plus, the big yellow nose (a la CSX) is great for visibility today.
* Kevin DeGroff's "photoshopped" SD70M photos - somewhat interesting. I'm not sure if I like the lightning stripe on EL units or not - still up in the air on that one!

I would try throwing some Microscale decal stripes onto an Athearn wide nose as a test to see if you like the results. It always looked "forced" to me on a geometric wide-nose modern diesel...

	- Paul

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