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Re: (erielack) SD45M modeling

 Josh and David (and list)...

See my replies below...
   
- -------------- Original message ----------------------
> I would definitely suggest taking a look at Brian
> Banna's project page.  However, a little disclaimer
> here, Mr Banna is nuts.  Certifiably nuts.  He may be
> starting with a stretched Athearn SD45 but by the time
> he's done, he will have completely remanufactured
> everything.  It will be the best looking SDP45 model
> you've ever seen when he's done.

Holy cow!  You're right.  Mr. Banna is out of his mind!  I won't launch another discussion about what is "good enough" for modeling.  Needless to say, it doesn't matter anyway because Brian is waaayyyy out of my league.  I don't have the tools or the talent for his ingenious method for stretching the frame.

> The biggest problem I see with stretching frames is,
> as previously mentioned, stretching the drive train. 
> When Andy built his for the article, I believe he cut
> the Kato universals in half and then cemented them
> inside brass rod.  The original styrene warped and had
> to be redone.

That's what I was worried about.

> Personally if I was to start one right now, I'd use
> the Genesis FP45 frame.  With a little filing or
> milling its possible to make a new shell fit.  

That is what I'm thinking...

> Either
> fill the steps cast into the fuel tank or buy a
> SD50/60 fuel tank.  

Do I understand correctly that the SDP45 and the SD50/60 have the same size fuel tank and truck bolster spacing?

> Granted, the Kato drive runs like
> a Swiss watch, but the Genesis is pretty nice.  

I guess it would run nicely with my SD45-2 though.

> The Athearn side frames definitely beat the snot out of
> the Katos in terms of detail.  

I've heard it said that the Athearn side frames are the 
best rendition of the EMD flexicoil truck.

> Biggest issue will be
> getting your hands on a Genesis drive train without
> having to shell out big bucks.

Well, my local guy in Greenville SC (contact me off list) can get one of the new FP45s for $101.  Considering that the going price for a "new" or "gently used" Kato SD45 is somewhere in the $80 to $90 range on eBay, then perhaps the extra ten or twenty bucks isn't too much to pay to NOT have to mess with frame stretching and drive train alteration that might not go quite as planned anyway.

> For a shell, get a P2K shell and two walkways.  I
> still think the P2K has issues but its the best SD45
> shell on the market.  The walkways are definitely the
> best SD walkways out there.  

Really.  I guess I hadn't heard that.

> The rest will have to be
> built out of Cannon parts and styrene of course.
>

Yeah, that will be the easy part!  :)
 
Thanks.  This is EXACTLY what I was hoping to get out a discussion like this.  Isn't our list wonderful?

- -pat

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