> I had thought about this. It used to be the dynamic brake > housing on Athearn models were a snap in affair. I'm alittle > out of touch so I don't know if they still are. But my > thought there is it would be as simple as taking an athearn > GP40-2 dynamic brake blister and popping it on a athearn > GP38-2 shell and boom you've got a GP39-2. Not quite as easy, unfortunately. But in the past 20 years or so, the technology of "partial" or segmented molds allows you to insert a different mold into a larger body. This is how come manufacturers today are able to add detail variations for different railroads. Unfortunately, it's not quite that easy for the EL. Athearn's EL SD45-2 has a specific shell with low fans (although a lot of the other low-profile details - like the exhaust stack - are separate parts), so more than likely an EL SDP45 would have to be a separate shell. I still think it could be a viable commercial model, but with the economy softening, I think most manufacturers will be taking a closer look at what is "viable" for them to make. Ultimately, it's their decision (and their tens-of-thousands of $$$ going into the molds) - Paul The Erie Lackawanna Mailing List http://EL-List.railfan.net/ To Unsubscribe: http://Lists.Railfan.net/erielackunsub.html ------------------------------
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