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Dec 16, 2003
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Conrail SD-60I Modeling by Bob Waller
There are no ready-to-run plastic models of the SD-60I in any scale. However, it might be possible to use a Rail Power Products SD-60M shell and attach an SD-90MAC cab and nose to the front. The SD-60I and SD-80/90MAC cabs are nearly identical--nearly. I mentioned this to SD-80MAC modeler Larry Lawler for his opinions. As always, please consult photos before proceeding. Below is what we have figured out. It's still theory, but it's a start!In terms of using the cab from an SD-90MAC to do an SD-60I, I would say that it is workable. There are problems, but they are simple to overcome. For example, the front access door mounted on the engineer's side of the cab nose. The RPP SD-90MAC has it mounted on the proper side and location of the nose, but the SD-90MAC door goes to the roof of the nose and has a 45 degree notch cut from the upper left corner of the door to match the hood angle. The SD-60I has a rectangular door. You can fix this by shaving off the SD-90MAC's door from where angle begins to the top of the door. However, the SD-90MAC has 3 hinges, whereas the SD-60I has 4 door hinges. The top and bottom hinges on both units are in the same place. The SD-60I has two additional hinges in the middle, whereas the SD-80/90MAC has one. Replicating hinges using strips of styrene is easy.
The classification lights are the biggest problem, since there are no ready-made detail parts for these. Plus, they are recessed into the nose. To get the appropriate class lights, you'll have to sacrifice two Cannon & Co. #191-1103 EMD 81" Low Short Hood Kits. One kit is for the nose, the other is for the rear. Each kit retails for $6.95. Ouch! But it is the best way. These will need to be recessed using tubing.
The other obvious problem between the SD-90MAC shell and the SD-60I cab deals with the headlights and numberboards. Remove the numberboards from the nose. Patch up the numberboard area and the nose headlight with styrene and putty, then sand smooth. The Conrail headlight is attached above the windshield in the middle of the hood. You'll have to file this pointed area flush to fit the headlight, then horizontally mount a Detail Associates #1003 headlight. Take the numberboards and mount them on both sides of the headlight. The SD-60I has two windshield wipers instead of the three on the SD-90MAC. You can use A-Line #29201 Short Windshield wipers if you wish. That's all it takes to get a basic cab. There are other detail parts that can be added and we'll hopefully have info on these later.
Equipment Doors: The engineer-side cab equipment doors on the SD-90MAC are different from that of the SD-60I. You can live with this, as some folks will. You can remove the panels and fabricate your own, not an easy job. The best bet is to use the engineer-side doors from the RPP SD-60M shell, which are close to the SD-60I, and splice them into the SD-90MAC cab. The only difference between the SD-60M and SD-60I panels is that the first latch on the right and the third latch from the right are mounted higher, almost at the top of the panel. You might be able do a chop-job on the panels to recreate the latch arrangement, but I feel it might be more effort than it's really worth. If you're satisfied with this compromise, then don't worry.
Recessed Fans: Prior to August 70, 1998, I had reported that the SD-60I has flush-mounted cooling fans. Turns out that Jeremy Helms spotted an SD-60I from a bridge, noticing recessed fans like those on the SD-60M. After checking my photos for this, using some real detective work because the photos are not taken from a bridge, I discovered that the SD-60I's also have the recessed fans! Check the SD-60M page for how to make this simple fix that will add some character to your model.Conrail used two types of lettering on the SD-60I: the same longer lettering as found on the SD-60M (in HO use Microscale 87-740 CR Quality Locomotives) and the shorter lettering of units repainted at Juniata, such as the SD-45-2 and SD-40-2R (in HO use Microscale 87-987). All units will need Microscale 87-628 CR Diesel Locomotives Data & Stripes.
And there you have the basic steps to create an SD-60I from a Rail Power Products SD-60M long hood and SD-90MAC cab. I'll be updating this info as I receive more info.
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