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Jul 1, 2004
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Sean Steele is a Senior Engineering Designer, an HO modeler, and a huge fan of Conrail. He says that his model of Conrail SDP-45 6694 is one of his pride and joys. Photos taken by the author outdoors on his patio table, which makes the models look like they're walking on water, which is kind of fitting.
It all started at my local hobby shop with some Rail Power Products shells in the clearance bin--an SD-45 shell for $5 and an SD-40 shell also for $5. I buy them right there on the premise that I'll build them...someday...someday soon. Years pass. As the years tick by, I develop an affection for the huge SD's, and then stumble upon a website by Andy Harmon, an exacting model railroader. The die is cast!
And So It Begins...
I decide to model CR 6694 (as seen to the right long after being retired from Conrail) because there are more shots of it on the Internet than any other Conrail SDP-45, plus the unit kept its sunshades right up to the end, which I like. Also, it has a unique freight car style handbrake wheel, another interesting feature I like.
So I rifle through my parts box, looking for the RPP shells I had bought those many years ago. The shells I had planned to use someday. Ack! The shell's cab and nose are awful! Maybe use a Cannon replacement nose? Nope, won't work. Hmmm, I have an Athearn nose left over from a Canadian National GP-40-2 widecab project, and a Kato cab left over from a Canadian National SD-40-2 widecab project. Do you see the trend here?
So I decide to use the rear of the RPP SD-40 shell for the carbody extension on the SDP-45. For the frame I used one from an Athearn SD-40-2T. Since the frame is a scale 8" too short, I don't have to make clearance for the SD's trucks behind the steps. You can see for yourself how small the discrepancy is. Since I think the RPP subbases are too spartan, I add little styrene squares to create 'hinges,' making it look much better. I also use Cannon inertial intakes, jackpads, and a generator door. Cannon makes great parts.The trucks on my SDP-45 are regular Athearn jobs off an SD-40-2 with SD-45 sideframe. By doing this, the gears fail to mesh properly. Oh well, this unit has just become a dummy, which is fine by me since this it's going to be a 'helper' paired up with my Kato SD-40 CR 6264. To finish off the project I add 40" wheelsets. My trucks purposefully lack details, keeping them operator-friendly.
Details...Details...
I added the details according to prototype photos, except for the horn, which is drilled into the cab, opposed to the bracket in front of the cab so it surely won't break off. Remember, operator-friendliness! The handrails are
0.015 brass wire, steel wire down the sides because they don’t deform as easily when handled. I also use Precision Scale stanchions and exhaust stack, A-Line steps, and Details Associate low profile fans. (I know, I know, but I had a pile of them collected over the years so I had to use them.)When all is done, I paint the locomotive with Floquil Conrail Blue, which I use when I want a locomotive to look older and faded. When I want a newer-looking unit, I use Accupaint Conrail Blue. I make the decals myself with an Alps printer, and apply them as you would any decal. I finish up the model with a nice coating of Dulcoat, which takes away the paint's sheen and protects it from wear and tear.
I estimate the grand total cost of this model to be somewhere around $50, most of which was spent on the chassis and trucks. So it looks like I did use those RPP shells I found in the clearance bin...eventually!
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