I decided about 6 months ago to build the SD60E #6920 NS Veterans Unit. I've been going about it slowly and methodically.
I started w a new Athearn sd60 I got for a good deal. I stripped it with alcohol and painted it. The paint job is pretty straightforward.
The cab here is the key obviously. I debated trying to kit ash one, and there's a guy who did a nice job on the unit on the MRR forum. I ultimately bought a new and improved 3D printed Crescent Cab off a guy that produces them on Shapeways. They are not easy to work with. Way more brittle than traditional plastic, doesn't sand well, but ultimately worked out ok.
I put in a great deal of detail parts in: mu hoses, front and rear ditch lights, sand hatch covers, coupler cut bars, operating front and rear led ditch lights, and led headlight and taillights. I remotored it with a new Kato motor, put in a Loksound decoder, and added a high bass Railmaster hobbies speaker. Added a dynamic brake fan unique to the sd60e, added some grills unique to the sd60e at the back left rear, and added the electronic brake area.
In this pic, yes, I know the nose isn't red in the prototype. It was just easier to initially paint it this way.
I'll post some pics of the progress thus far later. For now, I gotta go to work...
Brad
I started w a new Athearn sd60 I got for a good deal. I stripped it with alcohol and painted it. The paint job is pretty straightforward.
The cab here is the key obviously. I debated trying to kit ash one, and there's a guy who did a nice job on the unit on the MRR forum. I ultimately bought a new and improved 3D printed Crescent Cab off a guy that produces them on Shapeways. They are not easy to work with. Way more brittle than traditional plastic, doesn't sand well, but ultimately worked out ok.
I put in a great deal of detail parts in: mu hoses, front and rear ditch lights, sand hatch covers, coupler cut bars, operating front and rear led ditch lights, and led headlight and taillights. I remotored it with a new Kato motor, put in a Loksound decoder, and added a high bass Railmaster hobbies speaker. Added a dynamic brake fan unique to the sd60e, added some grills unique to the sd60e at the back left rear, and added the electronic brake area.
In this pic, yes, I know the nose isn't red in the prototype. It was just easier to initially paint it this way.
I'll post some pics of the progress thus far later. For now, I gotta go to work...
Brad
