As of tonight, i have begun detailing my (3) DRGW SD45s Im starting with DRGW 5324, an Athearn RTR model from '07. So far i have collected to following parts. Details West: Plow Horn Rerailing Frogs Details Associates: Eye Rings Coupler Lift bars Sinclair Antenna MU Hoses MU Stand Canon & Co. SD45 Radiator Fans Other: Varrious Wires (Wipers, Strenght, ect.) Unfortunatly, I broke the drill bit i needed to do most of the detailing, so it will be delayed untill further notice. Pics coming soon..
I don't model Rio Grande, but I do like SD45s- they were the "big power" on the Frisco right up to the BN merger. The Athearn RTR model is a good starting point- when I did my '45s, I used the Rail Power Products shell (which, by the way, is what Athearn uses as a basis for their RTR SD45 models). Look forward to updates.
Which Details West plow are you using? I haven't been able to find an exact match to the early plows yet from DW or DA. The plows used for the D&RGW SD45's $5315-5324 were a slightly taller kind with a shallow curve to it. Didn't Athearn improve the fans on the roof of the upgraded RTR SD45 over the old RP shell? Yes, the first run with small numbers are rather bare on the pilot, but the plow is the wrong type anyway - the only annoying thing is there are no holes pre-drilled.
Update: 11-30-09 Well here they are. I started in and heres what i've got so far. After removing the windsheid, Handrails, and Plow, heres what i had.. I removed the fans and cleaned them up a bit. I ended up putting the two Dynamic fans back in. I removed the Rear heardlights, for i will never use them. But i glued the bulbs in place. After cutting the footboards off, And removing the handrails, I also drilled the lift holes. After i test fit the Plow, and replaced the windsheild. This is what i had. More to come soon!
GR8 stuff Adam, Nice idea on the "weathering as you build approach" - that's one thing I always forget to do Steve
Very nice! I too like the weathering approach you're using. I usually wait till the model is done, and then I forget!
Since you appear to be going for accuracy, it looks like you have the wrong plow. The DW-155 style plow was applied to D&RGW SD45's #5325-5340 (second order of 16). The SD45 you are modeling, #5324, is from the first order of 10, which received an older style plow used also on most of the GP40's. Here is a photo of #5324 so you can see the style of plow used: It also looks like the diagonal holes did not exist in the first order of 10 SD45's either looking at the prototype photo. Note that those diagonal holes were on the diesels that came with the newer style FRA mandated cut levers. The first order had the old style cut levers, and the second order had the new. You can see the difference between the two prototype pictures. So the dilemma here is do you renumber it or fill in the hole and change the plow to the early style - which is up to you. Details West PL-342 looks to be closer but I've found no plow so far that has the same shape and profile plus the "frame" around the coupler pocket. http://www.detailswest.com/Details%20West%20Catalog%202007.pdf Here is a photo from the second order SD45's for comparison (which has the DW-155 style plow like you show in your photo: The second order SD45 snow plows were slightly lower profile and had more of a pronounced curve at the top of the plow.
Well, i did some reserch, and those diagonal holes were later added to the first order, to lift the frame. And that was confirmed by some other modelers on this site. But yeah, i know the plow isn't exact, for i couldn't find a match. I was considering filing off the doors, and using some elbow grease to form a closer plow. Aswell, i didn't weather this as i go, i weathered this long ago, and im just adding the details now, so i'll have to "re-weather" it when im done.
Hey Adam, Lookin good so far, I'm excited to see finished photos! The DW part 303 is the exact same plow as the 155 without the doors, so you might want to go that way? The DW 303 plow is going to be by far the closest match for the older style plow without modification. IIRC, you're modeling the 5324 as she looked in later years, so I'd stick with the 155 plow. Hope that helps a bit, if you have other questions don't hesitate to PM me.
The DW-155 without the doors is NOT the same plow as used on the earlier SD45's from the first order. Just getting rid of the doors doesn't a correct plow make. I disagree that the DW-303 is the closest plow to the early one - it is simply the latter style lower profile plow without the doors. The shape and height of the DW-155 and doorless version is wrong for D&RGW #5315-5324. The earlier plow does not have the pronounced curve at the top but rather has an even curve curve throughout the whole front, plus its slightly taller. The closest you can come is to find a plow with the same overall shape and then add the "frame" that boxes in the coupler. Now if #5324 received a different plow later in life, fair enough. I'd have to search latter day photo's to see if that were true or not. Changes did occurred on a few loco's including gyra lights and in some cases plows. As for PL-342, that plow looks visually to be a closer match to the plow in the photo of #5324 I posted above - look at it and compare with the DW parts link and I think you'll see what I mean. The only thing that appears missing is the frame around the coupler pocket, which could be added with styrene. I've been a fan of the Rio Grande since the 1980's and personally thats what I plan on doing for my 3 first run Athearn SD45's. The plows that came with those models will need to be replaced for sure. Most of the SD45's seemed to be static in appearance through the late 1980's as a rule.
Okay, Adam, if you're modeling 5324 in the early 1990's then you're safe with the plow you have (155). I have photographic evidence. If you're modeling her back in the day, then it's up to you, use the 303 w/out the MU doors (wrong) or use the 342 plow and build the frame around the coupler as Jim suggested. Also of interest, at some point in the late 1980's, early 90's the 5324 got a Nathan K5, pretty awesome if you ask me! And Jim, I don't want to start anything, just pointing out what I'd do, nothing more. Now that you point out the slight angel along the top of the plow I see what you mean.
I tend to assume standard details unless someone states otherwise. I would enjoy seeing the photograph of the latter day #5324 SD45. My modeling era cuts off about 1990 or so, so I usually don't concern myself too much with all the mods that came near the end. I don't care for the modified and patched look of the beleagered Rio Grande units in the 90's, what with the patched over gyra lights, ditch lights and worse, the UP yellow patches over the number boards. I prefer the Rio Grande in its mostly undiluted state. Yes, the visual spotting difference between the early plows and late: Early were: taller and more or less even curvature from bottom to top. Latter were: slightly shorter and flatter on the bottom with a sharper curve at the top. As for doors, sometimes they were removed, but it seems most of the latter style plows kept them.
Quite frankly, I like the newer open door plows that come with the RTR Athearn 2nd and 3rd run of SD40T-2's and 2nd run SD45's. You can order those separately, as you can with the newer, correct looking tall SP style plows and discard that horrible generic plow Athearn provided on the early SD40T-2's and SD50's. Of course I still plan on using a plow like the DW-342 or as close as I can find, for the GP40's and first ten SD45's because unless it got replaced on the prototype, the DW-155 just looks wrong. If anyone finds a plow that has the "frame" around the coupler, is slightly taller and has an even curve radius rather than flat bottom and sharp top, post the company and part # please.
I just received Athearns RTR SD45 #5329 in the mail today. This is from Athearns second run and has the large herald and reprents an SD45 from Rio Grandes' second order which was repainted within a couple years of delivery (originally delivered in small herald). This SD45 came from Athearn with the correct plow, with open doors (analog to the DW-155 plow), MU hoses, couple lift bar and Sinclair Antenae. The really cool thing is the nose gyra light is painted black, unlike all the other Athearn SD45's. I quickly checked the photos I have in my many books a sure enough #5329 has a black nose gyra light. Kudo's for Athearn for capturing these details! Regarding #5324, subject of this thread, the trucks on this SD45 have the brake cylinders on the upper outsides of the side frames. This was noted in Rio Grande Diesels and is an oddity as all the other SD45's in this first order of 10 had low mounted brake cylinders. Athearn correctly provided the correct trucks for #5317, 5319 and 5324. Very cool. I noticed this unit and another got the paint rubbed off the top side of the nose (left side in picture). Has anyone found a good paint match for the orange? I assume you aren going to have to paint whatever plow you get.
