Here's the list: GP9u - Canadian Pacific, reubilt from their GP9s, dynamics. Obvious starting point is an Atlas GP9 GP40-2W - Yes, the CN ones with the wide nose. Again, starting point is an Atlas GP40-2. SD26 - Good luck I guess, looking to pick up a magazine that has an SD24 low-nose kitbash on eBay (Santa Fe rebuilt their SD24s into the only SD26s). MR also had an article on SD26s in HO scale, so I can get some ideas from that. SD45 - Want a high hood. Possible to mate a Kato SD45 with an Atlas SD35 high short hood? GP40/GP35 - Want a high hood. Possible to mate Atlas GP38 HH with either of these? Or should I wait here, because Atlas may come out with GP40s in HH as they did in HO? Anybody have any suggestions or comments on these models? [ 24. January 2003, 21:32: Message edited by: Harron ]
Corey: There's an Athabasca company that I remember seeing adds for that makes, or made, etched brass EMD high hood conversions.
I believe that Gold Medal Models makes a high nose kit, and I have seen a high hood SD45 shell (Raintree?) in my local hobby shop (Little Choo Choo Shop in Spencer, NC) [ 25. January 2003, 02:24: Message edited by: RidgeRunner ]
For the hh GP35 use the SD35 hood and cab.You can also use this shell for a 38/40 or 45 conversion.It will not be 100% accurate but would still work. Here is a rather bad scan of my underconstruction ATLAS/KATO hhGP35.The short hi hood and the cab are both from the SD35 hh unit. She really looks much better in person.
http://www.athabascashops.com/ their brass Confort Cab kit is sold for 17$CDN hope that helps [ 25. January 2003, 15:41: Message edited by: MagicMan_841 ]
Some or all of these units are now KCS. I saw my first one the other day. Odd to see wide cab on short unit. Would like to do one down the road sometime. What would be best cab? Would you have to build from scratch.
CN had a ton of those widenose geeps. There are now 20 owned by Guilford Rail System (which is what I intend to model), and two just headed to VRS on lease. I believe there are still many stored, owned by Helm Leasing. And thanks for the link to Athabasca, they have both the HH and Canadian Cab models.
SD24/26: Lifelike GP20 nose and cab on a Lifelike SD9. Change fans on rear from another shell add air tanks and such from Sunrise. Simple.
Actually, they both are. The SD24 was the six-axle version of the GP20 - both of these units hold the distinction of being EMD's first production turbocharged units. The SD26 was a Santa Fe creation - basically rebuilt SD24s with upgraded engine and electrical components.