When Kato released the SDP40F in ATSF livery, I was excited to get my hands on one! Then I saw the pics of the cut away nose section. Well that won't work for my time frame, since this modification didn't happen until the end of 1988 and I model the beginning of 1988. In fact, these locos had 2 modifications done in the span of 4 years prior to the nose cuts. So I can see why Kato did the post '88 model, they were around for a lot longer. So to back date this loco to my time frame required filling in the cut away nose sections. That was handled by gluing in strip styrene to the nose and shell. With some sanding and filling, I was able to get the correct contoure for the nose.
Along with that, I needed to close up the stairs and remove the stairwell handrails. After taking the shell apart, I was pleasantly surprised to see that the front walkway section was it's own molded piece. Going to the Kato parts website yielded me with an Amtrak front walkway which had the steps covered up. By combining both ATSF and Amtrak nose walkway/anticlimber pieces, I was able to get the closed up steps and keep the stock front handrails. There was just one slight open area between the steps and the main shell, which was taken care of by a piece of styrene. On to the handrails, I was able to bend up the side step rails, cut them shorter and attach them to the new filled in nose section.
After all that, I covered up the nose lights and added an NSN headlight casting to the cab, drilled it out and filled it in with Microscale Kristal Klear for operating headlights. Touch up paint, grab irons on top of the nose and a new Microscale ATSF nose decal finished up the front. I did goof up and forget to add the grabs on the front of the nose when everything was apart, but after taking the loco apart so many times to test fit everything, the front handrails were starting to get to the point where they were gonna break off. Maybe down the road I'll buy some more handrails from the Kato parts dept. and add the grabs. For now, this loco will never be a leader, but with it's long body, will look good mixed in a lash up.
Besides what is listed above, details include:
Relocated horn
Wuttermelon 3d printed beacon
BLMA beacon stand
BLMA rear view mirrors
BLMA air hoses
BLMA MU hoses
Spring steel used for truck air brake lines
Weathered with chalks and paint
Stock
Detailed
All material on The Owens Valley Subdivision website is Copyright 2007-20xx by Michael Stoner. None of the material (including text and photographs) on this web site may be reproduced in any form without prior written permission.