Get a GRIP! (25) SP SD9's to Build.

[Miles]

Well, it's finally started! My friend has commissioned me to build him 25 SD9's and SD7's for his ambitious layout. They'll mostly be Scarlet & Gray, with a couple of Black Widows and a couple of oddball one-offs and Halloween units. All of them will match prototype numbers and photos of each. Some will be SD9E/R rebuilds. ALL of them will sport the light packages or lack thereof (with the BMLA blanked out panels)

So, here we go!

I'll have plenty of questions as I go along, but here's my first: What should I use to fill in the "red" mars light? Does MV products make jewels tiny enough for these? What else would work? Fiber optic cable? A dab of crystal clear mixed with red paint?



Feel free to critique, I have tough skin and will be happy to adjust things to improve their looks as I progress. Here's the first three.

[nscaler711]

With your handy work you could probably light those with tiny SMD LEDs.
http://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/SML-P12UTT86/511-1593-1-ND/1643125
or these which come PRE WIRED!! http://www.modeltrainsoftware.com/smd-chip-leds.html

But those are going to look great!!

[jagged ben]

I have a question for you...

What are you using for the light packages and can we buy them?

[C855B]

Sheesh. SP loons.

I love the early SP SDs. I have seared-in memories of braces of five 3900's, dynamics screaming down the hill from Acton into Soledad Canyon, on the Bakersfield-L.A. line.

Anyway, I second the idea of 0402 LEDs for the big-hole light. It would just be so cool. For a lens, I would use Tamiya transparent paint to sort of build a red glob. Their red by itself would be good for this, but maybe I would mix in the tiniest bit of blue to deepen the color to the red I recall.

[Miles]

Ben,

The light package details are:

Details Associates 8219 "Single" Mars light.
Details Associates 8218 Dual Headlight "Plye" Oscillating
Details Associates 8216 Dual Headlight - Early (standard EMD headlight at the bottom of the cluster)

I might play with the micro LEDs as I have some laying around. I'll have to get my hands on some red ones though. The Tamiya transparent paint is an excellent call. I'll give it a try.

[tom mann]

And you have to weather them too?

[Bob Bufkin]

I think Tom is trying to be a subcontrator on a weathering job for these.

[tom mann]

No no no! 

[jmlaboda]

I love the early SP SDs. I have seared-in memories of braces of five 3900's, dynamics screaming down the hill from Acton into Soledad Canyon, on the Bakersfield-L.A. line.

That was my first love!!!  Traveling between Palmdale/Lancaster to L.A. and back provided some very unique and interesting opportunities to see these units back when I was rather young... still a fond memory now that I am on the downslide!!!

[Miles]

Tom, Yes. I'll be doing everything from the Undec shell to a completely weathered finished model! 

[mcjaco]

Interested to watch the SD9E build. 

[SP-Wolf]

What an outstanding project!! Dig those Cadillac's!!

Wolf

[strummer]

I remember well chasing Espee's "Toledo Hauler" from the GP mill in Toledo over the Coast Range and into Corvallis. Would often see as many as 7 units on the head end. An awesome sight,to be sure...

Mark in Oregon

[C855B]

That was my first love!!!  Traveling between Palmdale/Lancaster to L.A. and back provided some very unique and interesting opportunities to see these units back when I was rather young... still a fond memory now that I am on the downslide!!!

Hey, Jerry... were you from the A.V.?

[RRRover]

Wow, 25 Cadillacs! That's power for two trains including helpers...

Having grown up along the Espee I remember seeing 6 leading, 5 mid train and 3-4 pushing on a regular basis. Sounds pretty interesting though!