SP MP15AC Kitbash FINISHED!

[tehachapifan]

Since I can't seem to modify the original thread to show "finished" in the title, and to admittedly get a little more air-time that an old thread gives you, I hope you don't mind me staring a new thread with the finished model that I started exactly 1 year ago, almost to the day. The original build thread can be seen here...

https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=19987.0

Right front wedge view showing the rather blank front end with the exception of the trademark SP light package...



Right side and roof view showing the long hood mods which included relocating a few door and lovers, addition of GP15-1-style radiator grilles and the addition of an electrical cabinet in front of the cab...



Left flank view showing more long hood door and louver relocations...



Rear cab close-up showing interior color, a glimpse of the left-hand seat and the trademark SP light package. The headlight still works using the stock Atlas light tube and housing with modification to accommodate the offset light....



This was a heck of a project that about killed me! Eyes are definitely NOT what they used to be! 

[Denver Road Doug]

Wow.

That'sahhh, all I got.

[GaryHinshaw]

That turned out great Russ!  I especially like all the cab area detail: interior color,  window gaskets, rust on the roof, and of course the light package.  Having grown up around these switchers, this is like seeing an old friend.  In a way I feel like a two-timer for not modelling late 20th century SP, but I have new friends now.   

Well done,
Gary

P.S. I know what you mean about the eyes.  I can't work without magnification now...

[James Costello]

Wow...love it Russ. Great job.

[Scottl]

Nice work, and I especially like the quality of your finish of the cab and windows as well.  Roof weathering is quite convincing.

[arbomambo]

BEAUTIFUL!
thank you for posting!
~Bruce

[tehachapifan]

Thanks, guys! I appreciate the comments!

Here's one more shot showing the rather unique front end of these units with the trademark light package but otherwise blank hood end. SP later realized this space was begging for a big "SP" when they were getting repainted in speed lettering.



Had to keep re-shooting this photo. Can't seem to get it completely right. Sorry for the fuzziness.

[Denver Road Doug]

Wow.

(Still speechless) 

Any chance of a non-G-scale photo, maybe hooked up to some freight cars?   It might keep some folks from giving up on the hobby. 

[packers#1]

Outstanding! I assume you covered building the SP light packages in the build thread; I'll have to go back and take a look, as the leased LTEX SW1500 that was in Aiken was ex-SP and featured the light package, although some components were removed

[tehachapifan]

There are some progress photos regarding the lights in the build thread. The gyralights are from Miniatures by Eric and the headlights and headlight housings are cut from the stock Atlas MP15DC light housings. The light "visor" on the back of the cab was made from the top end of an MD15DC long hood after the cast light details were removed (with the exception of the marker light area) and the front edge was flattened more as per SP specs. This was spliced onto the rear of the cab after a notch was cut into the cab to accommodate it. It appears that this is exactly what EMD did on SP's switcher orders including the SW1500, MP15DC and MP15AC. If you look closely at the rear of one of these cabs above and around the lights (as in the link below), you can see the exact same structure as on the end of the long hood....which is kind of weird. Not sure how that came to be, but it happened and is an often-missed detail on models of these SP switchers.

http://espee.railfan.net/picindex/mp15ac_walkaround/rs_mp15ac-y.html
Top view of the light "visor" EMD put over the light package on SP switchers, including the SW1500, MP15DC and MP15AC. Notice it is basically the same structure that is over the lights on the long hood end and even includes the shape of the long hood roof.