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The Builders Depot

Customizing & Kitbashing

Kitbash - SD38P

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pacbelt
Switcher

Status: offline

Posted - September 28 2015 : 02:04:27 AM

I may as well dig right in.....

I kitbash - a LOT!! This is the start of a BN shop rebuild, an EMD SD38P. The 38P, is basically an old SD35, with some upgraded -2 electronics, and more modern enhancements (modern for 1978 anyway!)
The biggest spotting feature, is the rear cooling fans. Two more powerful 48" fans replace the originals, and the 36" fan between them is simply REMOVED and plated over.
For the model, it simply entails filing down the center small fan, and making a very thin plate, that represents filling in that fan hole!

What I'm starting with, makes this a bit of a challenge....

My FIRST HO Scale locomotive I ever bought (OUTSIDE of a train set!!). It's the OLD Atlas/Roco SD35.... distinguishable by the GODAWFUL fuel tank, with those STUPID screwdriver slots in the sides!!!

TRUST ME that will be FIXED!!

I've already started on the LOOONG grind and file and sand procedure....

I'll use an old trick. Filling in those horrible slots with good 'ol Bondo. Yes, there's putty sold at hobby shops - but Bondo from the local AutoZone is WAY cheaper - and better!! It has to withstand outdoor abuse & weather changes. More torture than she will EVER get on my Layout.

Here's the rear view of the body. That little middle fan near the end of the long hood, is what's being removed...

It's a cool feature on only the SD38P... Unlike the production SD/GP38's, the cooling fans are NOT moved closer together, but kept at the same distance apart as the doner SD35!!

BEFORE someone notices - I ONLY placed the motor back on, to not lose it, until I get an empty parts bowl prepared. NEVER grind metal, near the motor, unless you're junking it. The magnets WILL suck in the tiniest bits of metal shavings!!

I'll be getting back to this in a while. I've got 5 other projects on my bench right now. But I WILL get back to her!

Carmine - CEO, Engineer, and Chief Bottle Washer
Pacific Belt RR, in HO Scale, Since 1975!

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USA ~ Posts: 82 ~ Member Since: September 27 2015 ~ Last Visit: October 26 2015

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pacbelt
Switcher

Status: offline

Posted - September 28 2015 : 02:20:40 AM

For a little bit of History with this....
The Atlas SD35 - along with a SD24, GP38 and GP40, were introduced in 1975, to a stunned modeling world!!
They were made by Roco in Austria, of fairly good quality. (MINE still ran smoothly, after 37 YEARS!)
They were one of the first PLASTIC HO Scale locomotives to come out with can motors, scale width hoods, near-scale molded handrails, and BODY MOUNTED couplers, in full, scale pilots!

~ YES, AHM, Tyco, Lionel, and Pemco - and their cheap knockoff copies - DID have some of these features in some combination....
But in 1975, Atlas was the first, to have ALL of them - in ONE series of locomotives at the SAME time!
And, they retailed for only $25.00!! (With a "street price" of between 16.95 and $22.95).
This was one of TWO market happenings, that would cause Irv Athearn to rethink how he would make HIS model locomotives!