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 Posted - May 26 2020 : 12:55:01 AM
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While poking through my junk box while talking to WKS, I stumbled over first the chassis, and then
unable to find a matching shell, discovered this PRR shell in another box. Fits like a glove. At first
I wanted to paint it red and slap on some CP Pac Man decals, but got to noticing the details like
pipes and ladders, were cast on, which makes me think this is old. Is it? Also, can anyone kindly
tell me if this a GP 38 or Alco or whatever, my trainspotting is terrible.
 
Struggling with Windows 10, I cannot upload the photo of the roof, but the pipes are cast on.
I'm not sure if to keep this, though I don't do anything with PRR, or continue on with my original plan
to make it a CP unit, real or fantasy. Longer I look at it, more I like it!
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Posted - May 26 2020 : 07:58:23 AM
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According to the internet it is a SD9 unit.
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Posted - May 26 2020 : 08:04:43 AM
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Looks like a Athearn model according to eBay listing.
Maybe someone here has a CP unit for sale or trade Jeff.
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Posted - May 26 2020 : 08:08:15 AM
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That's quite a mongrel. Trucks look like older Athearn EMD GP and F trucks which have metal sideframes with axles riding in bearings in those sideframes.
Locomotive frame has fuel tank shape, and motor mounts, of Athearn's frame for GE U28B, U30B, U33B, locomotives.
Where those triangularv posts are at each end of fuel tank there would have been a crosswise air tank there.
Body is an EMD SD7 or SD9, looks like one made by Athearn with the mounting holes each side.
Here's an SD9, https://www.railpictures.net/photo/233528/
And a GE U30B with stock trucks used by GE https://www.railpictures.net/photo/201969/
And a GE U30B with EMD trucks which GE would have used from a EMD locomotive the buyer traded in as part of the purchase from GE, https://www.railpictures.net/photo/529978/
“There are a thousand things that can happen when you go light a rocket engine, and only one of them is good.” — Tom Mueller, SpaceX, 2012
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Posted - May 26 2020 : 08:08:51 AM
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I copied your photo of the engine you mentioned Jeff.
Looks like a match to me. SD9 it is.
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Posted - May 26 2020 : 08:10:32 AM
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At least the shells match. I know you swapped out the chassis.
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Posted - May 26 2020 : 08:12:52 AM
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Almost a match. Numbers on yours are white. Other model has them in yellow.
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Posted - May 26 2020 : 08:16:22 AM
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An idea is to letter your unit for the Penn Central.
A quick impromptu look just like they did back in 1968.
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Posted - May 26 2020 : 08:44:18 AM
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I see your revised unit looks like a GP9 which is a four axle loco.
SD9 are six axle. I also am a novice in identifying locomotives.
Some ideas for your locomotive.
From the internet. Not meant to derail your CP ideas.
Edited by - wks on May 26 2020 08:45:25 AM
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Posted - May 26 2020 : 09:23:39 AM
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Shell is an Athearn SD-9 or "Special Duty 9" Dubbed "Cadillacs" because of how well they rode in relation to at the time, the standard automotive of the world.
The SD-9 is a 6 - axle locomotive, as previously stated. The chassis you put it on is one from an Athearn GP-7/9; which is a 4 - axle locomotive. It fits perfectly because that's what EMD was going for. A locomotive with the same length as the GP-7/9 but with 3 - axle trucks to ride better on rough track. I believe they had more horsepower as well. So, you could put it on and call it some strange rebuild, or hunt down a GP-7/9 Shell (Very common) or an SD-9 Chassis (Not sure how common)
If you're not doing either, I'd add a load of gadgets and details atop and around it to give it that worn - out shortline look. then slap a fantasy paintjob and roadname on it. The Ridge likes locos like these *Wink* *Wink* *Nudge* *Nudge* 
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Posted - May 26 2020 : 1:35:46 PM
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Much useful input, thank you all!
Think I will go this direction...
Edited by - Chops124 on May 26 2020 1:40:06 PM
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Posted - May 26 2020 : 6:59:02 PM
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| So your going to put the SD-9 shell on the GP-9 body or are you getting a proper GP-9 shell?
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Posted - May 26 2020 : 7:30:22 PM
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quote:| The SD-9 is a 6 - axle locomotive, as previously stated. The chassis you put it on is one from an Athearn GP-7/9; which is a 4 - axle locomotive. It fits perfectly because that's what EMD was going for. A locomotive with the same length as the GP-7/9 but with 3 - axle trucks to ride better on rough track. |
Actually, the SD was longer than the GP.
The frame in use here is a General Electric U-boat frame.
The GP7, GP9, was 55 feet and some inches long, the SD7, SD9, was 60 feet and some inches long.
The General Electric U series were 60 feet and some inches long.
The SD must by definition be longer than the GP because the 3 axle trucks are longer than the 2 axle trucks, a GP truck is about 14 feet long overall and the SD7/9 trucks about 19 feet long overall.
Photos below show that via HO scale drawings in Model Railroader's Diesel Locomotive Cyclopedia book from 1980.
Photos also show an older Athearn GP7/9 mechanism for comparison with frame in use in locomotive in question here.
“There are a thousand things that can happen when you go light a rocket engine, and only one of them is good.” — Tom Mueller, SpaceX, 2012
Edited by - southwestforests on May 26 2020 7:32:08 PM
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Posted - May 27 2020 : 08:44:57 AM
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Well it's pretty similar in length, that's sorta what I meant.
Say, got any scale drawings for an FL9 or Sierra No. 3 in there?
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Posted - May 27 2020 : 10:45:04 AM
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I appreciate the attention to detail, but with Armodilloville I
feel free to take a lot of liberties, as it is for my own amusement.
Fact is I realized I had all this CP stuff that accumulated over the
years, but no CP locomotive. I also found a dummy F unit
and it received a coat of red. Thanks to all for the interesting
and useful information.
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Posted - May 27 2020 : 1:42:33 PM
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| So, a fantasy rebuild, I like where this is going!
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Posted - May 29 2020 : 4:52:01 PM
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Good luck with this project, Chops. Please do keep us updated on the "SP9." 
"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven." - Matthew 5:16
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Posted - May 29 2020 : 5:30:21 PM
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quote:Good luck with this project, Chops. Please do keep us updated on the "SP9."
Originally posted by RP model railroads - May 29 2020 : 4:52:01 PM
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"SP9" I love it!
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Posted - June 01 2020 : 11:47:24 PM
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Well, having missed the bus, turned my attention to what I could do, which is
to repaint these two shells, one powered, one dummy, for CP decals.
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Posted - June 02 2020 : 08:18:05 AM
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oooooooooo
I like it so far!
Did you spray paint or brush paint them?
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Posted - June 02 2020 : 1:04:40 PM
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Brush, Blax. I actually had to stipple the SD9 to get the
proper coverage of paint.
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Posted - June 02 2020 : 1:31:07 PM
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quote:Brush, Blax. I actually had to stipple the SD9 to get the
proper coverage of paint.
Originally posted by Chops124 - June 02 2020 : 1:04:40 PM
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Stipple? What's that?
Looks pretty good from what I can see for brush paint.
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Posted - July 26 2020 : 5:31:55 PM
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Got this far with them, today. Adding the decals to the nose and doors is going to be a
hat trick. Any suggestions? Foobar, the Champ, or Chump, decals did not have a
second set of "CP Rail" lettering. Anyone got an extra pair?
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Posted - July 26 2020 : 9:33:50 PM
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Cool! For diesels like this is recommend some micro sol and set. I haven't had to use any myself, and I know you aren't serious about realism, but I'm screaming internally at the way the decals cover the detail! Aggh!
Aside from that, these two will make a smashing pair. Your SP9 is looking great! 
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Posted - July 26 2020 : 11:00:14 PM
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Ye gads, not sure how to procede with the zebra striping to the noses and to the
doors of the SD unit. Tried to Google it, and not one mention of applying decals
to these non-linear surfaces.
I guess I will hack out a piece of decal striping that is roughly bigger than the
area to cover, slap it on, dry it, then take a new Exacto blade and try to trim
the edges flush.
Perhaps this is why they gave me so much extra striping.
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Posted - July 27 2020 : 08:45:27 AM
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Doors?
Like stated, I haven't had to do any irregular surface dealing, so I don't know. Maybe you could just not do it...
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Posted - July 27 2020 : 2:48:09 PM
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quote:Ye gads, not sure how to procede with the zebra striping to the noses and to the
doors of the SD unit.
Originally posted by Chops124 - July 26 2020 : 11:00:14 PM
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I wonder if masking and painting would be simpler than decals. It seems like you'd have more time to tinker with getting masking tape straight. Might even be able to avoid paint bleeding under the tape if you used some sort of cross between stippling and dry brushing. I saw someone stenciling lettering on a full-sized caboose, and he used a brush that looked something like a shaving brush and just pressed the brush against the wall rather than stroking on the paint.
I wonder if Srenchin will weigh in. He did a splendid job chevron striping a boxcab diesel.
Carpe Manana!
Edited by - scsshaggy on July 27 2020 2:55:53 PM
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Posted - July 27 2020 : 3:09:27 PM
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Looking good, Chops! Customizing isn't really my thing, so unfortunately I wouldn't be of much help.
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