new aquisition: P2K Sd-9

[Glen Haasdyk]

I picked up a basket case Proto 2000 SD-9 from my local hobby shop. It's missing some parts and I was wondering if anyone had the instructions to the model so I can detemine what parts to look for. as far as I can tell it's missing all the fans off the top one set of headlights and number boards and the coupler mounts are broken off the frame (I'm pretty sure I can fix that) The engine looks like it took a tumble because there's a crack in the one end thats easily repairable.
One other question, the engine is painted in Southern pacific but I'm thinking of changing the scheme. Did Great Northern have them? If not then who did?

 

[MilesWestern]

The GN had plenty of them, and amazingly some of the original GN SD9's are still used by the BNSF, albeit heavily rebuilt.

I'd suggest buying a replacement shell for it though, I think it'd be a real pain to deal with the SP shell otherwise. In addition, I think it'd be best to find the shell becuase it's difficult to paint the GN empire builder scheme.

 

[Glen Haasdyk]

Thanks I was checking ebay and noticed the GN SD's there. The unit apears to be an SD-7 not a 9 but I didn't pay much for it so I'm happy.

The GN units also appear to be Dynamic brake deleted so I'm probably not going to go with the GN route. I am thinking of a fantasy Canadian National or Canadian Pacific scheme though (neither road had any) so I'll still be looking for the missing parts to the loco.

 

[CCT70]

Hey Glen, is it just the exploded parts diagram you need from the instructions or what? I have a set here of the SD-9 instructions, but they should be the same for the SD-7's as well.

Details associates, Cannon, and Details West should have the fans available, but if you can find them, I'd go with brass Overland fans.

Let me know and I'll scan it for you.

 

[Glen Haasdyk]

That's what I'm after Tom. Thanks.

 

[diesel]

Hey Glen,

Once again for Proto 2000 stuff call Jerry in service directly.... I tried to order fans ect. for a gp 20 to kitbash from Conrail to BN and parts/sales dept. told me that they only sell the whole shell, not the parts (even though they have the exploded diagram ect.) and a new shell would be $90. I was shocked.

The best thing to do would buy fans from maybe Cannon, or if you don't want to spend that much, buy similar fans ect. from Atlas (I think they will be inexpensive) and make those work. BUT if you call Jerry directly you may get some parts 'just layin around' eh?

Dan

 

[Glen Haasdyk]

I've found some 36" fans from precision scale 4/3.00 so I'll probably go with those. As well I'll be putting a winterization hatch on it and plows since it'll be a northern beast. I'm also considering all weather windows while I'm at it.

One more question though, I'm going to strip the Proto shell before painting it (it's in SP paint) In the past I've used both easy-off oven cleaner or pine sol to strip paint off models. Will either of these work without damaging the shell? If now what will work?

 

[CCT70]

I've used 90% Isopropyl Alcohol to strip Proto shells with much success and an old toothbrush.

Just don't screw up like I did and use your wifes. I mistook it for my old one. Won't make THAT mistake again...

 

[Glen Haasdyk]

Before I went any farther I decided to repair the couplers. I figured that I'd be wasting my time if I couldn't get those fixed. Anyway I adapted the engine from frame mounted couplers to body mounts, and used the couplers to fasten the body to the frame while I was at it (most of the body mounting clips are broken)
I ground the remains of the two coupler mounts flush with the top of the coupler pockets and then built new coupler pads on the inside of the body. I used Kadee #30 series couplers (with the rounded draft box) since I didn't have much room to work with. The only external body mods I had to do was a slot cut on one side of the coupler pockets but that will be hiden later when I put the plows on. The couplers are secured with screws which in turn, hold the body to the chassis via the ground down coupler mounts.
I'm taking pictures as I go so I can document my progress. (film camera so be patient!)

 

[Glen Haasdyk]

Oh yeah I did strip the shell using 99% Isopropyl Alcohol and it worked just fine, thanks for the tip.

 

[stuart_canada]

i have an sd-9 by P2K nad been trying to get rid of it, but no one wants it, i got it at a show and it was badly painted bnsf green, it wasa good deal when i purchased it just no real use for.
i thought about painting it to something Canadian but no such beasts ran north into Canada, Iknow Cn now owns a few from one of the short line purchases , but not sure they will be repainted to CN or not.

 

[Glen Haasdyk]

I've pretty much decided that I'll paint it as if Canadian National bought it new with the green and yellow paint scheme. I have a set of Canadian national Trainmaster decals that will fit the bill as well as some detail parts from my GP-7 projects.

 

[stuart_canada]

want to repaint mine?
i will take it done over in CN anything paint, not much of a model painter.

 

[Glen Haasdyk]

I could but my concern is that the engine was painted by someone else in the BNSF green. I have no idea what paint it would be and how thick the paint is. Factory paint if generally pretty thin (almost a thin film) and it didn't take me long to strip the shell. if your's was painted in say testors model master paint it would take alot to strip and I'm not sure what the shell would take. my suggestion would be to strip the paint yourself and then get back to me. You would also have to carefully remove the details like railings, ladders and others so I could mask it properly.

 

[stuart_canada]

i wish the previous owner had left it as it was out of the box. i am sure i would liked it better that way. i paid 10 bucks for it used as is at a show. so i thought maybe i could deal with it. I thought about stripping it down and painting it a grey prime and leaving it as that. when i purchased it all iknew it was a P2K model and the price was right. A steal i did not pay much attention to the paint job as i knew it was rough, and since i only have a 8 foot by 2 foot yard layout I thought a smaller 6 axle unit would work as a switcher, so i was happy, but now moved back to Canada from the US, I am trying to unload the Non Canadian units from my fleet. I have way too many of them.
i will try and strip it down using 99 percent alcohol and see what happens. i can see the factory paint thru the green, so maybe i can make it looked weathered and have the old paint show thru in places.
send pics of your model when done

 

[Glen Haasdyk]

The 'ghosting' of the original paint and decals is a sure sign that the unit has not been stripped before the repaint. I repainted two athearn gp-7s in Canadian National. They were oringinally in the BN green and they took alot of soaking in pine-sol before the paint finally came off them. I'm not sure what pine-sol would do to a Proto unit's shell though...

 

[Spawn of Chaos]

In response to "BNSF still uses SD9's but heavily modified:"



Trust me, this one's better off as a thumbnail!

'Nuff said.

 

[Glen Haasdyk]

Thanks, mine won't be nearly that modified since I model the late 50's and early sixies.
I does give you an idea of how heavily engines can be canges when rebuilt though

 

[Spawn of Chaos]

Oh btw meant to say this but both those photos are my own!

I live just up the hill from "Balmer Yard" better known to the locals as Interbay Yard.

 

[Glen Haasdyk]

Well thanks to Stuart Canada I now have a second SD-7 on the way. I'm figuring I can use the parts off both to make one good unit. At least this way I'll have a set of fans that actually fit the engine. I'll still need some detail parts but not as many as planned before.