Kevin, do you get to model train shows? If you do, often there are vendors selling old locomotive shells cheap. If the BN used a standard EMD cab on their low nose Sd9 conversions, you could probably use a cab off an old Gp20, or even cut the front out of a cab from a later model Athearn EMD gp or sd and graft it into the Sd9 cab to make a low nose version. I have a T-6 Alco project that I started a couple of years ago. I had an Athearn Sw7 with a broken body that I got in a big box of train stuff from the neighbor across the street who had bought model railroad stuff, and then his boys were more interested in surfing than trains. I picked up a body for an Alco S1-4 (I don't remember which model it was exactly) and a body from an old Lifelike, Model Power, or Tyco Rs11. I cut the grille and end of the long hood off of the Rs11, cut the nose off the S whatever, and grafted the 2 together to mount to the Athearn Sw7 chassis to make a T-6 that will eventually be painted and decaled for the Arkansas & Misouri RR. I think I have less than $3 invested total in this model. Probably the decals will cost more than the cost of the rest of the locomotive!