I think that tony's train exchange still has them. They also list all 3 #'s of the SD40-2. link: http://www.tonystrains.com/locomotive/athearn.htm You'll have to scroll down to SD45 and hit the drop bar next to it. They offer regular, with decoder and with sound.
Thanks to Bob Hoover (|-|friscofriend|-|) for reaching out to Athearn at the train shows and email and lobby for these units. I give Bob credit for making the unit details, color, etc. available to Athearn. My only question at this point is "Can I get 3-4 more with new unit numbers?" Bob has also been working with Atlas on the U30B and has supplied them with some good photos. With any luck we should see them announced soon. It just keeps getting better.
Well, Rick finally let the cat out of the bag, but that's OK. Now I can go ahead and explain why I have been bugging all of you to death asking repeatedly for imput and feedback. I need to know what people want and what they think can be improved so that I can pass it back to the manufacturers. So far both Athearn and Atlas have been very receptive to ideas and suggestions. Yes, the next two big projects are the Genesis GP15-1 from Athearn and the U30b from Atlas. I hope the U30b project yeilds a very special surprise. Having said that, I do need some information rather quickly to pass on the Athearn, that being the size of fonts on the various diesels. Anyone out there that may have this please contact me privately or post it on this thread or open a new one so everyone can share. Also, if anyone has any requests for future projects from either company, please let me know. As Rick likes to say, "It just keeps getting better."
Unfortunately, the items I have found thus far refer to GP35 O/W paint schemes. They supposedly are vellum drawings supplied to EMD by Frisco for official designation of the painting schemes: http://cgi.ebay.com/Frisco-SL-SF-EMD-GP35-Vellum-Blueprint-1964-Paint_W0QQitemZ350338601891QQcategoryZ1445QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp4340.m263QQ_trkparmsZalgo%3DDLSL%252BSIC%26its%3DI%252BC%26itu%3DUCI%252BIA%252BUA%252BFICS%252BUFI%252BDDSIC%26otn%3D20%26po%3D%26ps%3D63 and http://cgi.ebay.com/Frisco-SL-SF-EM...IA%2BUA%2BFICS%2BUFI%2BDDSIC&otn=20&po=&ps=63 What is interesting is that they show that the lettering on the sides of the GP35s were specified as two different heights. In the first group painted O/W in 1964, the letters were 12" tall 12' 6" in overall length, evenly spaced between the top and middle hinges, centered overall on the second through ninth side doors. The numerals on the cab were 12" tall, 3" below the window sills, centered on the windows. In the second group painted in 1965, the letters were 15" tall, beginning 7" from the leading edge of the first side door, running 15' 5" overall length ending on the tenth door, on a line across 1" above the top of the middle hinges. The numerals were 12" tall, centered on the cab side windows, 6" below the window sills. In both cases the number board numerals were to be 9" high.
Ethan and All: Unless either company changes from recent practices, there are several things we can assume will happen. In regards to Atlas, the locomotives should be offered in both Silver and Gold versions with the Silver one being DCC ready with an NMRA plug and the Gold one with QSI Quantum sound. The Silver version will easily accept the recently re-released TCS DP5X decoder by just taking off the shell and plugging it in. I might add that about 2 years ago TCS dropped this decoder from their line in favor of a smaller DP2X. After that happened I had the good forture of speaking with the owner of TCS on the phone stressing the importance of the added light functions and why. At the time TCS was making a big push in the area of much needed N scale decoders and thus the smaller size substitution. He explained that most N scalers actually were not that interested in the added light functions because of the relative size of the equipment. I explained to him that in HO things were becoming more and more the exact opposite. He stated at the time that he had heard this from others and the DP5X would return to the line-up, this time with BEMF. As far as the gyro-light is concerned, this posed another interesatig scenerio that I will share with the group. GE, unlike EMD produced locomotives with a blank plate on the nose where an optional gyra-light could be installed. Case in point, look at your B30-7 models and you will see waht I mean. When asking for a nose gyra-light istalled, which I did in the proposal, I was told by Atlas that they only had two nose castings, the above menioned blank one, and a dual beam one like most RR's used and they would be unwilling for cost reasons to produce a new one just for the Frisco model. They asked me to choose between the two in my proposal. At this point I want to let everyone know that I do not make these decisions alone. In this case knowledgeable modelers Rick McClellan and Nick Molo were both asked which nose they wanted and both quickly said the dual beam headlight one. The concensus was that it could easily be sanded off and replaced with a single beam casting with the benefit of the light already being wired and installed. In regards to the Athearn GP15-1. it unlike the SD40-2 and the SD45 will be in their higher end Genesis line meaning that it should have even more factory installed details and a Tsunami equipped version. Hopefully the handrails will be painted correctly and I will be addressig that with them along with the size of the font. I hope by sharing this information at this point helps give everyone a better insight into how being proactive in the proper manner with the manufacturers does yield results. And no Ethan, your requests are not unreasonable in this day and age.
1.) I received an email from Tony's Trains letting me know they are out of SD45's too. Oh well... thanks for the effort Ethan. 2.) Bob H. Thanks for sharing so much with the manufacturers.
Terry: I actually see no improvements on the current U30b as it is a brand new model. Also, as I said in another post, GE differing from EMD made their offerings rather universal so RR's just added or specified the equipment such as the nose gyra-light that they wanted. The first run of them just recently hit the market so if and when the second run is announced it will be at least 6 months after that until we see them. That's plenty of time for you to be the first one to have one and enjoy it.
Steve and All: Part of the presentation to Atlas was to make a "Limited Edition" model of the XR locomotive #846. I had at least two great photographs of the locomotive and a set of Oddballs decals to back up my request. To my surprise, the representative informed me that they had already one an XR locomotive, that being the Black & Gold specially painted U30c for the L&N. That means that they already have the artwork for the XR symbol. I had always thought that the Frisco unit was the only XR painted locomotive, but evidently there were two, one U30b and one U30c. At this point I feel optimistic that we will get the XR unit (aka "very special surprise"). Keep your fingers crossed!
I have always been told white first then orange. Also another trick I have been told is when you get done painting the white and put on masking tape, spray another coat of white to seal the edge of the tape to prevent the orange from draining down.
Ah, when I returned home from Olathe tonight, there were sounds of V-20 645's on the front porch. Athearn's SLSF 911 and SLSF 943 are here. Nice! Thanks M. B. Klein! They are sitting with SLSF 927, just returned from its run to Kansas and back, and they look pretty nice together. Ken
Attached is a photo of the three Athearn SD45s that were just released. Overall they did a nice job and this photo shows the three variation. #943 shows the gyra light added to the last order from EMD #927 is the standard, plain vanilla unit #911 is the standard unit with the coonskin on the nose. Nice job by Athearn on the detail although I will be modifying these guys a bit as time permits. Hope you all got the number of units that you wanted because most are gone now. I got an email from J&L Hobby in Odessa, MO and he has a few left as of last Friday.
WOW! Those are really nice looking models. It's no wonder that you all are going nuts over them. Rick, I would love to see a photo of the consist along side of the recently completed highway on your layout.
Those are really sharp. Now I am even more anxious for the delivery of mine planned for this Sunday. Hey Rick, Did the nose gyro light come with a light and wires? Or will I need to get an LED and wire it up?
I got my second SD45 wired up last night #943. At this point all I have done is install a TCS T4X decoder, solder all the wires to the light board and wire up the rotating beacon lamp to the green (including a 680 ohm resistor for the 1.5v lamp) and blue wires on the (Athearn) harness. This allows me to turn the headlights on and off with the FO button and the rotating beacon with the F1 button. Before tackling the gyra light, I need to know from Bob Wintle what size drill he used to open up the gyra light housing. I am going to use a 1.2mm diameter lamp from Miniatronics and right now I don't have the right drill to provide space for the lamp. All I know right now is I will only get one chance to drill this out right without destroying the lamp housing. Ethan, not sure if LEDs are that small, so you might want to consider a lamp/bulb. Sherrel, going to try to get the third unit on line tonight and bring some traffic through Lenexa for you. The nifty Frisco coonskin behind the Three Musketeers was a Keith Robinson creation from his magic wood shop. Keith is probably the best woodworker I know because he has all of his fingers and thumbs.
Rick: You are exactly correct on you only have one chance to do this. I used the 1.2mm bulb. I do not remember which drill bit I used. I bought a welders tip cleaning kit and used one of the bits out of it. To verify the size was close enough I used a dial caliper to measure both the bulb and bit. If you do not have a dial caliper I highly suggest that you get one. The welders' tip cleaning can be bought at any welding supply shop. It is basically a aluminum tube with a pin vise in one end and a place to store bits in the other end. I hope this helps. Bob Wintle
I have gotten word that there is some interest in how the coonskin in the background of Rick's picture was made. Here's the detail: The coonskin is really a woodblock carving. The overall shape was cut out per the prescribed dimensional guidelines in one of the posts by Ken Wulfert: http://www.frisco.org/vb/showthread.php?t=3833, then the outline and letters were cut into the surface with a very sharp knive. Finally the material within the outline and surrounding the letters was carved out using a variety of chisels and gouges. The gouges are what really provide the texture. Then the whole thing was primed and painted with a gloss white paint. The outline and letters were then masked and trimmed. Then the remaining exposed areas were sprayed with a gloss red paint. Finally, the masking was removed. It's not that hard, just a little time-consuming but it was great way to say thanks and give something special.
Wow I was talking to Ethan Lawrence(Iantha Branch) on Facebook the other dayand he mentioned these new SD45's. I don't havea use fro them in my 1950's layout, but they look really nice. I actually asked if he knew where that great looking red and white Frisco coonskin came from. Well now I know. That is great work Keith. If I had a woodshop I would make some custom drawers with coonskins and buzzsaw(mopac) to store my frieght cars in when the layout in not running. This is just one cool element to add to my future layout. Ship it on the Frisco!!! Murphy Jenkins
