Here is my quandry, I have one of the old Athearn blue box Southern Pacific Olympic SD40-2, but it lacks the proper SP nose light package. Whats best way to notch the nose without totaly destroying the factory paint job. Touching up the nose light casting isnt a problem its notching the nose for the light package. Thanks in advance. Mike
Details West part right? There is no way to install it without messing up the paint. I’ve installed a few of the nose lights and the best way i’ve found to do it is to first measure the area you want to cut out and then mark it with a fine pencil. Now, make a pass very carefully with a razor saw at a 45º angle and cut vertically on each side of the nose and then use a sharp hobby knife and score the horizonal sections until you remove the part of the nose where the light cluster will go. I’f you make tool marks or cut away too much plastic, use some Squadron Putty to fill in any unwanted gaps and sand it smooth with 320 grit and finish with 800 grit sand paper. (It’s also a good idea to remove the front and side hand rails so they won’t get bent or in the way before beginning.)
You will also have to get a bottle of SP Scarlett paint (I use Floquil) and air brush the nose when your done with the light cluster insallation. Try to tape the areas you don’t want to paint and it also won’t hurt to have a set of micro scale SP diesel locomotive nose decals at hand in case you mess up the wings on the side of the nose when you are done painting…chuck