I just bought a BLI Blueline SD40-2 (CN) and would really like to turn it into an SD40-2w, as it is my favourite locomotive, and I already have a details associates safety/ wide cab kit. My problem begins here. I have never attempted anything like this before, as I am just a teenager with limited experience, and thus have little idea what I am doing. Also, because the loco is already painted in CN lettering, I’d like to keep it the way it is and do as little painting as possible because of limited experience. Finally, I’m worried to start working because I can’t find any articles on the internet regarding this. Can anyone help me out by giving me an easy to follow, beginners, step by step guide on doing this? If so I would be very, very happy.
I’ve installed safety cabs on several older Athearn “blue box” SD40-2’s. Since the new BLI Blueline models are just out, I doubt if anyone has tried the conversion yet. I didn’t mind cutting up the Athearn bodies, because I could at the time buy new undec ones for around $5.00. I’d be leery of trying to work on a new painted model without some experience.
Perhaps check with BLI to see if it would be feasible to buy a replacement shell to work on?
The work on the Athearn involved removing the cab (it comes off) and cutting the battery boxes and nose above the walkway, using a razor saw. This is a fairly delicate operation, as you don’t want to mar the walkway. Once the cab is removed, the edges of the walkway need to be sanded/filed smooth.
The new cab had to be fitted onto the shell, but there was a space in on the front platform where the nose was cut off. The wide cab was shorter than the standard cab, so this space had to be filled with sheet styrene.
After that it was a matter of gluing on the wide cab after ensuring everything fit properly. These wide cab kits were designed in the past with Athearn models in mind, don’t know how they will fit on the BLI models.
If I were you I’d wait for a while to see if someone else does it, and acquire some kitbashing skills before tackling such a project. I saw one of the Blueline models at the LHS, and know I’d be really cautious if I wanted to do this project on one.
Thanks for the advice, maybe I’ll keep an eye out for SD40-s shells at shows, and try the conversion on them first, so I can get “all practiced up” for the good one. Its just a shame that no manufacturer (other than brass) makes these, seems to me that there would be enough Canadian demand to make it worth while. Ah well, thanks again for the advice