SD 40 Shell

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

I have an old Mehano Engine that runs like an Atlas with a Shell that is …needs to replaced…wondering if any of you experts would know if an Athearn or any other Shells would fit this Chassis with just a little modification…I know the older Athearn shells may be my best bet as they do not have the prongs through the Frame itself…any other ideas would be Great…

and thanks again Guys…You always have a answer…!!!

2

The Athearn BB model is an SD40-2, which is longer than an SD40. If you want to put the Athearn shell on, you’d have to shorten it to the proper length. I’m sure it’s doable, but it would be a lot of work is all.

3

Thanks…looks like I need an older SD40 Shell…was taking a look at Rail Pics & found that the 5500’s SD40’s from CP & SOO seem to be the proper size…looked on Ebay for older Athearn Shells to no Avail, would anyone want to get rid of an older SD40 Athearn Shell (perferably CP or Undecorated) of course I would compensate…???

4

You might be able to use a rail power products SD40 shell from A-line if they have them still in stock. http://ppw-aline.com/loco_bodies.htm

5

To my knowledge, Athearn never had a SD40, only the longer SD40-2.

I was in the process of detailing an AHM SD40 for CP when I heard about the Kato unit coming out, so I stopped. It got this far, maybe I will finish it some day. It has ENDO power trucks (like SPUDs) as the thing did not run well at all:

Maybe someone has a Kato shell they don’t need?

6

Have a look here:

http://www.ppw-aline.com/railpower_products.htm#bodies

MD

7

Oh yeah, I forgot about the Rail Power shells. It looks like A Line still has them available too. RPP shells are definitely the way to go for replacing your old Mehano shell, and then maybe replace the stock truck sideframes with better Athearn parts (http://www.athearn.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=ATH40066) while you’re at it. All that and a smooth drive (yes guys, Mehanos can run extremely well![:D]), and you should have yourself a nice SD40.[:D]

8

Thanks again for all the info Guys…Pathfinder, you gotta finish that Engine, (would a Hexdrive work) Beautiful Detail on that or you can send it my way if you want…would be to a good home…hehe…and thanks for the info on the RPP site…(looks like I’ll be going that way)…I have a couple of their shells that I plan on detailing in the Future.

At first I was going to sell the Mehano on Ebay as I didn’t like the Shell…ran it ONE more time and…NOPE…Can’t sell a Beautful running Engine like this…

9

Thanks for the compliment, I am wondering what I was thinking of when I stopped work in it as I looked at it again yesterday! Thanks for starting the topic and making me search my beast out. And the drive is very smooth, quite and powerful but does not MU with any of my other locos well due to speed differences. I can get a dummy SD40-2 and have them as a set pair for shorter trains I think.

I do have a question for you to consider before you go and buy the RP shell: is your SD40 the same as mine? IE does it have the walkway/pilots/frame all integrated into one piece? If so, then the RP shell will need a lot of work to cut off its walkways and pilots to just end up with the hoods to go on the Mehano. In my pictures, what is black is all one piece, with the gray another. Just make sure you consider that when looking for a shell. The Kato unit would not be a problem that way as the shell is in several pieces, including separate walkways and hoods.

10

Mehano diesels are made so the walkways and pilots are part of the frame. It’s a pretty soft plastic, so cutting the walkways and pilots off the frame would probably be easier and have better results than cutting the RPP shell. The walkway tread would be lost is the only thing (although it may be possible to use Cannon parts to fix that).

11

Well Pathfinder, can’t wait to see you finish that project and the Answer to your Question, my SD40 is a Stubbier Version, (almost like a stretched GP40) if you search CP Rail SD40 for 5520 or 5521 (Railpictures.net), that’s pretty much it. The Walkway’s/Pilots are on a One piece Shell and one pinhole on the side to keep it in place, not to bad for it’s day but damage has being done (could only EM a pic as of now as I am not registered with any sites)

The Mehano I have is an all Metal Frame (made in Slovenia) and weighs in about a LB (very heavy to me-obviously heavier than my Athearns). The Motor is isolated from the frame (easy DCC) and the drives are smilar to the Hex Drive in what you would see on an Athearn Genesis. The motor is about (1 1/2") long with smaller flywheels then an Athearn (think the Athearn motors are about 3/4"??? for the C44’s that I have. It definately has a lot of power, runs quiet and in slow speed the way my Genesis does…once in a lifetime Mehano …I don’t know???

If you guys want a pic, just let me know…of course I would need your EM to send it to.

12

Pathfinder wrote: to my knowledge, Athearn never had a SD40, only the longer SD40-2.

Actually Athearn does have a SD40…This is a upgraded Rail Power Products shell.

http://www.athearn.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=ATH93591

Hard to keep up with Athearn these days.[(-D]

13

Thanks Brakie, actually it’s just hard for me to keep up I think! Sine I don’t need any more SD40’s or -2’s, I just have not bothered to look.

14

I did at one time look on the Athearn parts list for an SD40 shell, could EM and I keep watching Ebay…still thinking…

15

One piece shell and metal frame? I think you actually have the SD35, and not the 40. The SD35 is even shorter than the SD40, and is the only American diesel by Mehano with a metal frame.

16

Does it look like this:

This is a SD 35. Note the middle rad fan is smaller than the other two, while on a SD40 they are all the same size.

17

Welllll … I’m looking at the pics and never seen an SD-35 in my life and Yes You Have it…Identical [#dots]…[%-)]…[bow]…fans…top of the nose…exhaust…notice the light up top…and I thought it was just a very old version of an SD40…guess you learn something every week…and that’s why I ask the Pro’s the Questions…and still you guys are Great answering…

Now…I still want to keep this SD35…and off to find a Shell Still…[%-)]

18

An older Atlas SD 35 shell should work, it will be basically the same thing.

Or maybe look for one of the RailPower shells. They do not list any on their web site but you find one with a bit of searching.

Good luck!

19

I have two of those, though I currently don’t model in HO. One was BN and the other was Western Maryland. Those weren’t the trucks mine had, you replaced them? I always thought with some work these wouldn’t be bad looking models. They seemed to run as good as anything else by various companies I had. I also had the old Atlas SD35. It was a favorite of mine until the trucks fell apart and it couldn’t run anymore.

20

ENDO self contained power trucks. Not sure if they are still available or not. The sideframes are, if I remember right, Precision Scale, also not sure it still available.