Hi from England, is there a conversion kit to change a standard SD70M into a flared version. I have spoken to Athearn and they have no plans to release one, any help please[:)]
I’m pretty sure someone makes a kit, I want to model the NS units in both N and HO scale.
http://seprotomodels.com/current_products.htm
These will only work on Phase 2 SD70M’s (which only UP owned), the last of the UP SD70M’s and the later NS SD70M’s are Phase 3 models that have a new cab.
See what Athearn will make with the comming SD70MAC - Each version with the specified details.
I wouldn´t bet, but I think that Athearn will bring also the flared SD70M.
It´s no real big deal.
flared SD70M’s are coming in N scale from Kato. maybe we’ll get lucky and see them in HO from someone. i have used the SE proto models flare kit and i like them. they go together pretty easily. the hardest part is cutting out the radiator section from the Athearn model. also, to make it a little more correct, you need to remove the hatches on the section of the roof where the horn is.
the guy from SE Proto Models was also thinking of doing the phase 3 cab, but it looks like he gave up on that idea.
I’ve heard Athearn is doing flares in N.
I don’t care for Athearns,because there HO models are NOT as good as the Kato’s.
There were a number of parts that are missing on these models.
Plus that the Kato’s have more details,and much more of a powerfull locomotive than the Athearns!
OMI is doing the Flare in HO. And there’s some sort of ‘Exclusivity’ deal involved, or so I hear. Not sure if it’s with EMD or UP.
True, but unlike most people I can’t head to my hobby shop and buy the most expensive unit (in this case an SD70MAC).
There will be NO HO SD70M flares in plastic for some time. Overland has a modeling exclusive from EMD. If you won the lotttery lately, you will have little problems. However us poor folk will just have to start carving.
Thank God!
Now what about the flared SD70MAC’s, like the newest CSX order. Does OMI have exclusive rights to them too? Or just SD70M’s?
-John Zuna
They might be, the only CSX unit I know OMI is making is the SD70ACe.
The SD70ACe is the correct name for the flared SD70MAC. The latest CSX order is SD70ACe’s.
http://www.trainweb.org/csxphotos/photos/SD70AC/4833CSX-yn3.jpg
SD70ACe
http://www.trainweb.org/csxphotos/photos/SD70AC/4729CSX-yn3.jpg
SD70MAC with flares (CSX calls the units SD70AC’s).
Zuna specified the newest CSX order, which are ACe’s. I was wrong about the MAC’s not having any flare, but they certainly don’t have the distinctive flare of teh ACe’s.
SD WHAT?
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While I don’t have a problem with this as we are each entitled to our opinions, and nothing personal here guy, but my opinion is quite different regarding the SD70MAC’s - I find the Genesis SD70MAC’s to be far better than the Kato SD70MAC’s in both paint and details. Others are of a similar opinion from what I see at Trainorders and Trainboard forums. Further, I beg to differ on the Kato’s being more powerful than the Athearn’s. Take the AC4400 for example. While I like the Kato AC4400 slightly better overall than the Athearn RTR AC4400, the Athearn there is more powerful than the Kato - the Athearn drags the Kato, hence the Kato is not “much, much more powerful than the Athearn”, it’s actually less powerful. I can’t say about the SD70MACS though, I haven’t tried that test yet with them, though I don’t really think the Kato’s are much more powerful there either. Also, there are some details on the Kato AC4400’s where the Athearn’s are better/more. So again, I beg to differ with the blanket statement that Kato’s have more details than Athearn’s. This is not to speak ill of the Kato’s, their AC4400’s and SD90MAC’s are two very fine locomotives and among my all time favorites, but I don’t care as much for their SD70MAC’s. Further, while I find the Athearn offerings to be fine too (especially the SD70MAC’s), I will say this about those Genesis MAC’s - the BNSF H2 paint was slightly disappointing (though the CSX’s and the BN/BNSF PRB Grinstein’s are gorgeous), especially when the H2 paint on their SD75M was about the best H2 paint done by any mfgr (brass included). Ironically, the Heritage 2 paint on the Kato SD70MAC’s was itself a big disappointment for me while Kat
Not HO but here’s a page for the Athearn N scale SD70M, I’d assume the unit in the picture is a pre-production model.