SD9 Project Build Questions

Hi all, I’m doing my first major locomotive build. I picked up a functioning undecorated Athearn BB SD9 for 20 bucks at my local shop. It needs numberboards, handrails, horn, all the nitty-gritty stuff. The problem is, I can’t find any SD7/9 numberboard sets. I did find some U-Boat boards though, and I’m wondering whether or not they’ll work. Anybody have any experience in this area?

Here is a link to the ‘parts’ page for the SD9:

http://hoseeker.net/assemblyexplosionAthearn/Assembly%20Explosion%20Athearn%20SD9%201974.jpg

You are looking for part #38005. Give Athearn a call Monday morning and ask for ‘parts’. The do not have everything listed on the web site.

Jim

If you’re just talking about the clear plastic inserts, then yes, I’d think the U-boat numberboards and dual lights should work in the SD9. Athearn seems to have made these things standard dimensions across all the models they produced back in the Blue Box days. You might have to separate the numberboard pieces from the headlight pieces, though, depending on how different the numberboard/light placement is between the U-boat models and the Geep models.

Exactly what I meant. Thanks!

Okay, managed to find a donor shell to use. Now, I need a set of decals to apply. I’m aiming to create CR6924 before it got it’s blue paint (if it ever did anyway). What decal set would I need and where should I look for one?