Soo Line SD60M #6060

I must have a thing for those 3-window cabs.  This is a heavily kit-bashed Athearn "RTR" SD60 with Details Associates cab.

I remember seeing these beasts first appear in the late 90s on CPR property in Montreal and Smith's Falls, ONT.  They were the "newest" motive power on CPR at the time.  They also represent the final units to be painted for the Soo Line.  Since their delivery, Soo Line has been absorbed by it's (long time) owner, Canadian Pacific.

This unit represents a fair amount of kit-bashing.  The cab was assembled from about 10 pieces.  The steps were replaced with A-line etched brass, see through items. 

The anticlimbers were salvaged from a scrapped Proto2000 SD60 walkway.  The plough, MU and train-line hoses, ditch lights, and speed recorder are Details West items.  The coupler cut bar and brackets are Details Associates  items.  I believe these details, with their fine cross-sections, are essential for making a model look like the prototype by providing a sense of "bulkiness" to the whole unit.

The winterization hatch is a fine plastic casting made by Details Associates.  They include a photo-etched steel grating for the opening, which captures the look of the prototype perfectly.  The handrails are made with Smokey Valley stanchions and hand-formed railings.  The fire-cracker antennae were scratch built from spring steel and styrene stock.  The horn is the stock Athearn unit, but relocated.  Finally, the flush-mounted windows were hand-cut from clear acetate.  A time-consuming, but worthwhile venture.

The unit was painted with Polly Scale "Soo Line Red" and Gloss Black.  The unit was weathered with a mix of dry-brushing, dilute sprays, chalks and eye shadows.  The decals, (including the excellent diesel data decals,) are all produced by Microscale.  Kadee #58 scale couplers finish off this EMD unit.