CNNA SD40u #6024

CNR, not afraid to experiment, has been home road to more customized diesel units than any other railroad.  Amongst the most visually appealing were the AMF/Alstom-rebuilt SD40Us.  Starting with aging 6-axled SD40s, these units received numerous visible upgrades in the early 90s as CNR was amidst a program to upgrade many of it's 1st generation diesels. 

Unique upgrades and modifications on this Kato SD40 include CNR ladder-style steps (courtesy of Jay Rostch,) CNR anticlimbers (modified Miniatures by Eric,) a custom built arrangement of battery boxes (from Athearn,) a "snoot" nose (a relic by Canadian Prototype Replicas,) and a custom-fabricated cab face (from Cannon & Company parts.)  The revised roof line and cab face gutter, numberboards and sand hatch were constructed from Evergreen styrene sheets and strips.  


The snow shields, lengthened from Details West castings, are adorned with Archer Fine Transfers rivets.  The split tank arrangement was made using cut-down Details Associate air tanks. The waste retention tank, aft of the fuel tank, was built using styrene stock.  The brake lines are represented with hand-bent phosphor bronze wire.  The sand lines are recreated using the insulation from 24g electrical wire.  Note the absence of visible wheel-speed sensors on the prototype.

The myriad underframe details, including brake rigging, were all fabricated from dimensional styrene and wire.  The extended-range dynamic brake section was donated from an Athearn SD40-2, but not without having the aft tapered portion replaced by a hand-shaped piece of styrene.  The steps and step guards, along with cab ran gutters are fine etchings made by Railflyer Model Products.  The brake stand is a Details West pewter casting.  All the fans were replaced with etched Cannon & Company parts, to allow for visible fan blades.  

Acrylic water-based paints from Testors, Tamiya and True-Line Trains decorate this model.  Decals are by Microscale.  The white "slash" was hand-masked.




Weathering on this model is subtle, as CN had (until recently,) kept these units in tip-top shape.

This model was the recipient of "Best in Show" as well as garnered a NMRA merit award at the 2014 "Grapevine Express" convention in Niagara-on-the-Lake.