my ESPEE MODELERS ARCHIVE

California's Railroad to the U.S. 1861 - 1996

Cotton Belt SD45T-2

Out of the box RTR Bicentennial T-Motor by Cliff West.

A HO Scale SD45T-2 kitbash from Jim Griffin - Jim tells us: The front half is an Rail Power Products SD45-2 shell with an Athearn cab; the balance of the long hood is from an Athearn SD40T-2. Various doors and seams are reworked; most details were scratchbuilt (bell, low nose light bracket, grabs,etc) except the plow and horn.

SSW SD45T-2 #9387, This was my first effort at an SD45T-2, it combines an Athearn GP38-2 nose, and 2 Athearn SD40T-2 bodyshells on an Athearn SD40T-2 chassis. This was way before Cannon & Co. came out with their EMD bits, and before the modeling articles listed were printed. Floquil Paint and Microscale #87-048 and #87-447 decals. Athearn stanchions with 20thou brass wire handrails.

Models available:

• N Scale:
  • Intermountain, various SP/SSW paint schemes including an SSW Bicentennial
  • in the mid 1980's Key imported from Taiwan a model of the SD40T-2. It had truck mounted pilots, but was otherwise a fine model. It was produced in undec, DRGW and SP.
  • Overland Models brass
  • Overland Models also did a brass unit in SSW Bicentennial paint

• HO Scale:
  • Athearn SD45T-2

• O Scale:
  • Central Locomotive Works

References:

• Model Railroader, Jul, '72 Page 60 - 45T-2 Plans.
• Railroad Model Craftsman, May, '73 Page 43, - 45T-2 Plans.
• Southwestern Prototype Modeler Sep-Oct 1974 - SD45T-2 kitbash Part 1 ?
• Southwestern Prototype Modeler Nov-Dec 1974 - SD45T-2 kitbash Part 2
• Model Railroading, Summer '81, Page 73. - Diesel Detail Close-Up of SSW 9403.
• Model Railroader, Nov, '92 Page 96 - Athearn T-2 Kitbash.
• Railroad Model Craftsman, Apr, '92 Page 54, - Athearn T-2 Kitbash.
• RailModel Journal October 2001 pages 40-49 - Athearn T-2 Kitbash (almost a scratchbuild) Part 1.

Model information courtesy Ron Thomsen.