Elizabeth Allen's Stunning EMD SD45X Project Photo Gallery by tracktime at pbase.com

Elizabeth Allen's Stunning EMD SD45X Project

A chronological photo essay of one of Elizabeth Allen's most stunning projects: a mostly-scratchbuilt HO Scale EMD SD45X. Gray parts, brass walkway tread and front steps are from Cannon & Co. All other parts are formed from Evergreen Styrene. Oh, and a gyralite and P3 airhorn assembly from Detail Associates, a rooftop bell from Details West, and stanchions from PIA & Smokey Valley.. That's IT!

Truly a stunning model! Model is of SP 9500, circa 1979-1980.

See the last page of this album for the painted & weathered photos.

Album last updated 12/28/2006.

All photos copyright 2004, 2006 - Harry K. Wong & Elizabeth Allen

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Skip to Page 8 for the fully constructed (but not yet painted) model!	The King of SDs! Model by Elizabeth Allen.	70 feet 8 inches of utter styrene madness!	Long hood overall view
rear view - engineers side - highlighting roof details.	check out the rivets on the roof!	totally kitbashed SD45X inertial dome & plate from four(!) Cannon inertial kits!	fan baseplates from .005 styrene. Note the embossed rivets!!
60" tall kitbashed Cannon Doors under radiator section	Dynamic brake grids from cut-down Cannon SD60 dynamic grids.	88" nose with brakestand on engineers side per prototype SD45Xs.	check out all that 45X-only weirdness!
dynamic section still underway! Note the scratchbuilt base for the turbo exhaust stack.	Here is another view of those Cannon hood doors shortened to 60" under the radiator section.	totally scratchbuilt underframe!	Hey.. is that daylight I see underneath the jacking pad/bolster assembly?
underbody view	2003_P1030107.JPG	2003_P1030109.JPG	2003_P1030110.JPG
2003_P1030111.JPG	2003_P1030112.JPG	2003_P1030113.JPG	2003_P1030114.JPG
2003_P1030116.JPG	2003_P1030117.JPG	Overall View - Basic Construction..	2003_P1030119.JPG
2003_P1030120.JPG	Nose light assembly using Evergreen styrene, Cannon Headlight and Detail Associates Gyralite.	2003_P1030122.JPG	2003_P1030124.JPG
additional .005 sheets of plastic soon to be added to either side of the dynamic brake fan plate	2003_P1030126.JPG	top view of 45X stack and dynamic section.	top view of inertial dome & cab.
2003_P1030129.JPG	Just awaiting some Farr Radiator Grilles next!	2003_P1030131.JPG	dynamic brake grilles made from cut-down Cannon SD60 dynamic brake grille assemblies.
2003_P1030133.JPG	88" nose with ratchet on engineers side just like the real deal!	Updated rear class light positioning! Model & Photo by Elizabeth Allen.	top view of rear end.. looking awesome! Model & Photo by Elizabeth Allen.
3/4 view of pilot and nose/cab assemblies. Model & Photo by Elizabeth Allen.	Earlier view before addition of dynamic brake grilles. Model & Photo by Elizabeth Allen.	Dynamic Brake section now with riveted sheets added. Jan 5, 2004	Dynamic Brake section now with rivet sheet added. 1/05/2004
Now with grilles added on. - test fit with doublesided sticky tape!	Side view of radiator grilles on fireman's side.	2003_P1240006.JPG	radiator section closeup
rear pilot with Cannon Anticlimber	2003_P1240012.JPG	Dynamic brake hatch now with sheet metal (.005 styrene) work complete.	Look at the detail on that batten strip centered between the four radiator fans!
Overall of radiator section - largely complete	side elevation of multi-spliced SD39 Farr Grilles	check out the funky doors unique to the SD45X!	2003_P1240026.JPG
end of long hood now complete with access panels to either side of sand filler.	Overall rear 3/4 view	2003_P1240035.JPG	Radiator grilles built from splicing from Cannon SD39 grilles
2003_P1240039.JPG	another view of spliced SD39 Farr Grilles	check out the amazing latches on the access doors!	Totally certifiably insane radiator grille tiedown latches!
More of those insane tiedown latches, fashioned out of styrene!	That's an Athearn SD50 fuel tank, all stripped bare	Scratchbuilt frame for SD45X. Final version will be a milled-down Athearn SD50 chassis.	now with trucks - Mar 22nd.
with full frame attached.	now with sliced 'n diced Cannon treadplate	just a few more details and she'll be done!	nice underframe detail (to name just one spot!)
Lookit all the detail!	engineers-side detail. DW Sanding brackets (SB-330) now installed.	overall.jpg	overall_rear.jpg
How Now, with Front Plow?	Just a few more stanchions to go..	The classic (and unique) profile of the SD45X.	Now with rear plow.
Now with stanchions and fan grilles installed.. stuuuu-pendous! =)	D27.JPG	D31.JPG	D36.JPG
She just needs some air lines for the brake cylinders, but that's about it,.almost!	Cabside.jpg	DF56.JPG	DF54.JPG
SD45X_1.JPG	SD45X_2.JPG	underside1.jpg	F0083.JPG
rear_firemans_primer.jpg	underside1.jpg	nearing completion.. needs window glass and more weathering..	nearing completion.. needs window glass and more weathering..
nearing completion.. needs window glass and more weathering..	2004_DSCN4422.JPG	Now with window panes installed., and final touches of weathering..	Overall weathering - engineer's side..
3.jpg	4.jpg	Look carefully for all the subtle nuances of color in the weathering.	6.jpg
7.jpg	8.jpg	9.jpg	10.jpg
11.jpg	12.jpg	13.jpg	14.jpg
16.jpg	17.jpg

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comment |

Dwight		24-May-2011 19:16
This is my favorite engine of all engines hands down. You have captured its feel and power like no other - much better than any photo of the prototype could ever do. Where did you get your reference materials?

Dw		24-May-2011 19:14
This is my favorite engine of all engines hands down. You have captured its feel and power like no other - much better than any photo of the prototype could ever do. Where did you get your reference materials?

Jazzlife1		19-Nov-2009 22:52
This is a remarkable model. I would love to be able to scratchbuild a modern diesel. But I don't have a clue where to start. How do you do it Ms. Allen?

cn6401		08-Nov-2009 02:13
I guess I should have left the linkhttp://modeltrainsweathered.com/index.htm I invite you to view our site which is dedicated to prototype weathering . Ralph CN6401

Ralph Renzetti		08-Nov-2009 01:58
Elizabeth, I think your model is excellent. How long have you been modeling HO? I invite you to view our site which is dedicated to prototype weathering . I have posted the link to this page on our site for our members to view, it is worth sharing. Ralph CN6401 - Toronto

Jeffrey Ngowe		21-Sep-2009 02:56
That is so detailed it looks real. You would think they used that as a scale model before they built tbe real thing. Did you ever think about selling it or making more?

Alf Milliken		23-Apr-2008 17:49
Deep joy - an SD45X in the colours of the one true Western railroad. With ENDO trucks and a slug of ballast it would be what we Brits call the "berries". The model is absolutely gorgeous and just what my layout needs (but will never get because I have not got the skill/expertise/patience to build one).

Guest		28-May-2007 17:43
Excellent modeling, but a real "SPSF"model: shouldn't paint so fast! The beauty for me is seeing it as an upainted loco, to really appreciate this model work of art. Regards, René

Guest		04-Jan-2007 03:47
All I can say is "Wow". It is amazing to see such work on the underframe, sills, and long hood al l from styrene...Mrs. Allen, you have a great talent. It is definately inspiring to me and I hope to have some MoPac blue close to that caliber of workmanship. Excellent!!

Craig Martyn		06-Nov-2006 20:33
AWESOME work! I've looked at this page more than a few times over the years and the quality of this model is absolutely stunning!

Brian		24-May-2006 18:03
Beautiful, beautiful job, Liz. Your modeling is such an inspiration to us all. Literally. It really motivates me to do that one more extra thing to my engines before the paint shop. Thank you so much for sharing.

Elizabeth Allen		25-Apr-2006 18:05
Wow Paul! I remember that SD45X. Back in the "old days" I also kitbashed a "wide-body" SD45X, and painted it a very weathered SP 9505 in blue and white. Might have to make another one in that scheme someday! Thanks for the inspiration back then. Elizabeth

Guest		04-Feb-2006 20:22
Very nice SD45X. I won the Railroad Model Craftsman award, back in Dec of 1977 with an SD45X SP No. 9505 in blue and white. I haven't modeled in over 25 years. But, this was back when we had to make our own snow plows, Dash 2 trucks, there were no narrow body Tunnel Motors then. The hobby has come a long ways. Seems as though the 45X I and John Proffett modeled ,were 72 feet long, not 70. I do remember talking to the editor of 2200 South and he told me the 45X was on an FP45 frame. I also remember some of the 45X drawings being incorrect. Always work from photos of the locomotive you are building. Paul McGuffin

Josh Baakko		11-Sep-2005 06:07
This is just amazing, after 3 times of looking at it, it's still amazing EVERY time! I wish i had the time, and money to go into that much detail on my models. Neverless the know how, I kinda just refer to pictures and make sure they look kinda close!

Michel Drouin		18-May-2005 02:54
Mrs Allen, This is real artwork. INSPIRING. Michel in Québec.

Roger Cox		02-Jan-2005 01:58
Simply incredible.

Jason		30-Dec-2004 04:00
That is by far the most amazing model i have ever seen. Its one thing to add all those detail parts but its even more astonishing to scratch build the entire body out of styrene!

Stuart Aaron		10-Dec-2004 20:51
Fantastic model! I started to build a model of EMD #5740, the SD45X EMD retained for testing. I also used Cannon doors, cab, noses, and sub-base. I used an Athearn SD40T-2 for the pilots and deck, and an Overland SD60 mechanism. It got ruined last year when it was sitting on a shelf right underneath where new hot-water piping was going in. The blobs of solder for the pipe joints damaged my model beyond repair. I had only primed it so at least I still have the decals. Maybe I'll try again one day. Good luck with the finishing of your SD45X.

Mike DeBerg		14-Nov-2004 16:55
This is by far the most incredible project I've ever seen created. Truly amazing work! Thanks for documenting your project so well to insire others, that nothing is impossible!!!

Lee Davis		07-Aug-2004 04:33
An absolute "scale replica", not just a model. Please contact me about drawings of the SD45X as I`m in the process of building one in 1/8th Scale and require some plans. With Thanks....Lee (Prospect & Western R.R. Australia)

nscalesteve		12-Jul-2004 15:17
...wow ! amazing, what a nice "work of art", well done !

Frank Ostlinger		02-Jul-2004 15:28
Models like yours are more than "just models," more than simply the embodiment of skill and technical prowess. They're works of art, and of them and the ability to imitate, others can only dream.

Nathan Obermeyer		29-Jun-2004 14:06
I hope some day to be able to model at half your level. Stunning.

Randy Wilson		05-Jan-2004 21:32
Very well done!

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