Converting SD70ACe to SD70ACS?

Wow, I'm not really sure? Making the part first to copy for a mold would be needed. Perhaps contact one of the model builders here on the forum for this?

I would scratch build the different things and add them to the Lionel shell. If you really wanted to be sure, I would scratch build the shell too.

If you weren't happy with the results or decide to change, you'd still have the factory shell as a spare.

I can only guess that it's a stock ACE with different things added? Interesting.

Really nice paint colors/combination.

I would assume the boxes are extra filters/air filtering system to prevent sand from entering the engine.

Yes, the boxes are filters. The paint scheme I had in mind was actually the Saudi Railway Company's (or Etihad Rail, they both have grey as a dominant color, which is easy because all you really do is paint the whole shell grey and then slap yellow diagonal stripes on the nose and a logo for the latter).

As for the model builders, who are they? I joined this site relatively recently and don't know my way around as much as others do. Do they charge a lot? I'm on bit of a very low budget here because I blew a lot of my funds on other things.

Hello Saudi, 

  Your project doesn't seem too far fetched. The hardest thing would be adding the extra lights and cutting around the cab to make it isolated. The filters look pretty easy to be honest, mostly boxy shapes, I don't think custom molds would be necessary.  

My custom modeling website is www.shenandoahvalleymodels.webs.com contact me via the email on the website, if you are intrested. 

Thanks,

Jackson

Maybe mock it (the shell) up in wood first.  I bought some "modelers" plywood at HD for $20 I think.  It's relatively fine grained, something finishable, flat/straight, etc...   Of course you'll need to be able to cut stretch edges and all.  Sand it a bit maybe.  Cut out the windows and other things ...  tack it all together is some reasonable way.   But should any of that fail,  it might warm the hands in the fire.

The nice thing about these kinds of engines is they are boxy for the most part... 

After you've done all that, you might then know just what you need to do with the plastic shell.

NS - The Saudi Railway SD70ACS doesn't have the extra lights like the SNIM one does. As for making an isolated cab, that's the least of my concerns as it's not one of the major features seen on the locomotive (I could just sketch some diagonal and horizontal lines after painting to emulate the isolation). I thought custom molds may be required because of the back of the locomotive, which happens to have a round tube thing and more boxiness, instead of the slanted back-end of a normal SD70ACe. Then there's the handrails that are also slightly different ...

P.S, do you also do paint jobs at a reasonable price?

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SEVERN - I actually made one of these using LEGO bricks before. I was part of the Michigan LEGO Users Group (and I still am, but I'm currently occupied with the Ford Model Railway Club) so I'm pretty familiar with the shell. LEGO trains are pretty similar in size compared to O Scale (but not compatible with each other; LEGO's wheels are slightly wider than the gauge that O uses).

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Aside from that, I still need to find a way to change the dynamic brake housing on the left side of the locomotive, as it has a few panels covering where the vents on a traditional SD70ACe would be, and another round tube thing that goes for the ride under an extended part above it. Then, I have to somehow get those four (two on each side for the SAR SD70ACS) angled box things by the end on the handrails.

I don't know if I'll be able to pull any of this off.

Saudi- Is the locomotive not the one in the previous pictures? I found a picture of a Saudi Acs that was mostly grey, let me know, or post a few pictures. 

Shoot me an email about painting. Email should be on the front page of the website, or you can pm me on here.

I attached two photos on my previous post, but I forgot to insert them into the body.

I happened to run into this -- not sure it's helpful.   HO and O gauge shells.

https://www.bigdawgoriginals.com/

2 options:

1) They have an SD-70ace or similar and at $75, it's not a bad price to experiment with...

2) Convince them to make the SD-70acs 

Oops (sorry) just realized they don't have much on the O side at all but say "more is coming" -- so it may be worth a contact.

Ah, I didnt see those!

Looks like a very easy repaint to be honest.