Lionel Union Pacific SD70M #4980

There are a couple things besides the trucks being too far inwards, the tank being too small, etc.  Lionel used an incorrect SD70MAC shell, not SD70M which is what UP owned (never had the MAC series). In addition to that, they used a flared radiator design, which was never used on a SD70MAC- just the SD70M locos. As far as I know ALL flared radiator locos for UP had the Building America logo and flag. Just a few ideas that came quickly to mind....

I have seen one flared radiator locomotive without flags but 4980 has them. 

But supposedly there was some issue with Union Pacific, not so much the accuracy of the model. 

It's a shame that the K line SD70M (The most accurate for its time) tooling is not being utilized.  With a Scale Fuel tank and minor fine tunings this could be Legacy Quality.

SPSF, I agree 100%!!! The K-Line models are the best out there, and I have 3 that I am converting to 3RS- fixed pilots, Kadee's, full-length handrails; plus the full size tank. An outstanding model in all regards. Why Lionel never continued to produce these (both SD75 and SD70MAC) is beyond me. The 75's are a very close representation of the SD70M, which is how I'm going to model them.  The model Lionel chose to use is downright wrong, and not even close to the K-Line model at all.

Jeff, please share your work when finished.  

I believe I heard that Bachman ended up with the old K-Line SD70Mac and SD75 tooling.

The K-Line tooling depicts the isolated cab version of the 75 (SD75I), however the Santa Fe road number used for the model (204) was just an SD75 without the isolated cab.

As for the Lionel/UP issue, this may have been around the time of their licensing quarrel.

This one will eventually get the 3RS treatment and probably flag logos. Any suggestions on a full scale fuel tank? 

I'm making mine out of sheet stock brass; I'm using the fuel tank on my MTH SD70ACe as a pattern which is really nice.  I don't think that one would fit as the tank on the MTH unit is longer, and the Lionel version is somewhat shorter and not as deep. You could use brass sheet stock and go around it, cutting it to fit.