reviews williams sd45

If you love the 38's, you'll love the 45's too,,,,,,,same basic setup.

Rod

If you are looking at the used market you need to beware. There were many different versions of the Williams SD-45's.  The 'current' version is pretty much like the GP-38. Two DC can motors in a sheet metal chassis. They run well and look good.

But the early SD-45's can be a bit different. The first version had Fairbanks Morris Tran Master trucks....a very different design than EMD. And the chssis and truck blocks are unpainted metal 'silver' looking.  Also the early versions had thin plastic handrail supports that are often broken and/or missing. To add to the confusion older units can be a mix of TM trucks, EMD trucks,plastic handrails, metal handrails or any combination.  I like the versions with metal stamped handrails and blackened EMD trucks. Buy any WbB Williams unit and they are great!

One other note. If you measure the Williams body the hood area is a little wide. I really believe it's because old Williams used the then current Atheran HO scale SD-45 to scale off.....it's the smae amount off as the O scale unit. Not a real issue for me....and MUCH better than the tiny MTH RK units.

This is my newest SD-45 from Williams.....disclaimer.....I made new decals to correct the wrong ones applied at factory.

In addition to what AMCDave indicated above, the Williams SD45s do not have any window glazing.  This is probably due to the fact that the cab roof is detachable and the top of the front windshield "frames" abruptly end where the underneath of the cab roof begins.

The overall body detailing, including the simulated hood side panels & molded in grab irons, etc. are also not as crisply detailed and rendered as on the Williams GP38s but then it is older tooling.

I have both SD-45's and GP-9's and the GP-9's pull better then the SD-45's because they both have the same motors being used but the SD-45 has an extra set of axles on the trucks.

Also some early SD-45's have a  couple of weights inside them and some owners have taken these weights out and the engine don't pull as well without it.

The other difference in some SD-45 models by Williams before Bachmann that I have found is one will have metal wheels for the non-motorized axle and some have plastic wheels.

Lee Fritz

John is correct....no window glazing....but EZ to add as I did in mine....thanks for the reminder.

Thanks for all the imput, time to shop

Gary