Should Scott Mann do the sd40-2?

Would like to see them also  but I have been told by Scotts rep at train shows that first Generation diesels are the foreseeable future although the SD7-SD9 project is certainly moving in the right direction towards eventual newer power. Bear in mind this has become primarily a 2 rail market for Sunset so as long as there is sufficient reservations for these Diesels the future looks promising.JMO

In all fairness, Sunset 3-rail made a Dash 9 a while back, so this is not untested waters for them.  I've seen the BNSF and ATSF on ebay before.

I'd buy 2 SD40-2s, provided they were in a road name(s) I want like Baltimore & Ohio (Chessie System) and Louisville & Nashville (Family Lines System/Seaboard System), maybe even CSX.

I don't know why MTH doesn't put an SD40-2 car body on their SD45 frame. Sure, the frame will be about 3/4" shorter than it should be for an O scale SD40-2 but the fuel tank will be about the right size and the unsightly gap between the trucks and pilots will be gone.

I don't think anyone would mind if the length of the frame was slightly off to give a better-proportioned SD40-2.

The Lionel SD40-2 is even worse...

These were done I believe in the early 2000s and were a very plain brass model, I don't know how well they run but I have seen them at shows 400+/- was not impressed enough to buy one ,they came painted in both 2 & 3 rail versions I think they originally listed for 800- somebody on this forum may have more info on them.

MTH and Lionel are not locked into scale dimensions on any thing they produce  close is good enough 1/4" scale to there manufacturing needs on many models.

Yes.

MTH SD40-2 has incorrect cab (pre dash2), it's a 90's model that needs to be updated. Also, a correct SD40-2 frame would be compatible with a SD45-2 which also needs to be made

If 100 people emailed Scott they would reserve 2 or 3 of any something I'd put the probability of it being on the to do list at about 100%.

I say no! There are other models that need to be made - not another set of duplicates. I rather Scott do a :

Gp40-2 Phase II

B23-7

SD45-2

ALCo C636

SD60M 3 payne Widows cab.

I wouldn't be interested. I am a steam/transition guy who has a few diesels that are newer than first generation. I already have a set of SD40-2's, and if the truck location is a little bit off due to the motor mounting situation, so be it - I'm not going to spend 3rd Rail money for another set just to correct that error. I will spend 3rd Rail prices for a steamer that I really want (I have a few), and I'm still thinking about the SD7 because a branch line train can logically run with just one - but I'm not buying any MU diesels at $700 per unit. 

Interested in the horizontal drive. I'll try one just to see.  Crank the price to $700 as mentions. ($669.95) The first reduction is the number of units purchased. 

You are very fortunate.  Scott is already making all the stuff that you want in the era you want.

 

I guess those of us who like realistic modern stuff should just go away and switch to HO 

 

Originally Posted by Southwest Hiawatha:

I wouldn't be interested. I am a steam/transition guy who has a few diesels that are newer than first generation. I already have a set of SD40-2's, and if the truck location is a little bit off due to the motor mounting situation, so be it - I'm not going to spend 3rd Rail money for another set just to correct that error. I will spend 3rd Rail prices for a steamer that I really want (I have a few), and I'm still thinking about the SD7 because a branch line train can logically run with just one - but I'm not buying any MU diesels at $700 per unit. 

 

Not at all. If enough people want to buy modern diesels at $700 per unit (that's $2800 for a 4-unit set), then by all means Scott should make them. My priorities are elsewhere. If Scott is reading this, he deserves to hear both sides. Obviously you only want to see posts from people who want to buy expensive diesels. 

And Scott is NOT making "everything I want." I have a few of his SP pieces, but 3rd Rail has never built a Milwaukee Road steamer. Every other railroad in its region: GN, NP, CB&Q, C&NW - but never the Milwaukee, which has a lot of fans that would be willing to pay 3rd Rail prices for some new steamers that haven't been made before. 

I am with rduniii - order with Scott.  He is in a position to build just about anything he can sell enough of to make a profit, and if you guys organized a deposit, say, in an escrow account, I bet it would happen even sooner.

Originally Posted by Martin H:

You are very fortunate.  Scott is already making all the stuff that you want in the era you want.

 

I guess those of us who like realistic modern stuff should just go away and switch to HO 

 

There is always 2-Rail SCALE in O, that surely has fine accurate "modern" diesels models available.

 

Uh, no.  The last scale SD40-2 was done by Overland 15+ years ago.  In fact, the only 1/48 scale SD40-2s ever done were by Overland more than 15 years ago.  While the prototypes are generally too old for me, same as the SD7/9s, Scott already knows I'd be in for at least a couple. 

What I am really crossing my fingers for is that I live long enough and Erik Stott gets sufficient reservations to build and deliver 1/48 SD39s and SD38-2s; that have never been done in O anything.

I would agree with rdunnii, an SD38 or SD38-2 would be nice.   

Wow!  An extremely lukewarm response!  I guess Scott doesn't ever need to make this loco.  I'm disappointed to know that I am the only one interested in a correct SD40-2, but at least the responses here let me know not to waste my time asking.

Thanks to all who responded anyways!  I won't be bothering Scott with this suggestion.

I would buy a short high hood Southern Railway SD40-2.

Neal Jeter

The place to ask this question is in the 2 rail forum.  The 3 rail market is saturated with SD40-2 models that are not up to current standards whereas the 2 rail market doesn't have any option other than brass.  It is a great suggestion as it is a locomotive that has not ever been done especially well at the price point of a Sunset model and has broad appeal.

My guess is Mr. Mann would like to maximize the use of the Blomberg B type trucks that ride under the F units - there's plenty of possibilities left including the F-9, GP-7/9s,

GP 18/20/30/35/40s, BL-2 and NW-5 (admittedly very low production numbers on those last two) - I probably missed a few models that rode on those trucks.  The SD-7 trucks will open the door to early 6 axle EMD diesels as well.  The SD-40 is an important part of the EMD line-up, and it would probably sell well to those looking for as close to scale as possible without being brass/handbuilt.

What of the Lionel offering?  The 2015 Signature catalog trumpets "NEW TOOLING" for their SD 40 but the artwork looks like that same old porch-less stuff.  Have any of you seen one of the new units?

I noticed this thread, and I'm bringing this topic back to the top because I actually did email Scott Mann with this very suggestion back during the winter. I found his response encouraging.

Martin, Doug, Matt and anyone else who would like to see Sunset offer the SD40-2, I strongly recommend you email Scott.

RM

An SD40 is NOT an SD40-2.

Yeah, the legacy SD40-2s dont have the porches, theyre just SD-40's

Mike Reagan posted CAD images of the 7 respective road names that Lionel is doing for their SD40s. The pictures that appear in the catalog are NOT what these new models will look like. I think the deadline for the print/online version of the 2015 catalog was in the middle of December 2014 and these were the only images available at that time.

The CAD drawings show an incredible array of railroad-specific details that will surpass anything that Atlas has done with their SD40s, of which I have 3.

https://ogrforum.com/t...on-new-lionel-sd40-s

Looks to me like they will be properly placed.  

Thanks catnap!

hibar,

Since you are from South Jersey I assume you may have talked to someone from Sunset at shows in the mid Atlantic area and in all probability that would have been me.

As you know, the most recent Sunset diesel announcements have been for the SD7/9 and E8/9. I can say that the SD40-2 is a frequently requested locomotive and Scott is well aware of that.

There probably isn't much Scott could make in 2R that I wouldn't buy right now. Even if it has been done many times before like my favorite GP30 I would still reserve multiples. I emailed Scott last week about the GP30 BTW

Would I want an SD40-2? Yes. I'd take 2-4 depending on what else I had on order at the time. If Chessie, B&O, Erie, EL, or PRR ran it I'd probably order it from Scott

Bob, I see you at Merchantville and Strasburg meets along with some O scale Nationals.

Then I'll see you in August at Strasburg and we can discuss the project potential.

I would buy many SD40-2s.   Probably some from each subsequent run also just because I love these locos.   I am a 2-railer though and I don't like to covert stuff.  So a model offered in both 3 or 2 would be great!

Don