Model Railroading > SD45

Hello, folks.........

The SD45 is one of my favorite locomotives. I would like to know what you guys think are the better 1/87 scale SD45 locos. Which one pulls the best. Which one is the most accurate, etc. I know Kato, Athearn (not blue box), Proto 2000 and Spectrum (Bachmann) make the HO scale SD45. Excluding brass, any others?

SantaFeRuss

Nothing runs like a Kato drive if you can find one - it's been a while since they released the SD-45

Another vote for Kato.

Kato has the best drive but a mediocre shell
P2000 has the best shell, but a drive that doesn't run with anything else
Athearn/RPP has the best RR specific detail but the basic RPP shell is still a litle weak

YMMV

Dave

I prefer the Athearn due to the detail level. Mine runs quite smoothly out of the box.

FWIW, It's easier for me to re-power, re-lube gears, etc. than to repaint or find paint to match factory schemes.

brassmag Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I prefer the Athearn due to the detail level. Mine
> runs quite smoothly out of the box.
>
> FWIW, It's easier for me to re-power, re-lube
> gears, etc. than to repaint or find paint to
> match factory schemes.

Too true. I've actually been using Kato drives underneath Proto shells, but have a few Athearn RTR's as well.

I salvage the motors and drive trains out of the Proto's; they drop right in to Athearns. The weak point on the Proto's is the truck gearing, so I toss the trucks and frames and save the fuel tanks (they're gorgeous). The motors from Proto SD45's appear to be the same as Atlas motors, the universals are better than Athearns, and they connect to the the Athearn worm shafts on Athearn trucks. Yeah, I know, sounds like a lot of work, but it's fun, so why not.

WP Mike

i love the sd45 and i prefer the athern model because there easyest to tweak. i have a trio of athearn sd45 that i modified to sd45r's

The Athearn SD45 still has that truck and underframe profile from the early runs, of course the fuel tank and trucks are in plastic now. Is there something going on with the dimensions, of the trucks, wheels or the bolster, or frame heighth, or I'm I just missing something?
Just received a pair of SD45's and they look great, but I still see that gap between the trucks and the frame. Maybe I just need to squint.

My vote is for the Kato units with a lot of Cannon parts and painted MRL blue of course :) Glenn Hoover

I run my Proto SD45s with Athearn Genesis , RTR and my Atlas SD35 without a problem. They seem to run at the same rate of speed.

WP282 Wrote:
>
> Too true. I've actually been using Kato drives
> underneath Proto shells, but have a few Athearn
> RTR's as well.
>

Athearn has nice rr-specific details, but still suffers from being based on the old RPP shell. Also, the dynamic brake faring isn't quite the right shape, though they've upgraded it with nicely done see-through grills. Kato shell is OK, but has everything cast on, making upgrades difficult. P2K is the only one to get the regular radiator grills the correct contour. Here's a P2K shell with Cannon parts on an Athearn drive.

Elizabeth

---

Betsy Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Here's a P2K
> shell with Cannon parts on an Athearn drive.
>
> Elizabeth


Beautiful model Elizabeth, my compliments.
—Mac

TCnR Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The Athearn SD45 still has that truck and
> underframe profile from the early runs, of course
> the fuel tank and trucks are in plastic now. Is
> there something going on with the dimensions, of
> the trucks, wheels or the bolster, or frame
> height, or I'm I just missing something?
> Just received a pair of SD45's and they look
> great, but I still see that gap between the trucks
> and the frame. Maybe I just need to squint.

I'll have to put one on my surface plate and take some measurements vs. drawings. It does seem the trucks sit a tad to high. Anybody know offhand what the rail to cab roof height is on a SD45?

WP Mike

WP282 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> TCnR Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > The Athearn SD45 still has that truck and
> > underframe profile from the early runs, of
> course
> > the fuel tank and trucks are in plastic now. Is
> > there something going on with the dimensions,
> of
> > the trucks, wheels or the bolster, or frame
> > height, or I'm I just missing something?
> > Just received a pair of SD45's and they look
> > great, but I still see that gap between the
> trucks
> > and the frame. Maybe I just need to squint.
>
> I'll have to put one on my surface plate and take
> some measurements vs. drawings. It does seem the
> trucks sit a tad to high. Anybody know offhand
> what the rail to cab roof height is on a SD45?
>
> WP Mike


Deck to top of the rail should be 64.5 inches.

Dave Hussey
Cannon and Company

Betsy and the fellas, thanks a lot! The vote goes out to Kato for the drive, it seems, and Athearn for railroad-specific details, and Proto 2000 for for overall fidelity and accuracy of the shell. But which one pulls the best? I'm trying to add to my Sunset Coast Line fleet.

SCLR #5536 is an old Kato unit I have had for about 6 years. When I first got it, it was a used SD45 and a different road name. I also have a Proto 2000 SD45, SCLR #5534. Again, it is an older unit. I needed up dated info on SD45's out now.

SantaFeRuss

---

Paul Voss leased a Proto SD45 to the equipment pool at the La Mesa Model Railroad Club, and I've been running it for the past month or so in a consist with Atlas and ancient Athearn locos. We run DCC, and Paul tweaked the speed table so it plays nicely with the other three locos. HEAVY sucker! Not in a position to compare it with other makes, but I'm quite happy with its performance.

Winston Hill

WP282 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> brassmag Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I prefer the Athearn due to the detail level.
> Mine
> > runs quite smoothly out of the box.
> >
> > FWIW, It's easier for me to re-power, re-lube
> > gears, etc. than to repaint or find paint to
> > match factory schemes.
>
> Too true. I've actually been using Kato drives
> underneath Proto shells, but have a few Athearn
> RTR's as well.
>
> I salvage the motors and drive trains out of the
> Proto's; they drop right in to Athearns. The weak
> point on the Proto's is the truck gearing, so I
> toss the trucks and frames and save the fuel tanks
> (they're gorgeous). The motors from Proto SD45's
> appear to be the same as Atlas motors, the
> universals are better than Athearns, and they
> connect to the the Athearn worm shafts on Athearn
> trucks. Yeah, I know, sounds like a lot of work,
> but it's fun, so why not.
>
> WP Mike

I'm considering swapping out some Proto chassis for some KATOs I have on hand. What is involved in swapping out the chassis in this conversion? Is it a heavy overhaul etc? Thanks in advance.

I'm a bit late to the party, but.. Here's my 2 cents... & a chance to show some photos...

My leader board...
1. Proto 2000 (25.7 oz.)
2. Athearn RTR (18.5 oz.)
3. Kato USA (16.2 oz.)
8,343. Bachmann (don't even...)

The goods & the bads...

Kato wins for the quality of the drive mechanism, it is a smooth, reliable loco that can be mated with numerous other manufacturers with minimal to no speed matching required. It is a light weight which may lead to spinning wheels, but the reliability of the drive at slow speeds helps to minimize that urge to slip under a heavy pull. The shell is clean and well produced, but it only comes in one flavor that from a distance is acceptable, but begins to show it's age and lack of detail when viewed up close. It wound be nice to see Kato update their model to some of the modern standards including... full factory assembly, prototype specific detailing, sound friendly frame, wider range of paint schemes.

Proto 2000 wins for the fidelity of the shell and the generous amount of removable/replaceable parts allowing for easy customization and rearranging for modelers interested in replicating one-off units or shop rebuilds rarely produced commercially. Some of their included modeler installed details are are nice additions too for use with the model they came with, or other projects. It would be nice to see Walthers continue to improve on the P2K model by correcting the gear ratio in the trucks, produce a wider selection of paint schemes, and introduce a sound equipped or friendly version even though that will require some amount of redesigning of the frame to make room for a speaker.

Athearn (the newest player in the modern HO scale SD45 market) wins for its variety of prototype specific details factory installed including correct cab/nose lights, nose height variations, horns, bells, & other roof details, grill styles, truck details. Athearn has done an amazing amount of work to the RPP shell to update it and bring it closer to modern standards, but they have probably peaked as far as what they can do with the limitations of the basic mold. The drive is much improved over the 'coffee grinders' many modelers grew up with when it came to Athearn models, but by using the same basic motor that has been the staple of Athearn's low and mid range products for years, they lose a lot of the fine qualities seen in the higher end Kato & P2K options.

Bachmann Plus, I hate to say is severely lacking in all respects to the modern SD45 competition. Bachmann's steam program and narrow gauge lines are better suited for them.


As far as pulling power goes, Proto 2000 will probably win that battle. It is by far the heaviest of the four. Still with a very reliable motor, it will want to drag the rest of your motive power, the rest of the train, and half your layout with it, unless you have DCC and can speed match it (slow it down!).

IMHO, the best all around solution would probably be a truly frankenstein SD45... Start with the P2K super heavy frame, add the P2K shell (Athearn cab & nose), add Athearn's prototype specific detail parts, then put Kato's motor, drive assembly, and trucks, with Athearn side frames, Athearn fuel tank, and a Loksound 20-645E sound decoder. Now, that is the recipe for a winner...

Mr. MRL

A sample of my P2K models...

---

---

---

MrMRL Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I'm a bit late to the party, but.. Here's my 2
> cents... & a chance to show some photos...
>
> My leader board...
> 1. Proto 2000 (25.7 oz.)
> 2. Athearn RTR (18.5 oz.)
> 3. Kato USA (16.2 oz.)
> 8,343. Bachmann (don't even...)
>
> The goods & the bads...
>
> Kato wins for the quality of the drive mechanism,
> it is a smooth, reliable loco that can be mated
> with numerous other manufacturers with minimal to
> no speed matching required. It is a light weight
> which may lead to spinning wheels, but the
> reliability of the drive at slow speeds helps to
> minimize that urge to slip under a heavy pull. The
> shell is clean and well produced, but it only
> comes in one flavor that from a distance is
> acceptable, but begins to show it's age and lack
> of detail when viewed up close. It wound be nice
> to see Kato update their model to some of the
> modern standards including... full factory
> assembly, prototype specific detailing, sound
> friendly frame, wider range of paint schemes.
>
> Proto 2000 wins for the fidelity of the shell and
> the generous amount of removable/replaceable parts
> allowing for easy customization and rearranging
> for modelers interested in replicating one-off
> units or shop rebuilds rarely produced
> commercially. Some of their included modeler
> installed details are are nice additions too for
> use with the model they came with, or other
> projects. It would be nice to see Walthers
> continue to improve on the P2K model by correcting
> the gear ratio in the trucks, produce a wider
> selection of paint schemes, and introduce a sound
> equipped or friendly version even though that will
> require some amount of redesigning of the frame to
> make room for a speaker.
>
> Athearn (the newest player in the modern HO scale
> SD45 market) wins for its variety of prototype
> specific details factory installed including
> correct cab/nose lights, nose height variations,
> horns, bells, & other roof details, grill styles,
> truck details. Athearn has done an amazing amount
> of work to the RPP shell to update it and bring it
> closer to modern standards, but they have probably
> peaked as far as what they can do with the
> limitations of the basic mold. The drive is much
> improved over the 'coffee grinders' many modelers
> grew up with when it came to Athearn models, but
> by using the same basic motor that has been the
> staple of Athearn's low and mid range products for
> years, they lose a lot of the fine qualities seen
> in the higher end Kato & P2K options.
>
> Bachmann Plus, I hate to say is severely lacking
> in all respects to the modern SD45 competition.
> Bachmann's steam program and narrow gauge lines
> are better suited for them.
>
>
> As far as pulling power goes, Proto 2000 will
> probably win that battle. It is by far the
> heaviest of the four. Still with a very reliable
> motor, it will want to drag the rest of your
> motive power, the rest of the train, and half your
> layout with it, unless you have DCC and can speed
> match it (slow it down!).
>
> IMHO, the best all around solution would probably
> be a truly frankenstein SD45... Start with the P2K
> super heavy frame, add the P2K shell (Athearn cab
> & nose), add Athearn's prototype specific detail
> parts, then put Kato's motor, drive assembly, and
> trucks, with Athearn side frames, Athearn fuel
> tank, and a Loksound 20-645E sound decoder. Now,
> that is the recipe for a winner...
>
> Mr. MRL
>
> A sample of my P2K models...


Mr. MRL....

U Da Man!

Thanks to all!

I am not a super-detailer, but I do like my power to represent the basic locomotive. Same with the freight cars. I will not put a rotary beacon or cab air conditioner on a BNSF C44-9W, for instance. My power will represent an "SD45" or a"C44-9W" or whatever with reasonable appliances applied.

SantaFeRuss

Kato! Hands down it has the best drive and pulling ability. The only cons are no hi-hood (but you can use a Canon & Company one), and you will spend one long afternoon adding all the grabs, windshield wipers, handrails and other details to it. I presently have 4 of them and they run perfectly together in consists, even with other Katos.

AJ