Lionel SD70M

exactly which model are you referring to? The K-Line 75M needs a better fuel tank!

If you are going to fix the pilot, why would you put the claw back on?

This thing needs a better fuel tank, but there's no easy way to do it. I've seen someone scratch build a fuel tank from brass but that's beyond my skill set

What is the Lionel catalog number and road name? 

Andrew

It's the Union Pacific one from the set in 2004. I'll probably do Kadees. I'm curious if I bought and shortened (lengthwise) a tank for an SD90 if that would work. 

https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/topic/k-line-sd75i

You could try the MTH SD80 fuel tank for the K-line SD75

Laidoffsick posted:

This thing needs a better fuel tank, but there's no easy way to do it. I've seen someone scratch build a fuel tank from brass but that's beyond my skill set

How does that fuel tank mount to the frame,4 screws from the bottom?

That's my assumption. I'm at school right now, but next time I go home I'll check. 

Hey Will,

I know I'm in the weeds here digging up an old thread, but did you ever complete this project? It'd be cool to see some photos / discussion of the process if you did.

In the true spirit of the hobby, I still haven't finished that particular unit but I have done some work on one of my UP SD70ACes. I swapped out the lobster claw for a Kadee #746 and fixed the pilot using two pieces of 1/16" Evergreen styrene cut to the shape of the steps. It's not perfect since it's just traced and cut by hand. I also used a single piece of styrene to fill the gap around the coupler. Thankfully the Scalecoat UP Harbor Mist is a pretty close match to the shade Lionel used, plus one day I'll weather the locomotive. Next step is full length hand rails. Just fixing the pilot makes a huge difference though, especially when coupled to a Lionel ES44 with the kinematic pilot.

Will, that unit is looking great! Don't we all have projects that we haven't gotten around to yet?!? Thanks for sharing.