Milwaukee Road Hiawatha SD40-2 166 from a Kato SD40-2. Nose was replaced with a Cannon and Company nose for better brake ratchet detail. Fans were removed and Cannon and Company fans were installed. Extended range dynamic brake access panels removed from the dynamics. Fuel tank shortened to 16 feet. Mechanism gutted and hardwired for ultra-reliable operation. Sideframes replaced with updated sideframes from Kato. Handrails are Kato SD38-2 handrails which are thinner than the stock SD40-2 handrails. Ends were modified so there is no drop step or walkways. Lift rings, wire grab irons, new fuel tank fittings, plows, bell, beacon and other detail specific parts were added to the model.
Everything was abrasivized and washed with hot soapy water and then dried. The unit was primed with Floquil Primer, then scalecoat II white where orange was going to be. The orange was Scalecoat I Milwaukee Road orange with a few drops of ATSF red added. Black was Floquil engine black. Decals are Microscale. Unit was semi glossed with half Testor's dullcoat and half Testor's glosscoat mixed with lacquer thinner.