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This is the reason why I don't particularly care for CN's paint scheme of the 1950s.  Yard switchers were black.  Nevertheless, I had to see if I could paint one, and I did.  The Athearn SW-7 shell needs a little work if it is to become a CN SW-900.
First, I carefully removed  the six banks of three louvres at the top of the hood doors.  Then I  filed away the ridge along the top of the frame so the frame is flush for installing extra handrail stanchions along the walkway.  By the 1960s CN GM switchers had frame-mounted side handrails.  I also filed away the edges around all the old stanchion holes on the pilots and drilled three new holes to install the correct number of stanchions for the end handrails.  I chopped off the exhaust stacks and installed a single spark arrestor, I added cab sunshades, a radio antenna, and two extra trumpets to the cab-mounted horn.  The loco was painted flat black, and a coat of Gunze Sangyo clear matte gave the loco its weathered finish. I like the way the lacquer turns white when it interacts with Testors flat paints.  With a finish like that, who needs chalk?  The loco definitely looks like it's been around.

Make:
Athearn

Detail Parts:
Keystone Locomotive Works   HO-11 CN SW spark arrestor
Juneco  C-17 CN GP Awning
Juneco  C-32 Diesel & Caboose Antenna
M.V. Products  LS 17 headlight lens for Athearn SW-7

Decals:
C-D-S Lettering  HO-632 CN RS-18 diesel locomotive - green and yellow scheme, c. 1960