Kit Bashing GP9

Farmer Fred,

   Please post some pictures when you are done, I really want to see this!

PCRR/Dave

Check out the Floquil Master list on RailFonts.com for paint color.

http://www.railfonts.com/Refer.../Floquil_Master.html

Farmer Fred,

     For years (1970s - 90s) we used either Floquil Dark Blue or Scalecoat B&O Royal Blue as our B&O blue color, as it looked right under our lights.  Floquil Dark Blue was also recommended by the B&O Historical Society at that time.  Floquil's chemical makeup has changed since then, so the color may have shifted.  I actually preferred Scalecoat because it gave me a good gloss base for applying decals.  We actually found the gray to be the most difficult to duplicate.  We started with D&H Gray and darkened it a bit with a touch of engine black and just a whiff(!) of Coach Olive, depending on whether the locomotive would run under incandescent or fluorescent lights.  Of course, natural sunlight is a different story altogether....

     Decals were difficult.  We used Champion (no longer made) 0 scale Steam engine sets; there may be lettering in Microscale's 0 Scale Passenger sets that will fit, but it might take some cut and fit.

     Best of luck on your project; it sounds like fun.

V/R,

Mike

Fred, you're pictures aren't showing up. I'd like to see the paint scheme you're modeling.

Mike, thanks for the paint tips. I will check them out. I checked the strips in my old 48-572 Microscale B&O sets and I think they will work. If not I may just paint the black stripe and apply gold decal strips to the edge. I have a Paasche VL air brush I will use to paint it so If I have to paint the black stripe no big deal. Have you found a good way to remove paint from the plastic shell? One of mine that I plan on using has been repainted before I got it and if I paint it again I will lose much of the detail.

Thanks

Sorry, not yet.

I can't see them in the body but do come up when I click on the attachments.

What are the original models you are starting with to do this painting?

Andrew

Did Lionel ever make a Baltimore & Ohio GP9 with TMCC/RailSounds?

Andrew

I started on the TMCC upgrades yesterday. Installing the electrocoupler and light ing upgrade to the dummy unit was easy. Converting the powered unit to dual motors and stuffing it all in the narrow GP-9 shell is going to be a challange. I have the chassis modified for the second power unit, that was not so bad, a little time with a drill and dremel tool and it went right in. The issue is installing the ERR cruise and sound boards along with the speaker. I spoke to Boxcar bill last night to order some parts and he gave me a few ideas to try. I ordered some electrocouplers from him along with more led lights. The powered unit will also have operating couplers at both ends. I left the camera in the shop last night so no pictures yet. Will post some tonight. I ordered paint from Scalecoat so as soon as I have the TMCC conversion done and am sure it is working properly I will start the repaint.

Later

I have put the speaker in the fuel tank by cutting the tank in two and making it wider. Also built a  fuel tank for a second engine I had.

I put the ERR commander and RS4 in a GP-7u with the power in the trucks. The body is empty.

I rised up the RS4 broad on .250x.250"plastic so to run some of the wires under the broad. Also built a box for the floor of the engine cab and added weight with BB's.

Lionel fuel tank cut into and widen for RS4 speaker.

CBS072, thanks for the tip on widening the fuel tank. I will look into that. Since the two geeps will be always ran together I also thought about putting the speaker in the dummy unit. Do you have any pictures of yours under construction?

I don't think I have pictures, I just cut the down the center and added in styrene. I use the plastic "FOR SALE" signs from Wal-Mart for the styrene. Also need to add styrene to build up between the tank and the bottom of the engine,this will also give you a place to srcew the tank to the bottom of the engine. 

This fuel tank I built out of styrene and it has a speaker in it. The air tanks are wood dow rods.

Also on the lionel fuel tank I added styrene tubes between the end of the lionel air tanks so that it looks like the tanks are all there. I try to get some picuture tomorrow.

Gentlemen,

  Great GP's no doubt about it.

PCRR/Dave

CBS072, thanks for the tip on widening the fuel tank. If you have any other pictures it would be helpful. I am changing the handrails on both of my units to the 2 piece type that use the plastic stands and wire rails and will be adding other details as I find the parts. This is the first time I have attempted something like this and I am enjoying it. I will probably have more in it $$$ than if I had bought a pair of B&O GP-9's but these will be something I can be proud of it they turn out well. I welcome all hints and suggestions.

Farmer Fred here's a few pictures of some of the EMD fuel tanks that I have reworked or built. These are not to scale and are not just like the real one's,

Cut and widen lionel tank with speaker on GP-7u

Slug tank with Atlas O GP air tanks, Tank is full of BB's for added weight, just like on most slugs.

Home made tank with speaker on GP-20u  

Home made Switcher tank to replace a K-line switcher tank.

This is my newest tank on a K-line MP-15 switcher built from the curved ends of a plastic fence post

The part of the plastic fence that I used. I made the bottom curve of the fuel tank from the corners of the fence post.

Atlas O has parts for thier GP-7's and other locomotives on their website. These work for me, it's my railroad and I do as I please and make locomotives that I want but may be not have the details or look just like the real locomotives.

I have a bottle of Floquil Enchantment Blue that I was told is very close:

http://www.testors.com/products/137527