The rear pilot of the recent production GP-30 was not flush with the chassis. Here is a picture:
For this vantage point it can be seen how the rear pilot extends out from the back and the steps of the pilot are not in line with the chassis.
Now that my unit is about one year old and the warranty is kaput, I feel comfortable with a simple modification. This is really simple modification to make the rear pilot line up with the chassis.
First, the pilot was removed and the posts were drilled away and the surface filed down until smooth and shiny. This was done on both sides of the pilot where the screw holes were.
Next, bisphenol-A epoxy resin was was added to the truck posts and the pilot. Here is a picture of the truck and pilot where the pilot is fixed into place with bisphenol-A epoxy resin.
The locomotive is then assembled back. The liontruck design makes all this very easy. Here is the bottom view of the truck where the truck brake shoes extend behind the pilot steps:
Here is the side view now where the pilot and pilot steps now line up with the chassis:
Here is a full side view of the GP-30 with the "corrected" pilot
Lastly, here is a prototype view of the locomotive
Where it can be seen how the brake shoes of the rear truck extend behind the rear pilot.
A simple fix to the cosmetic problem that is inherent to the legacy GP-30's made over the past year. Hope this helps.
