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Post on the Atlas O Forum Re: GP40-2 Diesels

CNJ 3676CNJ 3676OGR Forum Member

Atlas offers an incredibly well detailed Phase 2 GP40-2 in HO. Bell location, truck side frames and pilot type are accurate for each roadname. I've seen these models in person and they're remarkable.

 

http://www.atlasrr.com/HOLoco/hogp40-2b.htm

 

The Chessie units with their hood mounted bells and rock pilots are particularly impressive.

 

Since Atlas offers this locomotive in HO, perhaps the company can be persuaded to build an O scale version.

 

Bob

Mike DeBergMike DeBergOGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBER
Bill,
 
I think you'll be pleasantly surprised by the quality of the MTH 2R locos with PS3.  Sound is excellent.  Detail is decent, on par with other 2R models, but IMO, not at the same level as their HO models.
 
Originally Posted by Bill McBride:

I always thought the Atlas O model selection a bit "off" and slow. I guess people want early f units and I am glad for them but I really wanted an F7.

 

The China drives ruin perfectly good cabs. Ha! I have a Red Caboose GP as an alternative and have to get to work building it.

 

I picked up an HO MTH SD70M-2 new for $95 on sale (a steal) since I figured I wouldn't be out much. I wasn't expecting much considering the hi-rail base of MTH and all the nasty gossip over the years (not that business practices affect model design, per se). I was flabbergasted. That MTH unit put my Athearn Genesis units to shame and those Genesis units are sharp (except for those stupidly protruding BULBS. The MTH unit was beautifully finished, ran smoothly, had awesome sound (Proto Sound 3.0), in my opinion the best I have heard (even better than my Atlas 2R Gold GP15 -- LOL! What weak sound), and the lighting was perfect.

 

I was so tickled I decided to spring for an MTH 2R scale wheels, fixed pilot GP35. I am curious to see how it measures up to my Atlas 2R GP35.

 

Bill McBride

 

mwbmwbOGR Forum Member
Originally Posted by Mike DeBerg:
Originally Posted by mwb:
Originally Posted by Mike DeBerg:

I'm not sure how many is enough responses......

Probably several orders of magnitude more than getting any brass item imported.

Yeah, I was thinking we'll need to lobby for 4000-5000 O Scale modelers to all send emails.

 


 

Aim higher; figure that only a fraction of those that send e-mails will really carry through.  Athearn has no reason to even think about this w/o a realistic chance of achieving HO market sales numbers. 

 

Bill McBrideBill McBrideOGR Forum Member
Mike,
 
It arrives tomorrow (Tuesday) and I can't wait to see it. The photos in their catalog seemed to indicate it was as well detailed as my Atlas 2R GP35. There's always room for detail improvements. I have a bunch of brass rod standing by for whenever I get enough energy to replace the large-daimeter end handrails on the Atlas unit.
 
Originally Posted by Mike DeBerg:
Bill,
 
I think you'll be pleasantly surprised by the quality of the MTH 2R locos with PS3.  Sound is excellent.  Detail is decent, on par with other 2R models, but IMO, not at the same level as their HO models.
 
Originally Posted by Bill McBride:

I always thought the Atlas O model selection a bit "off" and slow. I guess people want early f units and I am glad for them but I really wanted an F7.

 

The China drives ruin perfectly good cabs. Ha! I have a Red Caboose GP as an alternative and have to get to work building it.

 

I picked up an HO MTH SD70M-2 new for $95 on sale (a steal) since I figured I wouldn't be out much. I wasn't expecting much considering the hi-rail base of MTH and all the nasty gossip over the years (not that business practices affect model design, per se). I was flabbergasted. That MTH unit put my Athearn Genesis units to shame and those Genesis units are sharp (except for those stupidly protruding BULBS. The MTH unit was beautifully finished, ran smoothly, had awesome sound (Proto Sound 3.0), in my opinion the best I have heard (even better than my Atlas 2R Gold GP15 -- LOL! What weak sound), and the lighting was perfect.

 

I was so tickled I decided to spring for an MTH 2R scale wheels, fixed pilot GP35. I am curious to see how it measures up to my Atlas 2R GP35.

 

Bill McBride

 

Mike DeBergMike DeBergOGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBER
Bill,
 
You'll definitely like it as it'll be every bit as good at the Atlas version.  The handrails are obviously smaller diameter on the MTH units, not as durable, but closer to scale.   Immediately, you notice a huge difference in the sound quality and accuracy. 
 
Originally Posted by Bill McBride:
Mike,
 
It arrives tomorrow (Tuesday) and I can't wait to see it. The photos in their catalog seemed to indicate it was as well detailed as my Atlas 2R GP35. There's always room for detail improvements. I have a bunch of brass rod standing by for whenever I get enough energy to replace the large-daimeter end handrails on the Atlas unit.
 
Originally Posted by Mike DeBerg:
Bill,
 
I think you'll be pleasantly surprised by the quality of the MTH 2R locos with PS3.  Sound is excellent.  Detail is decent, on par with other 2R models, but IMO, not at the same level as their HO models.
 
Originally Posted by Bill McBride:

I always thought the Atlas O model selection a bit "off" and slow. I guess people want early f units and I am glad for them but I really wanted an F7.

 

The China drives ruin perfectly good cabs. Ha! I have a Red Caboose GP as an alternative and have to get to work building it.

 

I picked up an HO MTH SD70M-2 new for $95 on sale (a steal) since I figured I wouldn't be out much. I wasn't expecting much considering the hi-rail base of MTH and all the nasty gossip over the years (not that business practices affect model design, per se). I was flabbergasted. That MTH unit put my Athearn Genesis units to shame and those Genesis units are sharp (except for those stupidly protruding BULBS. The MTH unit was beautifully finished, ran smoothly, had awesome sound (Proto Sound 3.0), in my opinion the best I have heard (even better than my Atlas 2R Gold GP15 -- LOL! What weak sound), and the lighting was perfect.

 

I was so tickled I decided to spring for an MTH 2R scale wheels, fixed pilot GP35. I am curious to see how it measures up to my Atlas 2R GP35.

 

Bill McBride

 

 

Greg ElemsGreg ElemsOGR Forum Member

Yeah a good scale GP40 would be nice.  The version MTH put out is ok, for 1990 era modeling but not when compared to the recent offerrings.  Will MTH redo the GP40 or do a GP40-2, I doubt it.  Anybody considered kit bashing an Atlas SD40 onto a GP60 frame?  Still have the China drive but maybe the MP15 drive could be used.  Atlas even in the 1970's was questioned about their F9 unit, when the F7 was still out and being used daily.  People would probably have bought many more of them had they been F7's.  You would think the popularity of their HO GP40-2's would give them an inkling of what would sell in O. 

 

Greg Elems

Bill McBrideBill McBrideOGR Forum Member
Frank,
 
I was tempted to go with Rio Grande but picked the New York & Atlantic about which I knew nothing. It turns out it's a short line on Long Island. The paint scheme is pretty interesting and I wanted this for an industrial switcher (a bit of an overkill) but I am thinking of painting out the name and maybe do some kind of patch job eventually.
 
I was tempted by the Genset with PS3 because they are so weirdly unique but the only one available was the Red, White & Blue Rail America San Diego Imperial Valley which was a bit too "bright" for my taste.
 
I'll post some photos of it and shoot some alongside an Atlas GP35 but I probably won't be able to do that before the end of the week.
 
 
Originally Posted by Swafford:

Good Day Bill,

 

Which railroad did you select for your GP35? When time permits, can you please post some pictures?

 

Regards,

Frank

Bill McBrideBill McBrideOGR Forum Member
As I said above, I would be in for an F7 but was not interested in an F2 etc. I also much more interested in a GP40 or GP40-2 than a GP35 and one has to wonder what drove Atlas's decisions.
 
I may have missed it in the MTH catalogs but I would go for a GP30 but I think all they have done so far is a high-rail version and it might have been PS 2.
 
 
Originally Posted by Greg Elems:

Yeah a good scale GP40 would be nice.  The version MTH put out is ok, for 1990 era modeling but not when compared to the recent offerrings.  Will MTH redo the GP40 or do a GP40-2, I doubt it.  Anybody considered kit bashing an Atlas SD40 onto a GP60 frame?  Still have the China drive but maybe the MP15 drive could be used.  Atlas even in the 1970's was questioned about their F9 unit, when the F7 was still out and being used daily.  People would probably have bought many more of them had they been F7's.  You would think the popularity of their HO GP40-2's would give them an inkling of what would sell in O. 

 

Greg Elems

N&W Class JN&W Class JOGR Forum Member
Originally Posted by Swafford:

Good Day,

 

FEC GP40-2's at the EMD plant. I like the light package............ different!

 

Regards,

Swafford

 

FEC GP40-2

I have always been partial to the face on the SP's units,  and Santa Fe's clean look but this is another fine example of how many variants there are in terms of road specific details. 

S splitwindowOGR Forum Member

OK everyone, I've talked to Dave at Key about doing this project and he's open to it.  How many of you are willing to help with the research to nail down all the different version???

I'm working on the SD40-2/SD40T-2/F2/F3/F5/F7/FP7/F9/FP9/FL9 project right now and I"m getting burnt out doing all this research.  Doing the EMD GP38, EMD GP38-2, EMD GP39, EMD GP39-2, EMD GP40, EMD GP40-2, and GP50 in Brass makes it possible to do all the versions with correct details - scale 2 rail only of course.  To make this possible I will need as much help as possible with the research to get everything correct.

 

Roger

Bill McBrideBill McBrideOGR Forum Member

OK, I've been out in the cold too long.

 

The MTH engine I ordered was a GP38-2 not a GP35. I had too much Atlas O on the brain, I guess.

 

It arrived today. Definitely thinner railings all around, nice paint job, two crewmen in the cab, and ditch lights front and rear.

 

I have not had a chance to power it up yet to hear the PS 3 sound in O. Maybe tonight.

S splitwindowOGR Forum Member
Originally Posted by Swafford:

Good Day Roger,

 

This is great news. I have several EMD blueprints at home. I have the SD45, SD38 and SDP45 drawings. I'll check for the GP40 and GP40-2 drawings.

 

If I have the drawings I'll mail them to you.

 

Regards,

Frank  

Thanks Frank,

 

I have the following EMD drawings:

8361254  EMD GP38 Locomotive Outline Clearance and General Arrangement

8473869  EMD GP38-2 Loco Outline & General Arrgt.

8361255  EMD GP40 Loco Outline Clearance and General Arrangement

8462851  EMD GP40-2 Loco CTLN & GEN ARGT

9541407  EMD GP49 Loco Outline/GNRL AR

L16203    EMD GP50 Locomotive Relationships

L16153    EMD GP50 Sode Frame Arrangement

9518945  EMD GP50 Loco GNRL ARGT

9529444  EMD SD50 Prototype Loco Gen ARGT.

 

I also have lots of drawings from all the magazines 

I have some of the SD40/45 drawings also:

 

8493961  EMD SD40T-2 LOGO OUTLINE & GENERAL ARRGT.

8462855  EMD SD45T-2 LOCO OUTLINE & GENERAL ARRGT.

8397486  EMD FP45 LOCO OUTLINE CLEARANCE AND GENERAL ARRANGEMENT

8362311  EMD SD45 LOCOMOTIVE OUTLINE CLEARANCE AND GENERAL ARRANGEMENT

               EMD SD40-2 STYLING & PAINTING

8462853  EMD  SD40-2 LOCO OUTLINE & GENERAL ARRG'T.

 

This project will work if there is enough interest.

 

Regards,

Roger

Last edited by splitwindow
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