Low hood GP20 to high hood GP20

[rjm]

This s the first time I have actually attempted to chop a locomotive. What I have is a GP20 short hood Mantua and I want to make it a high hood unit to fit the prototype engine. Have a GP9 Athearn donor and not sure if this is doable or worth the effort. Any guidance would be appreciated.

RJ 

[c415rock]

Hi RJ,

The only thing I can see IIRC is the Mantua GP20 is a narrow body, or scale width hood. Where the Athearn hood is a wide body, not to scale and would not look right on the engine. I would suggest if you want to do this you would need to get a different donner short hood. You could either use a Atlas, AHM, Front Range, Proto,or Bachmann shell to get the donner hood you need. If you need to locate a hood either ask someone here or look on Ebay.

Hope this answers your question. If you need anything else just ask.

Erik

[rjm]

Dec 6, 2013 16:23:59 GMT -5 c415rock said:

Hi RJ,

The only thing I can see IIRC is the Mantua GP20 is a narrow body, or scale width hood. Where the Athearn hood is a wide body, not to scale and would not look right on the engine. I would suggest if you want to do this you would need to get a different donner short hood. You could either use a Atlas, AHM, Front Range, Proto,or Bachmann shell to get the donner hood you need. If you need to locate a hood either ask someone here or look on Ebay.

Hope this answers your question. If you need anything else just ask.

Erik

I am confused with my terminology. High Hood is what the end result is to be. Short hood is what I have to work with. 
Plse explian this statement "the Mantua GP20 is a narrow body, or scale width hood. Where the Athearn hood is a wide body, not to scale"

Thank You
RJ

[sgoti]

Dec 6, 2013 18:27:22 GMT -5 rjm said:

I am confused with my terminology. High Hood is what the end result is to be. Short hood is what I have to work with. 
Plse explian this statement "the Mantua GP20 is a narrow body, or scale width hood. Where the Athearn hood is a wide body, not to scale"

Thank You
RJ

The old Athearn locomotives had hoods that were about a scale 6 inches or so too wide. Hence the nickname "wide body".

[c415rock]

Hi RJ,

First to Glen thanks for clearing that up. Some times I forget that not everyone knows the terminology. Plus the way I called it a short hood would confuse someone as well. My mistake. Sorry about that one.

RD if you give me a couple of days to look around. I just might have a high hood she'll you could have for a donner.

Erik

[rjm]

Thank you Glen makes a little more sense in the overall.
Thank You Eric
I have an Atlas GP7 that could be my donor if I read your suggestion correct.
RJ

[c415rock]

HI RJ,

Yes the Atlas GP7 would work for what you want to do.
If you need any other help just ask.

Erik

[Randy Earle]

Where's the GP-40?

[iomalley]

IIRC even the Mantua body is too wide, not as wide as Athearn, but wider than prototype.

Why not keep your eye open for a Proto2000 GN or WP hi-nose GP20?

www.trainmaster.ch/X-130.htm

Or do the conversion to a low nose Proto GP20 which is abundant on ebay?

Those old widebodies are only good for door stops.

[rjm]

Erik, my apologies for misspelling your name.
Sean , After looking at those pictures you sent me the link for, WOW what a difference in details from the Mantua to the Proto. The fan shrouds are wrong, hood is wrong, headlight and some details I do not see with an untrained eye. Maybe I give this up and put the Mantua back in the box for now.
What is the GP40 about? Did I misname something?
Thank You all
RJ

[sgoti]

Dec 7, 2013 12:15:34 GMT -5 rjm said:

Erik, my apologies for misspelling your name.
Sean , After looking at those pictures you sent me the link for, WOW what a difference in details from the Mantua to the Proto. The fan shrouds are wrong, hood is wrong, headlight and some details I do not see with an untrained eye. Maybe I give this up and put the Mantua back in the box for now.
What is the GP40 about? Did I misname something?
Thank You all
RJ

The GP40 was referenced in the thread title: "Subject: Low hood GP40 to high hood GP40"

And fellas, there's TWO N's in my name… 

Glenn

[rjm]

Thanks Glenn with two n's
And I think I fixed the GP40 issue my bad. Sure like this site, no one belittling the brain dead and uninitiated newbies’. Need to start using spell checker before I post, “Dumb A__ Cajun.”
RJ