gp39e

[diesel]

Well, I'm not sure if this belongs in the prototype not built section but here goes...

This past winter I started this project which came to a screeching halt when my father had a heart transplant. He is now doing very well. I will get back to this soon, but as is my nature I've started other projects, not to mention the melting of my gp38-2/decoder transplant.

anyway it's up to about here, though I did do a couple of things to it since this pic:



It will be modeled and painted as close as I can get it to:

www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1251138

I picked this unit for 2 reasons. 1. It looks really cool in it's patched I've been around forever paint scheme with newer styled reflectors piled over older ones and remote control labels ect. all over it. and 2. Because I had the most different angle shots of this unit, so I got lucky on this one. Many times the unit I really want to do has only basic shots and I have to rely on locos numbered closely hoping they are very similar. -like the blue gatx, which has unique radiator grills, I hope everything else is similar.

DanZ

[Randy Earle]

Looks like a great project Dan. I created the Prototypes Not Built board for units built by EMD, Alco, Ge, etc. that have not been made by the model companies because of few units made or ones that just have not been done right like the C-415.

[diesel]

Thanks Randy. An interesting note, in the backround you'll see another gp30 body with the cab/nose cut off. I was going through old train mags looking for kitbash artcles on this unit to see if anyone did one and to see if there were any details I hadn't noticed.

The artcle I found was from 1993 in 'craftsman'. BUT, it involved an older gp30 Bachmann body, pre spectrum. You know the one made by Lionel. If you take it apart it has the pancake motor and is the type of thing not many of us will want around... But I thought wait, I have that exact loco and the needed Athearn gp35 frame. And since I was very careful in removing the cab and nose ect. from the p2k I can make this look pretty good. Sort of a reverse kitbash.

The long hood itself isn't bad at all. The cab and nose were toyish and so were the fans. But it will get the fans from the p2k as well. I'm really doing this just for kicks to see how it turns out (ok maaaaaybe it'll get cannon fans, but I don't know), and I'll have another gp39e without the cab job!

[RunningExtra]

I like it as well, need more pictures, lots and lots of pictures

[icghogger]

Excellent start, DanZ!

[diesel]

I'm bumping this up because a friend asked to see the thread, I'm gonna have this out today anyway, so I might even post an update!

[slowfreight]

Ooohhh! More pics, please!

[m a y o r 79]

Very cool, and a unique prototype. How many of those were rebuilt like that? I remember seening one around Chciago more than a few years ago. I always thought it looked cool as well.

Post some more pics!!!

[diesel]

I've only done a few things to this as of late so I'm not gonna post any pics yet, but as least it's on the bench again! So...

A total of 20 GP30s were done in this fashion. For anyone just tuning in here, this chop nose treatment was done because BN didn't like the hi nose thing and these were purchased mostly from Southern RR and a few from NKP, one from SOO and one from GM&O. BN had asked EMD to cut the nose down, but they said it would be less expensive to add a new front end. By the way, the e GP39e stands for EMD whom did the rebuild. This project was split among 3 parties, EMD VMV and MK. There were a total of 137 GP30s and 35s that were upgraded, but only those 20 purchased with the hi hood got the new front end.

This type of rebuild was favored over buying new power which is earlier in BN history there were only a handful of GP40s which were rebuild as GP40Ms. The GP40-2s were leased from KCS and the lease ran out around the time of the BNSF merger, so they went back. As 4 axel power demands increased, true GP39-2s and later GP50s joined the crew. In the merger almost 100 GP60s came from ATSF and I think most of those work in Cali and the west coast due to their lower emissions.

[spike]

BN also had lots of GP9s, which were pretty tired. This was a factor in the rebuild program. A third rebuild program was the GP28 project. GP9s were rebuilt with GP38 like car bodies, and were rated at 1800 hp, just like a true EMD GP28, although the rebuilds have -2 electrical cabinets.

In my time at BNSF, the GP60s were mixed in on merchandise trains, along with just about any other type of power. We had a job from Galesburg to Eola (Aurora, IL). It often had to spot cars at industries outside of the local's territory. It was heavy because it had lots of steel from the EJE. With its need to access the customers' tracks, heavy 4 axle units were often used, such as GP 40, 50, 60, 60M, along with B40-8, and B40-8Ws.

[diesel]

I got a couple of the hood fixtures on. Now I just have to finish the frame and then I can move on the rest of the shell.

hey Spike, how's it going? I am very interested in doing a GP28, not sure if it'll be an M or P, but I do want one! My donor is a P2K GP20. It has the correct wheel base but... basically I don't have a 'spare GP35', or I'd do what Dan Raitz did in his excellent version.

[Deleted]

Dan,

Can you pop that DB fan off?

If so, do it and add a piece of 0.010" sheet styrene under it to fill the DN fan area. It will go as far back as where the blister starts tapering down. A detail that most modelers do not know about. You are starting to see modelers add this, but very few. The top of the DB fan should be just a hair above the top of the DB blister.

Also another detail you might want to add is at teh leading edge of the DB cavity even with the top of the hood is a 1.5" x 1.5" angle iron welded in place. It runs from one side to the other and flush with the top of the hood. I also build it out of 0.010" sheet styrene and thin th eleading edge.

[hotshot3305]

Sept 9, 2012 20:48:34 GMT -5 @6axlepwr said:

Dan,

Can you pop that DB fan off?

If so, do it and add a piece of 0.010" sheet styrene under it to fill the DN fan area. It will go as far back as where the blister starts tapering down. A detail that most modelers do not know about. You are starting to see modelers add this, but very few. The top of the DB fan should be just a hair above the top of the DB blister.

Brian, here is a shot of the roof of a Southern GP-30 showing the plate under the DB fan. Plano makes this part for the GP-30, part # 14807.



Bob

[diesel]

ah yes, jmlaboda (Jerry) had just noted in my GP35u thread that the dynamics were higher on the rebuilds like this one. Using a radiator fan is the way to go right! I'll get this fan off and in the pic (link) below I think I see the plate Brian wants me to add:

www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1276130

The 1.5x1.5 iron I'm not sure about. Do I have the correct area highlighted in blue in this image? I'll try and find closer pics, but I don't see the part I need to add. Thanks for the suggestions, I do want to add these changes!

[spike]

The GP28 bodies are strange. I don't know if they are the same length as the real EMD 28/35 bodies. The long hood seems to go out over where the rear walkway should be. They had rounded GP50 style anticlimbers to get around the hood.

The GP 20 should be the right length frame. This is a good option since the 28 had a full length fuel tank, and the main reservoirs are under the walkways.

[bf1982]

Nice work, you know after looking at it for a moment, I wonder how it would look with a wide cab from a GP60M? ;D Anyway keep up the good work.

[manny]

AWESOME!!!!

I was just tinkering around with the idea of building one of these engines from an old bachman shell. It'll be good reference to see how your project comes along...