I'll add these

[rdg5310]

I'm going to add these to the rescue build.
dieseldetailer.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=old&action=display&thread=1681&page=1#12384board=old&action=display&thread=1681

They deserve it. They have been waiting since 1997 to be finished. To update these, I decided to paint the cab roofs white, I started to remove the old fans on both so I can replace them with Cannon's. I need to add the extended Dynamic brake from Plano to the GP30 slug. The Athearn frame for the GP40-2 has been cleaned up of all cast on details. The old Athearn trucks have been modified to bring the deck height down. I have a P2K frame for the GP30 slug. I will probably add Mashima cans to both. I'm not sure about DCC at this time. But I will make these DCC ready if I opt out. I have been working on these in between my other projects.

[Randy Earle]

Ron, sometime those old neglected builds turn out to be the best ones. My Southern GP-50 build has been in progress for 15 years. lol

[mountaingoatgreg]

Good to see some more loco's being saved!!
Heck Those unit are already looking really really good!!

[rdg5310]

So this is what I've done so far, this is the frame for the GP40-2.




The only thing not shown here is I added the brake regulators. I'm not adding any cabling. The trucks have been modified and I added NWSL wheel sets to them. If anyone needs to know how to modify older Athearn trucks, there was a couple articles written on that subject. The one I have kept is from Mainline Modeler March 1990. If no one can't get the article, let me know and I'll post the how to with pictures.

[mrlfan]

Hey Ron looking good so far. Glenn

[icghogger]

Ron, please tell us how you will attach couplers. I can't tell from the photos how they will mount.

[RunningExtra]

Hey Ron, I liked these the first time around, glad to see you brought them back for a rescue session, looking foreword to your updates

[rdg5310]

Thanks all! Robert, the couplers will be body mounted. As you see, I cut away the coupler pads on the frame. I have always mounted the old Athearn couplers that way. I use Plastruct square styrene tube stock. I cut the size I need and then weld it to the body. After a day of drying, I drill and tap the hole for a 2-56. I have never had problems with this set up and neither have my customers. If you have a Athearn shell in your arsenal, look at the back of the pilot, you'll see the 2 extrusions where the stanchions slide in in. These have to be removed to get a flat surface for gluing. What ever solvent you use to weld these in place, you need to soften the surfaces ( a little melting action on both pieces) before you leave it alone to dry.

[icghogger]

Sounds like an excellent method, Ron! I like the idea of body mounts and I have a couple of Front Range GP's to try it on.

[rdg5310]

Well I finally got a chance to finish the work to the frame of the slug. I used an Athearn GP35 frame. I milled the sides of the frame above the fuel tank. This let me add C&C air tanks. I also made tank straps out of .010 styrene. I then milled the fuel tank ends removing the cast on fish belly frame and milled along the bottom edge the length of the frame flat. I was then able to make a satisfactory replica of the fishbelly frame out of styrene.




Other work done was, add fuel tank gages, fill in the Athearn slot with Milliput and add piping. I already painted the frame of the GP40-2 and weathered it. I'm finishing up the trucks for both and soon will be painted and weathered. All body updates have been done, the 40-2 got a white roof and touch up on the replaced fans. The slug is just about ready for a white roof and touch ups to it's added details.

[Randy Earle]

Comin along great.

[sarge]

Wow, great work

[rdg5310]

Actually the milling wasn't all that much for that frame. I cut about .030ths on both sides. I just wanted the air tanks to fit. Besides, those Athearn GP35 frames don't have that much metal to them so you can only mill so much. Other milling included getting the frame to fit the Bachmann shell. But, that was done many moons ago.

[rdg5310]

Ok peeps, it's been awhile since I updated this. So I'll start with truck mods for both the slug and the GP40-2. As stated in earlier posts, I'm using Athearn blue box trucks. The mods went as follows. Out of the box the Athearn models sit to high, so I lowered the the truck bolsters as shown below.



This image shows the truck with the mods done. I replaced the Athearn wheels with a NWSL 40 inch set.



The finished truck with details added. I also drilled out the Hyatt truck bearings and replaced them with DW -244 bearing caps. You can also use Miniatures by Eric B-22 bearings.



The frames for both have been painted along with the trucks. Weathering has also been applied to both frames and trucks. I will get those pics up soon. Even though I have been silent for awhile with my builds, I have been moving them along.

[Randy Earle]

I had to grind the frame bolster nubs down a bit, they were hitting the gears in my trucks.

[rdg5310]

Randy your right, you need to check your clearances which I didn't mention. I did check mine after the mods and found that I was tight, but there would be no interference with truck swing and flotation. The only thing I can't add to the trucks are the sand lines near the fuel tank of the 40-2 on both sides. But that's due to the additions to the fuel tank ends. The slug has all sand lines attached.

[kcs1967]

nice work

[rdg5310]

Here's the frame updates for the GP40-2.




And the GP30 slug.

[kcs1967]

Thank for the update, those look great

[stewarttrains98]

very nice looking work on the frames. Nice pics of work as well.