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Post by jongrant4472 on Jun 20, 2009 15:42:16 GMT -5
Way back in 2004, I decided to have a go at a loco conversion - one of my first on a diesel. I had a Proto 2000 GP30 in BN colours, which didn't fit into the early 90s period I was working in at the time. Research led me to BN's conversions of GP30s into GP39E's, where a 2300hp EMD 645 engine was installed into the original carbody. Ther first few conversions retained the distinctive look of the GP30, which I like. Later conversions replaced the cab with a standard EMD cab, creating an odd-looking hybrid, IMO. Other than a few simple additions and removals, the conversion was little more than a repaint - good for a starter project. Here are a few photos from 5 years agoshowing the work done on the shell. I also slapped some paint on at the time - #2752 was one of only a handful of the early style cabs to get the whiteface scheme (but not the pinstripe. Now let's move the clock on 5 years.... Jon
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Post by Randy Earle on Jun 20, 2009 16:04:27 GMT -5
So far so good....next 5 years?
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Post by jongrant4472 on Jun 20, 2009 16:05:28 GMT -5
No Problemo - tickety tickety tick With my 1990's era micro layout - Sweethome Alabama well progressed with the trackplan, I finally dug out the model a few days ago and decided to finish it off with a bit of weathering and a Tsunami sound decoder. I spent three evenings messing about cutting up the body weight to get the decoder and speaker to fit, before weathering the model last night. I prefer weathering with a brush, coating the loco in several watery acrylic washes followed by drybrushing - much less bother than a spray gun. Here's the finished GP39-E in a suitably mucky state - and it only took 5 years. A close up of the revised fan arrangement Jon
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Post by Randy Earle on Jun 20, 2009 16:14:13 GMT -5
That's nice Jon. Your layout looks great also.
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Post by jongrant4472 on Jun 20, 2009 16:24:26 GMT -5
Thanks mate A few more photos to finish things off - Could someone confirm that, at 2300hp, the engine would have been turbocharged. I can't find anything to confirm this. And finally, a shot of the loco at work (my excuse for the blurry photo) I will shoot some video footage of the loco on Sweethome Chicago, once I get word on the Turbo Jon
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Post by riss2509 on Jun 20, 2009 19:01:56 GMT -5
Nice to see some BN green on here!! Very cool!
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Post by RunningExtra on Jun 20, 2009 20:58:47 GMT -5
Very nice Jon, the loco looks great on your layout, you have done a fantastic job on that engine
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Post by railfanalex on Jun 21, 2009 13:59:50 GMT -5
Beautiful model Jon! I can't find any documentation either, but from all the Youtube videos I watched, they do indeed sound like they are turbocharged. Here is the best one:
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Post by mrogden on Jun 21, 2009 14:47:55 GMT -5
Jon, All of BN GP39Es. 39Ms, and GP39Vs are turbocharged, and rated at 2300HP. By the way, that looks great. If I would do one, it would be a GP35 carbody.
MrOGDEN
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Post by jongrant4472 on Jun 22, 2009 3:26:42 GMT -5
Jon, If I would do one, it would be a GP35 carbody. MrOGDEN Funny you should say that - guess what I soundchipped last night? Pics to follow Jon
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Post by rdg5310 on Jun 22, 2009 7:08:05 GMT -5
Nice work Jon!
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Post by icghogger on Jun 22, 2009 9:17:41 GMT -5
Very Nice, Jon!! The work on the locomotive is excellent and the efforts on your layout are really exceptional. I especially like the attention to the vegatation and the track work. They are Superb!!
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DRGW 5398
Chairman
D&RGW SD40T-2 #5398
Posts: 386
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Post by DRGW 5398 on Jun 22, 2009 15:01:21 GMT -5
That looks cool, nice attention to detail. I have a P2K BN GP30 that I picked up off ebay. The paint on it is good but the previous owner didn't know how to weather a model, so I'll probably have the strip the entire thing and start over. I plan to make it BN 2748 or one like it, not sure if I'd rather model a GP39E, V or M? They're all cool, I like the way the EMD re-cabbed ones looked, but then again I really like the sleek styling of the GP30! Only time will tell!
Thanks for posting those pix of your unit, looks really nice and your layout has a nice, realistic touch to it as well! I know how it is to have a model sitting around for ever, I have a DRGW SD50 that has been sitting in a box forever, in pieces, the nose is fudged, so I'm going to strip it and start over...fun, fun! When she's done she'll look pretty cool with a working gyralight and all!
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Post by jongrant4472 on Jun 24, 2009 3:17:33 GMT -5
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Post by RunningExtra on Jun 24, 2009 3:26:22 GMT -5
Great job Jon, I do like those rebuilt GP30/GP35 units, you have captured both of them extremely well, nice weathering on them, everything fits together perfect on your layout.
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Post by Randy Earle on Jun 24, 2009 11:57:16 GMT -5
I thought the photos were of the prototype at first. Really nice Jon.
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Post by jongrant4472 on Jun 24, 2009 13:38:50 GMT -5
...but, please, don't ever tell me you repainted a CP Maroon and Grey engine again, it is just too painful a thought! I was young and reckless Jon
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Post by gnsteve on Jun 24, 2009 23:13:56 GMT -5
Well, young and reckless has settled down and made a pair of really good looking Geeps. Nice work. And like everyone else has said, the layout looks good too.
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Post by mrlfan on Jun 25, 2009 1:20:34 GMT -5
Awesome job Jon. I love those green engines. Glenn
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Smoke
Chairman
The Ski Train!!!!
Posts: 753
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Post by Smoke on Jun 25, 2009 10:46:25 GMT -5
NIce work Jon!! The weathering is beautiful!!
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