Help with building a correct HO scale GP18

[obermeyern]

After seeing several pictures on the section of line I want to model of Missouri Pacific GP18 1976 - the Bicentennial unit - I have a desire to build the unit.

I have an undecorated Proto GP18 as a starting point. It needs AAR trucks so I'm ordering a set from Atlas. I've heard the cab and low-hood are not accurate so what should I replace these parts with? I'm thinking Atlas Sd24/26 parts?

The unit had a large fuel tank with air tanks like a GP20. Does anyone have this part they can sell/trade me?

What about the model grills that stick out from the shell? What should I do with them?

The unit had Farr air installed on it. What recommendation for HO scale part for this?

Any other recommendations?

Thanks,
Nate

[carlmarsico]

Nate,

How about starting with a Proto 2000 GP20, and swapping the long hood with the GP18? I think (but don't quote me on it) that Proto 2000 cleaned up the low nose/cab from the "Brown Box" GP18 by the time of that release, plus you'd have the correct fuel tank/frame for the GP18.

CJM

[CP_8530]

It might be easier to get a pair of AAR trucks from a Proto 2000 FA/FB as they're a drop-in fit. You'll have to do some adapting work to get the Atlas trucks to fit the Proto frame.

I'm not aware of any accuracy issues with the low-nose or cab of the low-nose P2K GP's (aside from removing the oversize cab sunshades and filling the holes). From photos, 1976 looks like any stock low-nose early GP. If your model is a hi-nose unit, you'll want to replace the nose/cab (in that case, it may be easier to start with a low-nose GP20 and transplant the 18 hood, as CJM said).

For the model grilles, you could remove the movable shutters from the back and try to glue the grills on flush with the hood.

The great thing about the P2K Geeps is they're quite modular. You can mix and match parts among the early units.

[spike]

The Athearn AAR trucks off of the U Boats would work too.

[Indy-City]

Some years ago in the Yahoo MoPac group had beeen a discussion about modelling #1776 and #1976.

Perhaps it'll helps that you become a member there. Then you can read the old posts.

I wanted to model the same loco, so i have still two P2K MoPac GP18's with AAR trucks. MP is my old collection area.

As much as I know, the nose of the P2K GP18 ist correct. Only if you will model GP7m #1776, you have to change the nose and cab with parts of the P2K GP20.