Lt. Dan
New Member
Building the Burlington Sub
Posts: 6
|
Post by Lt. Dan on Jul 26, 2014 11:13:21 GMT -8
The photos and historical roster info on the UP 1200-series on rrpicturearchives.net just doesn't jive. The site says 1202 and 1205 are ex-Katy, and 1207 is former KCC - yet the photos clearly show 1202 with the high-clearance (Kennecott Copper) fuel tank and both 1205 and 1207 with regular EMD fuel tanks (hence my post).
Unless fuel tanks got swapped at some point by UP during maintenance/rebuilding I am doubting the accuracy of the noted former owners on rrpicturearchives.net - photos shouldn't lie. Either way I'm more concerned about the fuel tank accuracy than the smaller details - to me the tanks stand out as a key spotting feature of the unit, even for a TM model. IMO Atlas should just go with the former MKT numbers and forgo the ex-KCC's due to the glaring difference in fuel tanks.
Anyway, my $0.02 on the topic... which units Atlas ultimately produces models for will determine how may - if any - of the three UP numbers I pick up.
|
|
|
Post by alcoc430 on Jul 26, 2014 12:01:51 GMT -8
It will be interesting to see if Atlas retrofit the new silver motor (Mabuchi?) into the latest, yet to arrive, run of HH660's They will. The latest run of gp38-2s within the 6 to 9 months ago have the silver motor
|
|
|
Post by edwardsutorik on Jul 26, 2014 12:10:14 GMT -8
From Paul K. Withers' "Union Pacific Locomotive Directory 2005-2007":
1200-1208 were first KCC, then MKT, then UP 235x, then to 1200-1208. Listing 2600 gal fuel tanks.
1209-1216 were first MKT, then UP. They also list 2600 gal tanks.
Ed
|
|
|
Post by bdhicks on Jul 26, 2014 12:13:45 GMT -8
The little summary thing on rrpicturearchives.net usually just lists one road, and is inconsistent on whether that is the road they were ordered for or the last road they were on. If you look at the built as entry for all three units they say KCCX.
And, like I said, there are a lot more differences between the units MKT got secondhand from KCCX vs the ones built for MKT than just the fuel tank. Probably at some point UP or MKT swapped out the fuel tanks on 1205 and 1207.
UP 1210 is an example of a unit built for MKT, you can see there's no extra air tank, the cab roof is normal, and the inertial filter hatch matches the Trainman model. It's also a later phase unit, so it has the Q fans instead of the flat top fans of the KCCX units. Looks like it's also got a different dynamic hatch and blower than the Trainman model, so it's hard to say which UP units would best match the existing model.
I guess personally I'm more concerned about the inertial hatch and the absence of the air tanks than the shape of the fuel tank.
|
|
|
Post by edwardsutorik on Jul 26, 2014 13:13:55 GMT -8
Those ex-KCC units just won't leave my mind. I found that 1200 and 1201 appear to still have their old KCC fuel tanks. On some of the others, I can see what looks like modified and enlarged KCC tanks and also "regular" fuel tanks.
I'll be waiting for whatever Athearn decides to do about these fellas.
Ed
|
|
|
Post by edwardsutorik on Jul 26, 2014 13:54:48 GMT -8
And still more about those darn locos--boy are they cool! The 1202 has the modified KCC fuel tank--capacity was increased, but it's still odd lookin'. The 1205 and 1207 have traditionally shaped tanks. At least, lately. But also of interest: the cab roof has a distinct step in the roof--sorta like the stylist for the GP30 was lurking--I like it. And sorta even weirder lookin', there's a GP7/9 type crossways air tank ahead of the fuel tank. Brian mentioned these; but until I saw for myself, I didn't realize how interesting they were. I'd sure like one; though, unless Athearn bothers to do the work, I doubt I'll build my own until I get the 312 projects ahead of it done. But, if I REALLY was gonna do it, I'd wait for Athearn to produce an undec GP39-2, rather than accept a Trainman thingy. Here's the before shot--SCARY: and here's an after--note the air tank ahead of the fuel tank and also the funny cab roofline: Ed
|
|
|
Post by ambluco on Jul 26, 2014 14:21:08 GMT -8
It's Trainman. Entry-level Atlas.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 26, 2014 15:03:44 GMT -8
I think if you are looking for pin point accuracy on a Trainman model you've got your head out over skis.
Trainman is pretty paint on a generic model. There are no bells and whistles, unless you go "gold". Fuel tanks, air tanks, air conditioners, cabs, etc. are picky details which are not even considered by Atlas. Are the numbers and paint schemes accurate? Yes, everything else doesn't matter, since the Trainman line is meant to be a less expensive entry level model. Less expensive....yeah right....
Entry level modelers are supposedly more concerned about paint and looking good. Once they become more versed in the prototype and the hobby they may or may not want to crunch the details.
The pricing on these Trainman models is a tough sell for what you are getting. The days of getting a Trainman locomotive for less than a Big Headed Ben must have gone the way of the stage coach.
As far as picky details.
BNSF: Missing - air conditioner, ditch lights, plow, beacon, horn is back by fans, etc.
Copper Basin - The paint scheme is correct and it ends about there.....
Santa Fe: Missing - air conditioner, plow, beacon, horn bracket, radio antenna bracket, etc.
Twin Cities Western - The paint scheme is correct at least. Fuel tank air tank, cab and host of other things.
UP: 1202 - The paint scheme is correct at least. Fuel tank, air tank, nose, cab and other picky details 1205 - Fuel tank is standard EMD, the cab, nose, etc. is not correct. 1207 - See 1205.
|
|
|
Post by bdhicks on Jul 26, 2014 16:27:53 GMT -8
Looking at UP 1202 again and comparing it to that before picture, I notice that UP or MKT modified it at some point to increase the capacity. The bottom of the Kennecott tank is even with the air tank, but on 1202 the tank is about the same height as a standard EMD tank. The TCWR units have a different sort of step to the roof than the UP units, and keep the original high-clearance tank: rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1554874I wonder if Athearn would even bother tooling up a new cab for two units when they get to the Genesis GP39-2, or if they'll just give up and skip those. The CBRY numbers are strange though. CBRY 403 is a pretty close match for the Trainman model, but it's the only one they're not including. It's like when they did the MNNR C424 and offered the two non-dynamic units and skipped the dynamic one even though they have no molds for a non-dynamic C424. I certainly understand that Trainman is a one-size-fits-all line, but it would be nice if they could pick prototypes that more closely match their model, especially when there are better matching units for the same road name. UP is tricky since neither the Kennecott or Katy units match well, but at least if they did UP 1203 instead of UP 1202 they'd have the right cab.
|
|
|
Post by carrman on Jul 26, 2014 17:08:10 GMT -8
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 27, 2014 13:40:18 GMT -8
I certainly understand that Trainman is a one-size-fits-all line... Many of Atlas models even in the the Master line are "one-size-fits-all". Nose headlights or Mars lights are absent on models like the GP40 and 38. The GP40-2 was a shocker when Atlas actually did the SP light package. The SD24 had three bodies tooled but didn't allow for the removal of the Mars lights for instance from the ex-CB&Q units as they looked in the late years. The SD35 and sister SDP35 were multiple bodied models which were correct or again close, but still have generic horn placement, etc.. Not to bedraggle the topic, but $140 MSRP for an "entry" level model is hardly an "entry" level price. $140 is not too short of a detailed to prototype Athearn Genesis.
|
|
|
Post by curtmc on Jul 27, 2014 15:00:59 GMT -8
$140 MSRP for a HO plastic model that doesn't even have separately applied grabs is just plain nutz... At initial run $79 price it was a stretch. At $140 it's absurd.
The Trainman GP38-2 in details (once a modeler puts on some grabs) is close to correct for a order of Conrail GP38-2s that went on to CSX and NS (but model is missing ditch lights needed for CSX or NS paint). All others are off a little to a lot...
|
|
|
Post by atsfan on Jul 27, 2014 17:54:59 GMT -8
Atlas has killed the Trainman brand. At $140 they might as well not even bother.
|
|