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Post by Great-Northern-Willmar Div on Oct 12, 2015 6:18:16 GMT -8
I know from past threads on the old Atlas forum that the P2K GP38-2 had some dimensional issues. Fans were one issue any others?
I picked up a brand new in the box Proto 2000 GP38-2 yesterday at a local flea market. Its painted in the CRR Family Lines scheme with the odd yellow number boards.
I paid $20 for the model, is that a good price for a Proto 2000 GP38-2 or too much? I thought it was a good deal but then again lately if I can do something wrong I'll do it.....
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Post by drolsen on Oct 12, 2015 6:42:34 GMT -8
Jim, one of the biggest dimensional issues was that the hood doors are too tall, if I recall correctly, but the roof is at the correct height, so the dynamic brake section is squashed to account for the taller doors. I don't think it's too noticeable unless you compare it to an Athearn or other brand of Geep, but it probably makes the dynamic bulge look a little thin. I don't have a complete model, but I have some hood components, including a couple dynamic brake sections, that I bought from someone 5 or 6 years ago.
Another issue was that the class lights were too far apart, if I recall correctly, but I think they fixed that on the second run. Anyway, $20 is a great price for the model, although I wouldn't buy one personally since I'm OCD about those details. Probably anything up to about $40 would ever considered a good price.
Dave
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Post by rockfan on Oct 12, 2015 7:02:08 GMT -8
Awesome price. I got one for $50 a few years ago.
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Post by atsfan on Oct 12, 2015 7:42:59 GMT -8
They are not as bad as the internet will tell you. Run it and have fun.
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Post by llxlocomotives on Oct 12, 2015 7:59:11 GMT -8
A new in the box P2K model will go for $40 - $60 depending on the road. So $20 is a great price
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Post by rockisland652 on Oct 12, 2015 8:07:26 GMT -8
Just remove the class lights in the nose and you'll be fine.
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Post by WP 257 on Oct 12, 2015 8:47:30 GMT -8
I recall they ran very well.
I only sold mine due to some complaints I had regarding the paint...
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Post by Judge Doom on Oct 12, 2015 11:14:13 GMT -8
I recall they ran very well. I only sold mine due to some complaints I had regarding the paint... Yup, good runners, they came with the P1K/P2K can motor and IIRC an Atlas-clone style truck gearbox. The sideframes are weak though, very flat looking like the Bachmann AAR-B sideframes. Due to the different sideframe design, you can't swap them out for Athearn's sharp Blomberg B like you could on an earlier clone-drive unit.
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Post by Christian on Oct 12, 2015 12:37:30 GMT -8
The price makes up for the work you'll need to do if you are going to set it beside an ancient Athearn blue box. If you don't do that, then you've got a good deal. Funny how the internet lets you know where a manufacturer/importer screwed up. Some folks really don't want to know. Yet, $20 makes up for a whole lot.
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Post by bnsf971 on Oct 12, 2015 12:43:47 GMT -8
A $20 price tag allows me to overlook a lot of cosmetic deficiencies on an otherwise excellent running engine.
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Post by tdspeedracer on Oct 12, 2015 16:10:16 GMT -8
I felt really good about the BN GP38-2 I picked up a few weeks ago for $25 until I read this...
I had to chisel off an AC unit, winterization hatch, and an antenna stand.(previous owner obviously didn't refer to prototype photos.) Then putty, sand, and repaint the top black to get what I thought was a good deal.
Trevor
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Post by theengineshed on Oct 12, 2015 16:24:00 GMT -8
The P2K GP38s were panned on some of the lists for the reasons stated, but for 20-25 dollars, you really can't complain. If I recall correctly the P2k RS11 had issues too. Maybe not the best diesel renditions out there, but they run good, and the price was right. Take them down to the club and run them, no one will complain...
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Post by Judge Doom on Oct 12, 2015 17:05:10 GMT -8
The price makes up for the work you'll need to do if you are going to set it beside an ancient Athearn blue box. If you don't do that, then you've got a good deal. Funny how the internet lets you know where a manufacturer/importer screwed up. Some folks really don't want to know. Yet, $20 makes up for a whole lot. Expectations drop when the price drops. That's why people overlook errors on $20 Athearn BB GP38-2's they get at train shows, but will rake a manufacturer over the grills if there's something wrong with their $200 Genesis GP38-2. And then there's the people that complain that $20 BB GP38-2 doesn't have scale handrails and prototypical details...
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Post by jbilbrey on Oct 12, 2015 18:10:49 GMT -8
Having had 6 of them at one point (and still have 3), I can touch on some of the problems with the P2K GP38-2.
First of all, there are some dimensional errors. It isn't that the hood doors are too tall, but the height of the long hood is too short. This error becomes apparent if you replace the stock cab with a C&C cab. Also, the classification lights are not positioned correctly (they are either too far in or too far out). Third, there should be a door on the conductor's side of the paper filter box ahead of the D/B blister. The detail parts (MU hoses, cables, horns, bells, etc.) are bit generic but can be fixed in an afternoon. The upper headlight should be a Gyralight casing. I'll be fixing most of these "problems" with a SBD (ex-L&N) GP38-2. I'll probably be running it with the InterMountain SD40-2 in SBD (providing they get the colors close to right), so I am not worried too much about absolute accuracy.
Should you choose to keep it and install DCC, pay close attention to wiring. There are some reports that they came out of the factory with the wires routed wrong. Look online to find how to fix the issue so that you do not fry the decoder.
James Bilbrey LaVergne, TN
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Post by kentuckysouthernrwy on Oct 12, 2015 19:24:10 GMT -8
If it makes YOU happy that is all that matters Too many folks let someone else's 'expert' opinion ruin their fun.
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Post by WP 257 on Oct 12, 2015 19:54:32 GMT -8
Look, for $20 or even $50, if it's an engine you like, I call that a bargain today. Jim is more than capable of making any detail revisions or upgrades he wants and has money left over to do that!
I bought a relatively generic Bachmann steamer (with DCC) for about $113 recently, and thought that was a bargain. $20 is a real bargain.
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Post by lvrr325 on Oct 14, 2015 3:33:35 GMT -8
I bought an SCL out of an estate at a North Carolina show, mixed in with the Athearn, for $25 two years ago. Sold it this last February for $40. No box but like new.
I picked up a pair of Lehigh Valley later on for more (I forget how much, maybe $40 each), just to have them, but haven't done a lot with them.
Seems like one of the problems with these also is the gearing is different, so they don't play well with other units, although you can probably correct that with DCC.
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