Ann Arbor/DTI GP35 build

[amrec99]

All, 

I have a group of undec Kato GP35's I am planning on building into Ann Arbor and DT&I models.  My question to this board is what would you do for the low nose treatment?  I know I need to add a bell housing on the low nose right side (for both roads) and a headlight on the front of the Ann Arbor units.  I plan on using Bowser AAR type B truck sideframes on the Ann Arbor units as well. 

Thanks for your responses.

 

[dti406]

A couple of ideas, join the DT&I io group, as there are drawings of the placement of the nose bell. Also note that the DT&I and Ann Arbor GP35 are of different phases and the DT&I have 7 hood latches and the Ann Arbor units have 3 hood latches. I am going to use the RS2 trucks from Kato in my Ann Arbor build and to do so one needs to have the frame milled out to accomodate the hump in the RS2 truck. Also the fuel tank on the Ann Arbor units has to be shortened to accomodate the Alco trucks as they are longer than the EMD trucks.

Rick Jesionowski

[dtinut]

Rick makes some good suggestions.
The nose bell is not hard to do.

If you are making several - the easiest thing to do is to determine the dimensions of the bell housing (depth) and then build up a couple blocks of styrene the you can then clamp together, and then using a drill bit that is closest in size to the width of the opening - drill a vertical hole between the blocks of styrene, and what you ned up with is 2 halves - with a rounded opening in them. these can then be cut apart, and glued to the inside of the shell/nose, once you have carved the opening into the side of the nose.
Make a plate for the top that you can mount the bell to, and glue into place. The last part - is making the sloped bottom plate. - this will be u-shaped and should fit in at an angle sloping for the inside to the bottom of the opening. Make it longer than needed- and once the glue is dried - trim off the excess. This is the easy method to do this.

If you decide to use the Kato RS-2 trucks - as Rick mentioned - you will need to have the frame milled to fit the trucks, as the trucks have a gear bump that must have space to fit into. I have milled a few of these - and if you are interested - shoot me a PM, and we can arrange for some milling service. I am cheap! :-)

I have built several myself, and I usually build mine using P2K GP30 drives which came with the AAR-B trucks to begin with, as it required a lot less work/cost to build.
I use Kato GP35 shells and P2K GP30 drives.

Back when Atlas used to have parts available for purchase - the easy thing for the nose headlight - was to grab a few of the Atlas SD35 (Atl PN:950200) shells that included the nose headlight already molded in place. Cut the nose off the shell, and replace it on the Kato model. But Atlas no longer sells those parts.... I just checked.

[fr8kar]

Here's a part I made a few years ago for the bell:

shpws.me/OSxC

This part is designed to replace the engineer's side of a Cannon and Co. nose kit. You can do four noses with this part.

[dti406]

Regarding noses, Athearn has the proper nose available as a part but still have to cut the opening for the bell.

Rick Jesionowski

[amrec99]

Guys,

Thanks for the replies and suggestions! The reason Atlas has no more SD35/SDP35 undec shells in stock is that I bought the last ones for just that reason! I am also looking at getting the shapeway parts as well for the cannon kits and putting in the headlight notch and fixture. There was a guy on Shapeway (Dave Cutting) that had an N scale low nose for AA (and NKP) Atlas GP35's and I have been trying to contact him to see if it can be done in HO scale. That would certainly be handy.

DTINUT, I have several spare Kato GP35 frames and RS-2 trucks and I want to try that out, so I will be contacting you on that. Did you attend the DT&I modelers meet in Springfield this past July? If so, I was drooling over your AA and DTI models! We talked a bit about AA GP35's then.

As an aside, I am looking to do the lone NKP GP35 and several Wabash GP35's as well.

Again, thanks for the great ideas.

[dtinut]

Dec 13, 2023 4:59:41 GMT -8 amrec99 said:

Guys,


DTINUT, I have several spare Kato GP35 frames and RS-2 trucks and I want to try that out, so I will be contacting you on that. Did you attend the DT&I modelers meet in Springfield this past July? If so, I was drooling over your AA and DTI models! We talked a bit about AA GP35's then.

Hi amrec99,

Yep, went with my friend Kenny to the meet.
You must have had a bib on as I did not notice any drool on my models... hahah.
Glad you enjoyed the meet.

Regards,
Brian

[amrec99]

Rick, I looked at the Athearn low hoods and I ordered the one that had the vertical lights. My other hobby passion is Santa Fe passenger train operations so I ordered some items for F unit detailing. Thanks for the information.

Brian, Bill Mapes lives few miles away and he and I are part of an operating group on a friends layout.

Long live the orange!

Thanks all, Jim

[amrec99]

Rick, just received the athearn nose you spoke about and it is NOT the one used on AA GP35 units. The headlight sits too high on the nose, just below the curve from the top of the nose. It will be good practice to cut the bell notch as comes in a 3 pack!

Brian, I tried to send a PM about getting kato gp35 frames to you and the particulars involved and I'm not sure I sent it correctly. Please try to PM me and see if that works.

Thanks,
Jim

[dtinut]

Hi Jim,

Ah - you live near Mapes eh?
Do you ever operate at Dan Adair's?
He's got a cool PRR/PC/CR layout depending on the time of year...
I enjoyed operating on his layout a couple years ago.
Actually know several guys who go over there - Jesse, Greg, Kevin, Bill.

I sent you an email about the mill-work that I can offer for you.

Regards,
Brian