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Post by fiend540 on Apr 30, 2014 18:36:06 GMT -8
Is there a write up somewhere that shows the steps in replacing fans with a cannon or similar replacement? I have a kato gp35 that I got cheap at a show and I plan on making it my first real attempt at major upgrading.
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Post by Spikre on Apr 30, 2014 18:44:17 GMT -8
 Brian, do You have shots of the Ann Arbor Covered Hoppers shown in the diagrams in front of the GP35s ? for a small road they seemed to paint each car differently. Spikre 
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will
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Post by will on May 2, 2014 3:19:33 GMT -8
Plano makes just the piece you need; #11862 Brass plate for Cannon fans. Just remove existing fans and plate from shell, then install plate and fans. Lots of other good parts to detail a GP35 as well. www.planomodelproducts.com/dieseld_scq.html Will Brian, do You have shots of the Ann Arbor Covered Hoppers shown in the diagrams in front of the GP35s ? for a small road they seemed to paint each car differently. Spikre |
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will
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Post by will on May 2, 2014 3:30:02 GMT -8
In regards to AAR trucks under GP35s, how many railroads equipped their 35's with them? I can think of four, Ann Arbor, GM&O, ICG, and Southern.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 2, 2014 5:06:33 GMT -8
In regards to AAR trucks under GP35s, how many railroads equipped their 35's with them? I can think of four, Ann Arbor, GM&O, ICG, and Southern. ICG's were the former GM&O's Add. SLSF Frisco numbers 725-732 - later Burlington 2575-2582 - 726(BN2576), 729(BN2579), 730(BN2580) rebuilt as GP39E 2915, 2918, 2924 respectively. Standard Blomberg B's replaced the Type B's during the GP39E upgrading. All others retired by BN in the mid-1980's. Soo Line 722 - only Soo GP35 to ride on Type B's - retired mid to early 1980's Toledo Peoria & Western 900-902 - later AT&SF 3461-3463 . Went to Santa Fe in January 1984 and got patched with AT&SF number. Rebuilt in December 1984 and January 1985 at San Bernardino into GP35u's 2961-2963. During rebuilding the three had dynamic brakes added and the Type B trucks swapped for Blomberg B's. |
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Post by dtinut on May 4, 2014 18:46:43 GMT -8
MILW had GP30's on AAR - B trucks, but not GP35's. AnnArbor did paint their hoppers different, but it was with each order they did, and re-paints could get the color changed, but not too often. Craig Wilson made a AA Freight Car book (softcover) that is/was available through the AARRT&HS, I have a copy that has fallen apart. It had many diagrams for the various schemes they used. Some were black, some were gray, some were an off white, and then after Michigan interstate took control in 1977, they got some on lease from the P&LE painted in the FinF scheme (orange). Here are a few of them I have done.    Brian |
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Post by Donnell Wells on May 5, 2014 5:21:43 GMT -8
Hi Brian,
I have a request as well. Do you have any other pictures of the reworked Bachmann GP35?
Donnell
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Post by dtinut on May 7, 2014 7:18:32 GMT -8
Hi Donnell, I looked through my photos, and I didn't find any more in progress shots of the Bachmann model - sorry about that. I took a few shots though with my iPhone after paint and decals - still need to bend the railings.      Regards, Brian |
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Post by dtinut on May 7, 2014 7:19:41 GMT -8
BTW - I grafted Athearn sideframes onto the Bachmann trucks
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 7, 2014 11:04:57 GMT -8
Here is the RPP model next to the Bachmann I did a lot of work on.  Brian If you look carefully you can see the height difference between the RPP body and the Bachmann. As I stated earlier the RPP shell is about a scale foot to short from the walkway to the top of the roof. |
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Post by Spikre on May 9, 2014 12:16:53 GMT -8
Brian, thanks for the Covered Hopper pics,Great Looking Cars All !!! Spikre 
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scaro
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Post by scaro on Mar 10, 2015 11:17:41 GMT -8
Hi, I've just found this thread and interested that even in HO, if you get into down to specifics, the HO models have their flaws and still need work. Is the Bachmann GP35 or the Athearn blue box beyond salvation or are there going to be too many compromises ?
The blue box units surface a lot in the UK and don't cost much, can they be turned into a good GP35 with work? What 'phase' do either represent (if any).
Regards, Ben |
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Post by Great-Northern-Willmar Div on Mar 10, 2015 11:29:20 GMT -8
hi, I've just found this thread and interested that even in HO, if you get into down to specifics, the HO models have their flaws and still need work. Is the Bachmann GP35 or the Athearn blue box beyond salvation? The blue box units surface a lot in the UK and don't cost much, can they be turned into a good GP35 with work? What 'phase' do either represent (if any). Regards, Ben The Athearn blue box GP35 is a fat body. AKA the hood is much too wide. The tooling on the Athearn blue box GP35 is also some of the worst, if not the worst, tooling of any of the blue box units. Only the GP7/9 "whatcha ma call it" is close to the crudeness of the GP35 tooling. Can't speak for the Bachmann. Personally if you are going to put work into any HO GP35 get a Kato and forget the rest. |
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Post by Spikre on Mar 10, 2015 11:56:43 GMT -8
 Jimaloooey, the Actual Worst Athearn Tooling was the GP30 !! it was bad enuff to be deep6ed after 1966. next would be the Hustler,what was it really ?? that's a fact,,,jack !! Spikre 
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Post by Brakie on Mar 10, 2015 13:15:28 GMT -8
Jimaloooey, the Actual Worst Athearn Tooling was the GP30 !! it was bad enuff to be deep6ed after 1966. next would be the Hustler,what was it really ?? that's a fact,,,jack !! Spikre Bob,The Athearn GP30 was more like a scary creature or ghost in a nightmare. Uncle Irv should have hid in his office from shame. As far as the Hustler that thing could out run a 60 era slot car hands down.. |
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Post by Brakie on Mar 10, 2015 13:21:02 GMT -8
Hi, I've just found this thread and interested that even in HO, if you get into down to specifics, the HO models have their flaws and still need work. Is the Bachmann GP35 or the Athearn blue box beyond salvation or are there going to be too many compromises ?
The blue box units surface a lot in the UK and don't cost much, can they be turned into a good GP35 with work? What 'phase' do either represent (if any).
Regards, Ben Ben,Here's my take if you need GP35s to run for hours at the club during a open house the BB GP35 will get the job done. If you are needing GP35s for club or home operation nights then forget the BB GP35 and buy a Kato GP35. |
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Post by wp8thsub on Mar 10, 2015 13:33:51 GMT -8
The Athearn blue box GP35 is a fat body. AKA the hood is much too wide. The tooling on the Athearn blue box GP35 is also some of the worst, if not the worst, tooling of any of the blue box units. Only the GP7/9 "whatcha ma call it" is close to the crudeness of the GP35 tooling. Can't speak for the Bachmann. Let's not forget the Athearn SD45 and SDP40 which were in many respects interchangeable with the GP35 or close to it (cab, latches, fans, short hood, battery boxes, dynamic brake hatch). Bachmann's GP35 replicates many of the same errors. I still think it looks like Athearn tooling with the hood narrowed and a new cab. |
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scaro
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Post by scaro on Mar 10, 2015 14:40:05 GMT -8
It sounds like the Kato is the one, but does anyone know of any reviews of the Bachmann they could point me to? The AA unit looks nice. I'd expect to replace things like fans, but if they got all the latches on the doors wrong for example, that would be a pain.
It is interesting that there are comments here about the Athearn/RRP version being 1' too low, whereas on the old Atlas forum there was a comment about the Bachmann hood being too high (hence they compensated by reducing the fan height.) What I'd like to do is get a cheap engine with some correct-able flaws and do a bit of surgery, for enjoymnent. I remember in old issues of MR people made some very good locomotives from the likes of Bachmann GP40s, though how dimensionally correct they were, I don't know.
Regards,
Ben
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Post by TBird1958 on Mar 10, 2015 15:00:17 GMT -8
My .02 since I'm currently working thru a group of 5 Kato units........
Replacing the dated looking fans is difficult, I'm using Plano blades and grilles ( they're nice parts) filing out the fans is a major PITA.
I love the drive train and absolutely hate the chassis casting, the triangular sill has to be completely removed by milling it off if you want any detail aside from that ridiculous brass bell - again, major PITA.
I'll finish my 5, there won't be any more.
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Post by atsfan on Mar 10, 2015 15:32:54 GMT -8
It is not a gem but if you find a deal MTH also makes one.
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Post by Brakie on Mar 10, 2015 16:55:41 GMT -8
The Athearn blue box GP35 is a fat body. AKA the hood is much too wide. The tooling on the Athearn blue box GP35 is also some of the worst, if not the worst, tooling of any of the blue box units. Only the GP7/9 "whatcha ma call it" is close to the crudeness of the GP35 tooling. Can't speak for the Bachmann. Let's not forget the Athearn SD45 and SDP40 which were in many respects interchangeable with the GP35 or close to it (cab, latches, fans, short hood, battery boxes, dynamic brake hatch). Bachmann's GP35 replicates many of the same errors. I still think it looks like Athearn tooling with the hood narrowed and a new cab. The BB SD45 wasn't a bad looker in its time and it was the only SD45 available and still is a formable locomotive for hours of display running. I would not want to Compare that SD45 with a P2K Athearn RTR or Kato unless I like comparing a Model T to a Cadillac. |
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Post by Spikre on Mar 10, 2015 17:50:42 GMT -8
 February 2015 Model Railroad News has a review of the Bachman GP35. page 56,"Fresh From The Paintshop",but the model is factory painted. am I missing something here ? pages 56-58 are dedicated to an El GP35, in the E-Z DCC Line. the author sort of misses that the 1st EL GP35 order was for 12 units, not 11. the C424s came in 5-6/63,not 64,and came in the Black and Yellow paint, the only 2nd gen EL units so painted. also misses that EL got the 1st C425s in 10/64. the body flaws are acknowledged,but not gone into. a nice paint job on a 2nd rate body doesn't cut it here. nor does the list price of $109.00 for a formely $35.00 list loco that could be had for $19.99 if one looked around some. Spikre
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Post by theengineshed on Mar 10, 2015 17:58:09 GMT -8
The Kato Phase 1A is in shops now, undec and NYC. Undec price $90, NYC a bit more, they come with a 8 pin socket.
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Post by dti406 on Mar 10, 2015 18:27:51 GMT -8
It is not a gem but if you find a deal MTH also makes one. It's a gem alright, cubic zirconium. Rick J |
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Post by wp8thsub on Mar 10, 2015 18:51:31 GMT -8
I'd expect to replace things like fans, but if [Bachmann] got all the latches on the doors wrong for example, that would be a pain. Bachmann's latches on the nose and long hood are the same as Athearn's old blue box tooling. They have a T shape sitting atop a raised rectangle. Those on the battery box doors look different, and are somewhat better. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 10, 2015 18:54:29 GMT -8
The Kato Phase 1A is in shops now, undec and NYC. Undec price $90, NYC a bit more, they come with a 8 pin socket. Where are you seeing these for $90? |
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scaro
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Post by scaro on Mar 10, 2015 23:48:27 GMT -8
[quote author=" dtinut" source="/post/37044/thread" timestamp="1398822917" Here is a RPP with lots of other parts sitting on a P2K GP30drive  Here is the RPP model next to the Bachmann I did a lot of work on. Brian
Works for me!
[/quote][/p]
Which of the two in this picture is the RRP and which is the Bachmann? Am I right in that the painted unit is the RPP/Athearn?
There seems to be some negativity around the MTH GP35 but I'm having difficulty finding a list of what its actual faults are. Are there specific inaccuracies, or are their locos just possessed by evil spirits or something more esoteric?
Does anyone do thinner handrails for the Kato unit?
I've been burrowing into the debates about the height of Ph 1s being less than Ph2 but there doesn't seem to be final agreement on that, and it is about overall height, rather than long hood height specifically.
Regards
Ben
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Post by riogrande on Mar 11, 2015 4:09:23 GMT -8
Ben, welcome back to forum.
I think the negativity toward the MTH GP35 is partly due to the fact that it's a newly tooled model, and many feel if a company goes to the trouble to tool up a new model AND charge a fairly steep price for it, the expectations are pretty high regarding the models fidelity and running qualities. Maybe that falls under the "evil spirits" category for some?
Each time a new version of a particular model is released, people hope it will be significantly better than the best made beforehand. All previous GP35's had some short comings - the RPP was a major improvement over the Athearn blue box fat body GP35, so it had a place in the market at the time. By 1980's standards it was decent and much better than the old Athearn shell, but by todays standards where people expect much more accuracy and fidelity, they fall short for the HO purists. For those who are less demanding and want a decent "layout quality" model that they can run at clubs and looks good at 4 feet, they are fine.
So it may not be worth getting too worried about - especially for the cost. I can't speak to running qualities, I never owned an Athearn Rail Power Products based GP35 although I have been tempted as they have made 6 different D&RGW numbers - they would also require some cutting and filing to add the necessary Rio Grande nose signal lights which I don't want to have to do - "to do" list is too long already. The height problem seems to bother some people, others not so much.
As for KATO, the hand rails bother some more than others. If they really bother you, you could make your own - I'm pretty sure there are stanchions out there from Smokey Valley you could use and at worst bend your own tire to match. You will like the running qualities of the KATO!
BTW, did you say you were in the UK? I am married to a Brit; my wife and I were over in December to visit her family and take a trip down to London to the US Embassy for her sons immigration process. I did get a chance to visit a modeler in Sunderland and a club as well. What was really a hoot was getting a ride after the club visit back to town in a club members Cadillac Escalade - left hand drive!
Cheers
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scaro
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Post by scaro on Mar 11, 2015 8:19:18 GMT -8
Hullo Jim, yes I am in the UK though not from here originally, but it has become home.
The height problem in the RPP/Athearn long hood I am not sure is a problem or not, but if it's getting close to a foot too low, that does start to sound like it might be noticeable, to me anyway.
The Kato sounds like the best option.
Cheers, Ben
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Post by Spikre on Mar 11, 2015 8:33:39 GMT -8
James, the RPP GP35 came out around 92/93,not the 80s. the Kato GP35 came out around late 94,and still is the best Plastic Bodied GP35. would not pay over $20.00 for any rehashed RPP by RTR, no matter how many pounds of Road Specific details are stuck on them. they are still Sow's Ears that have out lived any usefulness they may have had 20 Years ago. Spikre
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