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Post by spookyac47 on Sept 27, 2015 10:28:28 GMT -8
Received Athearn Genesis PRR GP9B 7197B and 7178B Friday. Took 7197B out of the box and the shipping sleeve . . . no loose parts!! Took photos and put back in the box. Sorry, haven't compared it to photos yet or checked it against drawings with a micrometer and calipers . . .     The "scenery" in the background of the photos is a very weathered section of 4" x 4" wood. Photos were taken outside in sunlight. |
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Post by Amboy Secondary on Sept 27, 2015 11:08:08 GMT -8
Looks nice, Don. From the pictures, it looks right.
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Post by edwardsutorik on Sept 27, 2015 11:53:29 GMT -8
Yup, thanks. I'm down for a PC B unit. An unusual choice, considering that I model the Pacific Northwest.
Ed
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Post by spookyac47 on Sept 27, 2015 13:50:29 GMT -8
Back in my younger days as I was growing and evolving in model railroading, I somehow settled on the Pennsylvania Railroad as the one to model. At that period in time, the Athearn Bluebox was the majority provider of locomotives and rolling stock, Rivarossi being the source of steam locomotives (at least for me). Other manufacturers being Tyco, Mantua, AT&T (American Train and Track, producer of an ALCO C415), etc. As I learned more about the Pennsylvania Railroad, I discovered the oddball GP9B that was on their roster. I decided I needed to have one and set about modifying an Athearn Bluebox GP9 (GP7/GP9 crossbreed). Over a period of time, was able to patch together a representation of the GP9B. I wasn't aware of the fine points on the details, such as the blanked out number boards on the ends, the side equipment access hatches below the cab area being divided to permit installation of the handrail's extra stanchion. Although the final details were never installed, the unit was painted in Brunswick Green but decaled for my private railroad, Bear Creek Western (decals by the original Miller Advertising before they quit doing custom decals). Yeah, I know it's still a wide body, yeah, I forgot to remove the steam generator details on the roof of the short cab, yeah, I did not scribe the access door below the cab walkway to split the door into two for handrail installation, yeah, I didn't blank out the number boards on the end, yeah, I didn't shave off the cast on hand grabs and eyebolts and replace them with wire parts . . . But, it was an enjoyable project and ran really well (newer can motor with brass flywheels) when it was being used (hasn't been used for a few years now). Think the project may have been done 18-20 years ago . . .  Not quite as nice as the new Athearn Genesis GP9B but it filled the gap for a unique locomotive in my roster for many years. Still have two Proto 2000 GP9B project units partially done, got started before the Athearn announcement . . .might get finished some day. |
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Post by spookyac47 on Sept 27, 2015 13:54:16 GMT -8
Yup, thanks. I'm down for a PC B unit. An unusual choice, considering that I model the Pacific Northwest. Ed Wouldn't the Union Pacific version have been more likely to have been in your part of the world you are modeling? |
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Post by edwardsutorik on Sept 27, 2015 14:13:49 GMT -8
Yup, thanks. I'm down for a PC B unit. An unusual choice, considering that I model the Pacific Northwest. Ed Wouldn't the Union Pacific version have been more likely to have been in your part of the world you are modeling? Absolutely. Both of those UP fellas should be waiting at the shop for me right now. I probably would have gotten more, if Athearn had made them. But I've gotta have something to MU with my PC C430. It misses "family", and is sad. Ed |
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Post by BEDT26 on Sept 27, 2015 19:56:31 GMT -8
That's a sweet looking Beep,I'm also waiting for the Penn Central ones. :-)
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Post by Amboy Secondary on Sept 28, 2015 10:48:48 GMT -8
That's a sweet looking Beep,I'm also waiting for the Penn Central ones. :-) I'm also in for a PC unit. I also hope they do a PRR version with the 1966 number series and the Conrail version. CR in Baltimore used GP30s consisted with GP9Bs on Coal Trains. |
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Post by Rockin' Rick on Oct 2, 2015 6:47:05 GMT -8
Sigh....as usual, it's too green. Nice detailing and lettering, but that's not DGLE.
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Post by edwardsutorik on Oct 2, 2015 11:31:49 GMT -8
I picked up my ABBA set of UP GP's yesterday. And an Atlas UP S2 switcher. The four GP9's are all consisted today, and they run beautifully. And the switcher even better. I got them all with sound, and am not sorry. The Tsunami SEEMS a bit thin compared to the Loksound, but we're comparing EMD to Alco so...... It's also a neat co-incidence that these locos make a nice little set to operate in 1960. The lettering on the Athearns had just been initiated a couple of years earlier. And the switcher keeps its earlier lettering. The colors don't match, but it doesn't approach appalling. Or even irritating. The Atlas has a yellow that's a tad redder (looking maybe more correct?  ?), while it's grey is lighter. Since the paint job would likely have been older than the GP's, I'll buy the grey. The yellow might be weathered a bit. Someday. The Atlas switcher is a SUPERB model switcher. Great sound. Good weight. Very smooth running. It's a pleasure to operate. That's why I bought this one after buying the GN one. I am REALLY REALLY looking forward to an SP&S version. Well several versions, really. One happy train player, Ed PS: ATLAS!: If you need help on your SP&S versions, you can contact me. Builder's photos? Yup. And I know people who know people who know things. Really. |
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Post by riogrande on Oct 2, 2015 11:51:33 GMT -8
Ed, so cool and glad to read your good report. Those are all very cool diesels and it makes me wish I could afford to have more impulse buys! hah hah.
Cheers
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Post by middledivision on Oct 2, 2015 12:30:46 GMT -8
Sigh....as usual, it's too green. Nice detailing and lettering, but that's not DGLE. Agreed. The green should almost match the trucks and fuel tank. Dark Green Locomotive Enamel only looked green the day it was delivered and in bright sun! |
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Post by spookyac47 on Oct 3, 2015 7:49:15 GMT -8
Sigh....as usual, it's too green. Nice detailing and lettering, but that's not DGLE. Agreed. The green should almost match the trucks and fuel tank. Dark Green Locomotive Enamel only looked green the day it was delivered and in bright sun! Unfortunately, it is what it is and with the lack of undecorated versions, it will have to do! At my age, have to enjoy what is currently available and not hope for a better version 3 or 4 years down the road . . . |
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Post by theengineshed on Oct 3, 2015 11:01:38 GMT -8
Sigh....as usual, it's too green. Nice detailing and lettering, but that's not DGLE. Agreed. The green should almost match the trucks and fuel tank. Dark Green Locomotive Enamel only looked green the day it was delivered and in bright sun! To be fair, the OP took the photos on the day they were delivered and in bright sunlight... |
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Post by Amboy Secondary on Oct 3, 2015 19:35:02 GMT -8
For what it's worth, color perception is very subjective. The photos posted by the OP look alright to me, a bit clean, but otherwise OK. The actual paint color varied per drum of paint, and only lasted in that tone until the loco left the paint shop. Use of DGLE was "officially" discontinued on February 1, 1968, and that's over 47 years ago. Memory, drift cards and Kodachrome all fade over time. As Don said it is what it is... I'm waiting for the PC version to come out, and hoping for a post 1966 version with modern road numbers and Keystones.
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Post by edwardsutorik on Oct 3, 2015 20:42:07 GMT -8
...Kodachrome all fade over time. Actually, it doesn't. See Wilhelm and Brower's "The Permanence and Care of Color Photographs". And those drums of paint. You assert that "The actual paint color varied per drum of paint..." How do you know that? I am assuming that you are stating that your noted variance was visually noticeable, because if it were not, your comment would appear pointless in this discussion. Ed |
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Post by gmpullman on Oct 3, 2015 21:25:07 GMT -8
Snip: Use of DGLE was "officially" discontinued on February 1, 1968, and that's over 47 years ago. Snip An interesting letter in regards to "standardizing" DGLE in the Penn-Central post merger days: Maybe it was just for fun or it was a jab at the NYC boys...  Interesting, to say the least... I see McGonegal and Sweetland's names in there. Maybe they would have some background information. Ed |
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Post by kentuckysouthernrwy on Oct 4, 2015 6:24:00 GMT -8
And those drums of paint. You assert that "The actual paint color varied per drum of paint..." How do you know that? I am assuming that you are stating that your noted variance was visually noticeable, because if it were not, your comment would appear pointless in this discussion. Ed It was always standard practice in the body shop I painted at to mix some of the 'newer' batch of paint with remaining stock on hand of the same color or to fade a new color from a repaired panel into the adjacent panel. This was to minimize the usual variation from batch to batch of paint. |
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Post by theengineshed on Oct 4, 2015 7:22:56 GMT -8
...Kodachrome all fade over time. Actually, it doesn't. See Wilhelm and Brower's "The Permanence and Care of Color Photographs". From W&B's book: "Kodachrome has the best dark storage dye stability of any color film, and Kodachrome, as a result of its unique, externalcoupler processing method, is the only color transparency film that remains completely free from yellowish stain formation during prolonged storage in the dark. Unfortunately, however,
Kodachrome has the worst projector-fading stability of any color
slide film on the market."Makes you think twice about putting your prize Kodachromes in a slide projector... |
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Post by edwardsutorik on Oct 4, 2015 8:29:00 GMT -8
The next (and last, probably) time any of my Kodachrome film will see light is when they're scanned.
Ed
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Post by edwardsutorik on Oct 18, 2015 15:59:58 GMT -8
A bit of an update:
I set up the UP Geep's (sound equipped) as a consist (ABBA) and happily ran them. Then I noticed the headlights wouldn't go on. I figured that might be related to my consisting, so I ignored it until I broke up the consist today. 3 of the 4 have hedlights (BOTH ENDS) that will not go on. And one does. (BOTH ENDS). Of especial interest is that when I turned on my system (NCE), the headlights on the unit facing me (one of the bad 3) flashed. So those bulbs are OK. I'm pretty sure it's some weird DCC thing. Which I'll have to figure out.
Also, a couple of days ago, I put the Atlas S-2 on the track and powered up. A flash in the cab, and it's dead. I'd been running it regularly. The Geep consist was on the tracks at the time, and it happily started up just fine.
C'est le bummeur!
Ed
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Post by Spikre on Oct 19, 2015 12:32:39 GMT -8
 Ed, Your DCC System is trying to prove that It is Smarter than You. take it out behind the Woodshed and give it what it deserves. or trash it and get an Up To Date System. there is a System called DC that doesn't have such problems. Spikre 
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Post by Paul Cutler III on Oct 20, 2015 10:25:29 GMT -8
Spikre,
Ha! DC doesn't have problems? Try floating blocks that don't float, or block relays that won't switch, or common grounds that come undone, resistors that go bad, or pots/rheos that wear out. There's lots of things that can go bad on DC layouts.
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Post by Spikre on Oct 20, 2015 12:34:06 GMT -8
 PaulC-3, seems that Your Not Tapping into Your Inner Lyn Wescott strongly enuff !! Spikre 
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