Soo Line EMD GP30's #702 & #703 703 Both Finished 07-29-18

[Great-Northern-Willmar Div]

Soo Line EMD GP30 #701

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Soo Line EMD GP30 #703




Began building a pair of Soo Line GP30's. I picked numbers 701 and 703. Soo 700 through 704 are the five GP30's which are closest to the phase which the Proto 2000 model represents. 

I changed the trucks to ALCo type B. The ALCo type B has a longer wheel base than the EMD type B. Proto actually got this right, so I switched the EMD's from the GP30 to a Rock Island ALCo FA-1m and vice versa.





Cannon & Co. steps replacing the too shallow steps of the Proto model.





Cannon & Co. radiator fans replacing the engineering plastic fans that come with the Proto model.





Plano models makes an etching kit to transform the delrin Proto 36" fan to a see through representation.







Front of the model with the Details West scale buffer, scratch built cut bar, plow, etc. This model will represent the Soo Line GP30 in the period between the as built look with foot boards and the last configuration with loops welded to the cut bar and some other little differences.







The Proto model does have the dynamic brake fan blanking plate. But it is still not prototypical. On the prototype both with and without dynamic brakes had a plate on the roof and then either the blanking panel or a fan. Plano Model makes a kit for both styles. This is of course the non-dynamic version. Much better look than the out of the box Proto model. 







The model with the winterization hatch in place(temporarily) for photos.



 





The winterization hatch is a modified Atlas SD24 part. The screen is from Plano Models.

[riogrande]

Looking really good! Can't wait to see the finished model!

[TBird1958]

Nice work! Looking real good so far Jim.

[tankcarsrule]

Jim, you do good work, and that's an understatement!

Bobby

[Great-Northern-Willmar Div]

I also have a CB&Q under construction. That model is a save courtesy of a screw up by me. I didn't realize I had detailed a Proto phase I sill for the Soo....
Trouble is ALL Soo GP30's are phase II. Now the "repeat after me......DUH....." moment came. I ding dong here, thought that the sills were the same for all phases. We all know this not true, because the sub-base under the short and the long fireman's side cab are different.......this is what happens when you are not paying attention...

[kentuckysouthernrwy]

Nice to see GP30s. Good looking progress, Jim.

[oldmuley]

I've got two on my workbench as we speak. #703 and #719 are just waiting on decals.

[Great-Northern-Willmar Div]

One unit is finally ready for paint. Send up the balloons.

[oldmuley]

Here's my take on WC 719 (nee Soo 719).

[Great-Northern-Willmar Div]

The GP30's which didn't get repainted by WC looked really ragged.

[Great-Northern-Willmar Div]

Finished up the 703. Now both models are ready for some Soo light gray and red.

[Great-Northern-Willmar Div]

703 in rough paint and some decals.

[fr8kar]

Love that paint scheme. It's especially pretty on the GP30.

I have a Cotton Belt GP30 that I'll be getting some Cannon fans for in a few days. I already have the Plano kit for the 36" fan. Anything I should know before getting started replacing the fans, Jim?

[Great-Northern-Willmar Div]

Jun 28, 2018 12:50:48 GMT -8 fr8kar said:

Love that paint scheme. It's especially pretty on the GP30.

I have a Cotton Belt GP30 that I'll be getting some Cannon fans for in a few days. I already have the Plano kit for the 36" fan. Anything I should know before getting started replacing the fans, Jim?

Since these fans are made out of slippery engineering plastic, they should be media blasted first to rough them up for paint. The sides and cap top are used on the Plano kit. Then when it is ready for paint, get out the Duplicolor Adhesion Promoter and follow the instructions on the can.

[fr8kar]

Thanks, Jim. I ended up using a Eurotool, which is a glass scratching pen, to scour the surface. In fact, I ended up using on almost all the delrin parts to get them ready for paint. The fan assembled very easy.

[Great-Northern-Willmar Div]

Getting a little closer.

[Great-Northern-Willmar Div]

[riogrande]

Beauty!

[nsc39d8]

Jim,

I have to say that GP30 looks wonderful! I have several in Southenr and N&W that I have not gotten around to doing the needed modifications on them. I might move them up the ladder after seeing your work here. I will say that two of them got aSoundtraxx Tsunami update to replace their QSI.

[Great-Northern-Willmar Div]

Soo Line EMD GP30 #702. This version of 702 would be late 60's to early 70's. It now has a snow plow on the front in place of the foot boards, but retains the foot boards on the rear pilot. No loops on the cut bars to facilitate a crew member from pulling the pin while still on the stairs.

[slowfreight]

I was taking notes on this build, as I have a factory-lettered GP30 that needs upgrading and weathering. I have been contemplating repowering it with the guts from a Kato RS3, and each truck has its strengths. Thoughts?

[Great-Northern-Willmar Div]

Jul 29, 2018 13:08:55 GMT -8 slowfreight said:

I was taking notes on this build, as I have a factory-lettered GP30 that needs upgrading and weathering. I have been contemplating repowering it with the guts from a Kato RS3, and each truck has its strengths. Thoughts?

Don't know about the Kato RS-3, but the Kato RS-2 trucks have molded on brake cylinders, whereas the Proto 2000 trucks have separately applied brake cylinders giving the trucks more relief. For me the swap of the EMD's to the FA and FB and the afford mentioned giving their ALCo B's to the Soo Line, was easy.