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Post by fishbelly on Jun 16, 2022 10:43:07 GMT -8
I bought three undecorated GP9's from the latest run of Walthers GP9's. I want to get more when they offer them again. Overall, GREAT model. I am not sorry, the Proto models just looks GREAT and the Athearn model is going to have to take a back seat on this one.
I did have one issue with all three models and it may be with others people have purchased as well. The rear of the frame is tweaked downward a little. Enough to pull the rear deck and step wells inboard to be very noticeable. This should be an easy fix by tweaking the frame to true it up. When it is time to build these. I will fix it.
Other than the frame, I really like the rework of the shell that Walthers did. Makes the model much more modeler friendly. I hope Walthers offers this model again soon and in undecorated. I would be in for a minimum of three, maybe six more.
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Post by packer on Jun 16, 2022 11:22:56 GMT -8
I Makes the model much more modeler friendly I’m curious what they did to make it more user friendly? |
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Post by edwardsutorik on Jun 16, 2022 11:26:26 GMT -8
Yeah, Walthers has done good things with their old P2K diesels. One thing, for example, is going over to wire grabs instead of the old cast plastic ones.
They haven't arrived quite yet, though. The last UP Geeps they did have obviously incorrect fuel tanks.
Ed
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Post by Baikal on Jun 16, 2022 11:26:28 GMT -8
I bought three undecorated GP9's from the latest run of Walthers GP9's. I want to get more when they offer them again. Overall, GREAT model. I am not sorry, the Proto models just looks GREAT and the Athearn model is going to have to take a back seat on this one. I did have one issue with all three models and it may be with others people have purchased as well. The rear of the frame is tweaked downward a little. Enough to pull the rear deck and step wells inboard to be very noticeable. This should be an easy fix by tweaking the frame to true it up. When it is time to build these. I will fix it. Other than the frame, I really like the rework of the shell that Walthers did. Makes the model much more modeler friendly. I hope Walthers offers this model again soon and in undecorated. I would be in for a minimum of three, maybe six more.
The latest Walthers GP9s look very nice. Upgraded since the P2K brown box days for sure. I think the Proto/Walthers units look better in the cab side/window/roof area. I haven't measured, but the Athearn looks off somehow. Not a deal killer.
One problem Athearn GP9B's have is that the doors on the new short hood end are not rendered the same as they are on the long hood. The short hood doors are cut into the shell reminisicent of the olde slotted tank Atlas stuff
Having two different door styles on the same unit draws attention.
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Post by fishbelly on Jun 16, 2022 11:42:23 GMT -8
I Makes the model much more modeler friendly I’m curious what they did to make it more user friendly? Lots of features changed. New much better looking cab without the huge gaps in the movable doors. The fan cavities are much cleaner. I have to see how well the opening is Cannon fans, but they look good. Much smaller holes for wire grabs. Fuel and air tanks made from gluable plastic and look much better. You get two hoods. One DB and one non-DB because the hatches are molded on so no unsightly gaps were the hatch meets the hood. Overall for those of us that like to roll our own models. It is a VERY good platform. I really appreciate Walthers attitude about undecorated models. Both Walthers and Atlas still understand that this is a hobby and that there are people that like to "build" their own models. Huge + in my book. |
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Post by tom on Jun 16, 2022 13:48:57 GMT -8
I agree. I have been very pleased with my three Walthers GP9s. Walthers upgraded that already well done P2K unit including correcting the roof to sides contour.   To me the overall look of the Walthers GP9 looks right. Was not happy with my Genesis one. |
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Post by Baikal on Jun 16, 2022 14:37:38 GMT -8
I agree. I have been very pleased with my three Walthers GP9s. Walthers upgraded that already well done P2K unit including correcting the roof to sides contour. To me the overall look of the Walthers GP9 looks right. Was not happy with my Genesis one.
Those PC units look just right. Walthers units proportions look right, hood deatil is not too deep or shallow, handrails get an A-. Stuff that's hard to correct.
Nice weathering too.
Are those the current Walthers trucks?
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Post by cera2254 on Jun 16, 2022 14:46:35 GMT -8
My only gripe with these is that they still use the awful MU hoses like they always have. Other than that though, they do look sharp and I’ve been very tempted to spring for a PC version.
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Post by tom on Jun 16, 2022 15:15:14 GMT -8
[/quote] Those PC units look just right. Walthers units proportions look right, hood deatil is not too deep or shallow, handrails get an A-. Stuff that's hard to correct. Nice weathering too. Are those the current Walthers trucks?
[/quote] Yes they are. They are molded in styrene so easy to assemble and glue. I replace the supplied MU hoses with Kato ones that I purchased a long time ago. |
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Post by fishbelly on Jun 16, 2022 16:11:28 GMT -8
I really like Kato MU hoses. I use them on everything that I can.
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Post by grahamline on Jun 17, 2022 18:31:28 GMT -8
Wonder what happens with Rapido throwing another GP9 shell and drive into the mix?
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wsor
Full Member
The Route of the Ruptured Duck
Posts: 138
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Post by wsor on Jun 17, 2022 18:49:22 GMT -8
I have a couple of the later Trainline GP9s. Same drive. Fans are molded on, but look decent to me. No grab irons (add on kit is available), have to drill holes for them. The basic shape and proportions look right, including the dynamic grilles, and the fuel tank isn't warped. I got a GTW pair with sound, and they are set up for long hood forward, as they should be. Crew in cab even faces forward.
I purchased these to swap drives under older shells, but I might not follow through. The phase 3 GP9s from way back have some issues with the dynamic section.
The Trainline ones might be a better deal for rolling your own, if the basic body shell is the one desired.
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Post by cemr5396 on Jun 17, 2022 19:38:17 GMT -8
I have a couple of the later Trainline GP9s. Same drive. Fans are molded on, but look decent to me. No grab irons (add on kit is available), have to drill holes for them. The basic shape and proportions look right, including the dynamic grilles, and the fuel tank isn't warped. I got a GTW pair with sound, and they are set up for long hood forward, as they should be. Crew in cab even faces forward. I purchased these to swap drives under older shells, but I might not follow through. The phase 3 GP9s from way back have some issues with the dynamic section. The Trainline ones might be a better deal for rolling your own, if the basic body shell is the one desired. You mean the Mainline GP9? It's basic, but your are right, it is a nice model with a little bit of work. The fat body Trainline GP9 is an absolute turd. |
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Post by fr8kar on Jun 17, 2022 20:00:48 GMT -8
including correcting the roof to sides contour. It's been awhile since I've seen the roof of one of these, but am I remembering correctly that they moved the roof radius outside of the outer edge of the fan hatches either by decreasing the width of the hatches or by decreasing the radius? The outer edges of the hatches curl over the roof radius for an inch or two, so if the model doesn't reflect that it's wrong. |
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Post by edwardsutorik on Jun 17, 2022 20:11:46 GMT -8
The roof curve radius is 6", as demonstrated by "some guy", who took a photo of a framing square against the body.
And the prototype roof hatches do follow the curve. And this happened on the P2K. I just checked.
Ed
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Post by markfj on Jun 18, 2022 3:50:23 GMT -8
Mike Turner is the guy who took the photos referenced above. Actually, he took “a lot” of photos and for that I’m very appreciative. Nothing like getting the dimensions from the real thing! Roof contour photos are about in the middle of the page. Link down below: GP9 Measurements and Details Photos by Mike TurnerThanks, Mark J. Reading, PA |
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Post by 12bridge on Jun 18, 2022 8:41:00 GMT -8
One thing to note, that nobody has yet to get correct on a GP9 model is the roof lift rings. Everybody does 4 per hatch, whereas only the first generations GP7's had this before EMD went to two per hatch. Another thing changed on later models (I do not know if this happened on late GP9s, or what), but they got away from using a journal box cover for the sand fill and went to just a metal cover.
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Post by lvrr325 on Jun 18, 2022 9:58:53 GMT -8
I have a couple of the later Trainline GP9s. Same drive. Fans are molded on, but look decent to me. No grab irons (add on kit is available), have to drill holes for them. The basic shape and proportions look right, including the dynamic grilles, and the fuel tank isn't warped. I got a GTW pair with sound, and they are set up for long hood forward, as they should be. Crew in cab even faces forward. I purchased these to swap drives under older shells, but I might not follow through. The phase 3 GP9s from way back have some issues with the dynamic section. The Trainline ones might be a better deal for rolling your own, if the basic body shell is the one desired. You mean the Mainline GP9? It's basic, but your are right, it is a nice model with a little bit of work. The fat body Trainline GP9 is an absolute turd. The Trainline low nose shell originated when Cox had their own tooling made after a couple of years of selling Athearn as their own; it's basically cloned from an Athearn shell with the low nose to make it different and some simplification of other parts. I always found it ironic it's lived this long, even past retirement of the model it was cloned from. Good model to get a kid started but that's about it. |
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Post by tom on Jun 19, 2022 13:21:37 GMT -8
Here is a photo of my third Walthers GP9 (Mainline). The photo angle shows what I think is a well executed model proportionally wise. Walthers did update the rood contour and looks correct to me. I did cut the side skirting to match the prototype plus removed the seam in the fuel tank and added the round fuel gauge. The Walthers version of the tank is molded in styrene so that made it easier to modify.  Here is a closeup of the roof area. Fans are adequate but certainly not Cannon quality but makes for a good overall model.  |
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Post by sd80mac on Jun 20, 2022 6:29:54 GMT -8
The Walthers Proto GP7/9 really is one of the best HO diesels on the market. It's a near-perfect blend of great detail, durability, pulling power, and smooth running.
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Post by riogrande on Jun 20, 2022 6:59:44 GMT -8
I bought from the recent batch of Walthers Proto GP9's (Rio Grande of course) and looking forward to running them.
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wsor
Full Member
The Route of the Ruptured Duck
Posts: 138
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Post by wsor on Jun 20, 2022 15:00:24 GMT -8
You mean the Mainline GP9? It's basic, but your are right, it is a nice model with a little bit of work. The fat body Trainline GP9 is an absolute turd. Correct, the Mainline. I can even see the boxes from my computer desk, and still put the wrong branding down...   |
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Post by riogrande on Nov 10, 2024 10:27:51 GMT -8
So I've managed to remove the shell from a dcc ready Walthers ProtoGP9 but the circuit board is not on top the motor but rather way up in the roof of the shell. Has anyone installed a decoder and how did you get to the board?
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Post by milgentrains on Nov 10, 2024 12:04:08 GMT -8
I have four of the Mainline GP-9's with another one on the way. I 'm happy with then just the way they are.
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Post by tom on Nov 10, 2024 12:10:51 GMT -8
So I've managed to remove the shell from a dcc ready Walthers ProtoGP9 but the circuit board is not on top the motor but rather way up in the roof of the shell. Has anyone installed a decoder and how did you get to the board? Not sure I know what you mean by the roof of the shell? On my dcc ready Walthers GP9 (and the one that came with a Loksound decoder) there was a board that was installed on top of the frame. The 21-pin decoder just plugged right in. This worked fine but I wanted more room to install a DYI stay alive so I installed a Decoder Buddy where the original board was. Photo shows the frame with the Decoder Buddy, stay alive, a couple of weights and the replacement Scale Sound Systems speaker.  |
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Post by locochris on Nov 10, 2024 13:35:58 GMT -8
So I've managed to remove the shell from a dcc ready Walthers ProtoGP9 but the circuit board is not on top the motor but rather way up in the roof of the shell. Has anyone installed a decoder and how did you get to the board? Did you accidentally unscrew the weights as well? That could be why it's on the roof. |
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Post by riogrande on Nov 10, 2024 14:51:45 GMT -8
It's not on the roof but when I removed the chassis it came free and when I look up into the shell I see the circuit board. I put the shell back on and there are screws at the ends on the bottom that are just inside from the coupler boxes. Is that what you mean unscrewed from the weight. So I put those back in but so far the chassis didn't want to budge and take more with it. Maybe it's a tight fit.
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Post by locochris on Nov 10, 2024 22:02:44 GMT -8
I just remember when I first started working on Walthers locos a few years ago I removed the screws from the weights and then when I took the shell off the circuitboard and the weights were in the shell. So I had to put it back on and screw the weights back in. Then when I removed the shell the board and weights stayed on the chassis.
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Post by wagnersteve on Nov 11, 2024 14:17:41 GMT -8
Veterans' Day, starting about 5:11 p.m., EST
I don't plan to buy any of the Walthers Mainline GP9s announced this month, but I certainly do like several of the paint schemes they will wear, including the CV one from the 1960s I've seen, the IC one that I saw in central Illiinois in 1970, the SP one that I like better than the later "bloody nose" livery, as well as the older Son Line paint job and the later but attractive L&N one. I'm particularly fond of the C&O livery Walthers is doing, which I much prefer to the later, simplified livery with sans serif initials; I'm partial to the C&O's use of a Roman road name with the words' first initials larger, which both it and the Northern Pacific used on steam locos. As the old time Romans said, de gustibus non est disputandum ("there shoudl be no arguing about tastes").
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Post by riogrande on Nov 11, 2024 16:46:10 GMT -8
I just remember when I first started working on Walthers locos a few years ago I removed the screws from the weights and then when I took the shell off the circuit board and the weights were in the shell. So I had to put it back on and screw the weights back in. Then when I removed the shell the board and weights stayed on the chassis. I believe I put the chassis back on and screwed to the weights, which I think are the screws just inside of the coupler boxes. I've tried to remove the shell from the chassis/weights but so far I couldn't get it to budge. |
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