Building the SL-SF GP7 593 (HO)

Discussion in 'Electo-Motive Division (EMD)' started by gjslsffan, Jan 26, 2017.

  1. gjslsffan

    gjslsffan Staff Member Staff Member

    I have several undecorated P2K GP7's, That will be Frisco locos. Never enough GP7's right? Want to do a full B/Y striped loco with the trimmed skirts on the sides, a fairly late rendition of the loco. Anyways chose this one as there was images I viewed on line;

    http://condrenrails.com/Frisco Catalog/EMD-GP7s.htm

    http://frisco.org/mainline/2015/07/03/gp7-593/

    Gonna be doing three of these, but I don't know if I will do them all at the same time, seems more of a job doing it that way sometimes, but who knows, maybe I will get motivated and go for it. Gathering parts right now for the 593.
    More to come.
     
    Last edited: Jan 26, 2017
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  2. Jim James

    Jim James Staff Member Staff Member

    Great! I love build threads.
     
  3. Sirfoldalot

    Sirfoldalot Frisco.org Supporter Frisco.org Supporter

    Me Too, Jim James.
    Really like that second B&W photo of #593 in the "RT Collection". Enlarged ... it shows unbelievable detail.
    Go for it, Tom!

    Add: WHOA, Nellie! #593 shows two different Types of Spark Arrests?
     
    Last edited: Jan 27, 2017
  4. I look forward to this too Tom. I have a couple to do as well. I will let you work out all the bugs and I will ride your coat tails!! HAHA
     
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  5. Joe Lovett

    Joe Lovett Member

    I will be looking forward to your project as well, Tom. Good luck!!!

    Joe
     
  6. gjslsffan

    gjslsffan Staff Member Staff Member

    Thanks,
    Jim, Sherrel, Steve and Joe. Been doing these builds for a while now, will try to keep it interesting, but sorry no DCC instructions. I know there will be some grief over this but oh well here we go.

    First things first, is to completely dis-assemble the model. As with all the other P2k models I have worked on, every single plastic axle was split, also you can see the worm gears and the hard dried out grease that is also common with P2K models. All will get fixed, re-lubed and re-assembled. to get a free rolling quiet chassis. A lot of parts come with this undec model some will get used, some wont.

    DSCN1552.JPG

    DSCN1557.JPG
     
  7. yardmaster

    yardmaster Administrator Staff Member Administrator Frisco.org Supporter

    Looking forward to more, Tom. I've always enjoyed the Geeps with their full allotment of stripes.

    Best Regards,
     
  8. meteor910

    meteor910 2009 Engineer of the Year Staff Member Frisco.org Supporter

    Yep, all P2K modelers need to have a supply of replacement axle gears!

    K
     
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  9. tmfrisco

    tmfrisco Member Frisco.org Supporter

    How accurate is the P2K model of the Frisco version as compared to the Atlas model which is not a perfect match for the numbers on the rtr models?

    I, also enjoy the work you do, Tom, and am looking forward to the finished model. While I do have several GP7 models, I must say that as an engineer who ran them in the 1970s, I was not happy to see one in the lead on the train I caught.
    Terry
     
    Last edited: Jan 30, 2017
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  10. gjslsffan

    gjslsffan Staff Member Staff Member

    Thank You - Chris, Ken and Terry.

    Chris - I too have enjoyed seeing those old Geeps with all the stripes, this will have them all, there is a lot more yellow on these than one would think.
    Ken - I need to send Walthers a box of broken plastic axles to be replaced, wow they all broke every single one.
    Terry - That is a great question about phases and such. I can't speak of the P2K Ph1, all I have is P2K Ph2. I have leaned on my good friend Ken Wulfert for this and tried to do some research on same., BTW his memory is better than my notes, and I am, well, young enough to be his son, LOL, as always thank you Ken, just a great resouce for information.

    We have found the following; SLSF 500-524 (Ph1??) did not have the small box behind the Firemen's side (FS) rear of cab. SLSF 525-632 (Ph2??) did have same. Some GP7's from the second SLSF order had the horizontal slots in the side "skirts" some did not, so who knows, my intent is to model the trimmed shirts as reflected in later images of both Ph1/Ph2 models. Personally I have always favored trimmed skirts, but that's just me.

    I will be using the flared spark arrestors and not the giant screens atop the flared arrestors.

    A question Terry. What was you heartburn with these old Geeps? We had a rebuilt Geep here in GJ, I think a GP10 here for a bit, it was awfully light in the loafers, "wouldn't pull the hat of your head", as my Grandpa used to say. They lasted a long time on our Frisco, I'm not in favor of high "pelican nose" units at all for visibility reasons. I would really like to hear what your thoughts were concerning these locos. I understand they were good switch engines, in that at throttle 1 they were making power.. But would like to hear from you or anyone else about these old soldiers.

    Would like to hear from anyone modeling, prototype or otherwise about these GP7's, just a great topic to model and discuss.
    Please carry on my Friends,
     
    Last edited: Jan 29, 2017
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  11. klrwhizkid

    klrwhizkid Administrator Staff Member Administrator Frisco.org Supporter

    Good luck; last I had heard Walthers stopped supporting those old P2K models several years back. You will have to replace the gears with Athearn 60024. Be sure to use a drill bit to open them up ever so slightly so the axle stubs fit snug but do not over-stress the replacement gears.
     
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  12. gjslsffan

    gjslsffan Staff Member Staff Member

    Thanks Keith,

    I have a drawer full of those gears and yep, I pre-drill every one before instillation. I hope Walthers didn't quit replacing the gears, we will see.
     
  13. tmfrisco

    tmfrisco Member Frisco.org Supporter

    Tom, my problems besides the visibility issue you mentioned, was: uncomfortable because of: noise, hot, poor cab lights at night and a "toad stool seat", and the BL6 brake valve which did not maintain the brake pipe after a reduction resulting in the brakes setting up tighter and tighter if we had a leak in the train line which was common. As to the latter issue, I remember having a hospital train one trip and the leakage was so bad, I had to use the feed valve to set the brakes--violation of the rules, but effective. I know that comfort was part of my problem with them, and when comparing them to steam locomotives, they were better, but with the other units available then with the 2nd generation units, they were much less desirable.
    Terry
     
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  14. Coonskin

    Coonskin Member

    "I will be using the flared spark arrestors and not the giant screens atop the flared arrestors."

    If you are talking about the rectangular box arrestors that started appearing in the early 1970's, I understand the roundhouse crews at Ft. Smith were responsible for developing those and fitting them to the Geeps that had them. I also understand the exhaust flow was improved by them, thus resulting in marginally more power.
     
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  15. gjslsffan

    gjslsffan Staff Member Staff Member

    Thanks Terry,
    I can certainly empathize with your comments on the heat and toad stool seats man those things will tear your back up.

    Thanks Andre;
    interesting info, I guess a guy could get some of that tight woven brass screen and bend those screens up.

    Managed to get the skirts trimmed, DW horn, DW fire cracker antenna, and DW spark arrestors added, now to add the stock accessories. Made this jig a few years ago for the brake cyl lines for geeps, added DW speed recorder.

    Anyway a few progress photos.

    DSCN1563.JPG
    DSCN1568.JPG
    DSCN1560.JPG
    DSCN1571.JPG
     
  16. Ozarktraveler

    Ozarktraveler Member

    I just purchased some of these gears for a Racehorse unit. Athearn still offers them. They shipped today.
     
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  17. Joe Lovett

    Joe Lovett Member

    Tom, would you please post a photo of the tool you used.

    Joe
     
  18. klrwhizkid

    klrwhizkid Administrator Staff Member Administrator Frisco.org Supporter

    The tool is the third picture in Tom's post.
     
  19. gjslsffan

    gjslsffan Staff Member Staff Member

    What was the inside color of the cab on these geeps?
     
  20. Joe Lovett

    Joe Lovett Member

    Thank you Keith.

    Joe
     

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