The exhaust stacks were scratch built using styrene channel. I took two pieces of channel and cut one of the sides off of each ( creating two L shaped pieces ) I glued the two parts together to create a box. I made one box structure about an inch long and cut it to approximate length using a chopper. To mount those, I drilled a hole in the middle of the original stack and the carved the hole to the size and shape required for the stack to fit snugly. ( what you can't see in the photo is that the hole is all inside the rivets molded into the Atlas shell.). For the steam generator, I used the steam generator parts Atlas uses on their steam generator equipped GP7s. There are dimples in the underside of the short hood to help locate those ( this is going to be really hard to photograph because of the tight spaces inside the shell but I might be able to manage. ). The stack extension is a piece of brass tubing cut to length and glued to the atlas plastic casting. I can give you sizes of the channel and tubing when I get back to my workbench. Incidentally, the horn I used on this one is an Atlas part. I think atlas made them for southern high hood GP38s, but I could be wrong. I can give you the atlas part number on these if you want it. You might be able to see a piece of brass wire running from the original horn location to the cab roof just under the horn. This is a detail clearly visible on the low numbered GP7s with roof mounted horns. Later units must have had the air piping re-routed through the cab instead of externally. For 502, I am using a BLMA 5 chime Leslie. Also, 502's air pipe is being routed along the cab front. I have some documentation that implies this was how it was supposed to be, but many units show the air pipe ( or it might be a hose) running straight from the corner where the cab meets the short hood to the air horn, as I did for 500. Paul
Thanks--I don't need any part numbers, I have some horns and I'll probably fabricate the stacks. I like your idea for the exhausts. TG
Working on my collection and these are, very nearly, the last locomotives I need to complete everything I want and everything (except countless U Boats and B30-7s) is now DCC. Any tips or clues on where I could find the 500 and/or the 502? Please? [Begging Switch Disengaged] Thanks, JFM
Just won the Atlas GP7 500 on EBay. Wahoo!!!! "Good Evening Folks. My name is John Moore and I am an Frisco N Scale Collect-O-Holic." I think I have an obsession. This GP7 is my 53rd Frisco diesel.
@FriscoCharlie and @Joe Lovett - I'll download an Excel roster that can be viewed very soon, but in the meantime, how about a video roster! I decided to put everything on the main lines, sidings, rip track and repair. 54 powered locomotives and 1 dummy (If you don't count me!) with 18 DC and 36 DCC. JFM
Also - I will leave his name out for privacy and he can tell everyone who he is, but.... THANKS SO MUCH for selling me the F7B #127 and the two Brass Hallmark models of the No Number GP7s that appeared in the video! Thank you!
Your roster is quite extensive, John! If you will, take a look at the list on the thread titled "Manufactured N Scale Releases Photos" and take photos of the railcars that are missing. I have 7 groups of railcars that I believe you have. You can email them to... joeblovett@hotmail.com I also believe you have railcars that I don't have on my matrix. Are some of the items custom painted, like the mail car and passenger cars towards the bottom of your list? I'm interested in anything not on my matrix!!! Manufactured N Scale Releases Photos link is... http://www.frisco.org/shipit/index.php?threads/manufactured-n-scale-releases-photos.7679/page-2 Joe
So sorry Joe - I thought I did. I will take a look tomorrow and see if I can do better. Thanks! John Moore Location Imaging
No problem, I appreciate your interest in completing this project. You make the third person to work on the photos. Joe
For my 9 to 5 job, I am Ford's NASCAR photographer. Seemed like a perfect fit! I must be a dummy Joe - Email me as I can't follow your folders and I'm getting confused. We can go over what you need photos of specifically based on my roster and I will shoot them for you. Sorry! JFM
After a long time trying to find the right spark arrestors and doing some experimental weathering, I have now completed my version of GP7 502 as she appeared in the early 1970s. By the early 1970s, the steam boiler had been removed and 502 had been repainted, but she had weathered so badly that some photos look like she was in her original paint. Obviously Frisco didn’t sandblast locomotives when they came in for repainting. I achieved a similar effect using an air eraser ( basically an air brushed sized mini sand blaster) to partially remove some of the stripes on both ends. The effect is interesting. As with my #500,the walkways were painted black, the air horn was relocated to the cab roof and an air pipe was added on the engineers side of the cab. ( this one is a BLMA horn ). A rotary beacon was added to the short hood ( a sunrise enterprises part ) and detail associates spark arrestors replaced the factory exhaust stacks.
I recently purchased two of these in HO Scale. Installed TCS Wow Decoders with Keep Alive. They are great Locomotives. I hope you enjoy yours.
