Atlas GP 7s 500 & 502

Discussion in 'Diesel Locomotives' started by Ayerox, Mar 4, 2008.

  1. Ayerox

    Ayerox Member Frisco.org Supporter

    Could be a fruitless search but does anyone know if these units are available for sale. Have been watching ebay and have checked with several on-line hobby shops to no avail. Realize they were an 06 release but was hoping they might still be on someone's shelf.

    Atlas #'s 8357 & 8358

    Thanks,

    Jay
     
  2. cnwtrainman

    cnwtrainman Member Frisco.org Supporter

    You will have to paint them, for a small obscure railroad FRISCO stuff sells fast! I too watch Ebay and never see the elusive FRISCO GP7s.
     
  3. Ayerox

    Ayerox Member Frisco.org Supporter

    Thanks. I appreciate the info. Time to dust off the airbrush.

    Jay
     
  4. jbloch

    jbloch Member

    Yep, I, along with a lot of you other Frisco modelers have been keeping an eye out for them on ebay, for sure. I haven't seen one listed for many months, and the last one went for a pretty penny, as I recall. The Alco RS1 is available, both at internet sites and on ebay from time to time--i've picked one up--I think they're pretty nice, even though they're from Atlas's "Classic" series--i.e. no DCC plug, I still think the detail's not bad and ran well on DC the one time I've run it.

    Jim
     
  5. TAG1014 (Tom Galbraith RIP 7/15/2020)

    TAG1014 (Tom Galbraith RIP 7/15/2020) Passed Away July 15, 2020 Frisco.org Supporter

    Another place to look for your geeps would be the Yahoo "HO Yard Sale"--I have no idea how to link it through to here though, but you can probably "google" it. I belong to the Yahoo N Scale Yard Sale chat board.

    Tom
     
  6. meteor910

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

    Those of you who plan to paint and decal the upcoming Atlas undec GP-7 for a Frisco unit will have the opportunity to correct the one major flaw in the Atlas decorated units - SLSF 500 and SLSF 502. I recall Vince Griesemer making this point when these units were introduced by Atlas - in 2005 or 2006 as I recall.

    Atlas numbered their two models too low. To be more correct, Atlas should have numbered them SLSF 515 or higher. The problem with the lower series, SLSF 500-514 vs. the model, is that the model represents, I believe, a late Phase 1/early Phase 2 GP-7 (in X2200S terms). The main difference is that the model has an instrument box on the walkway behind the left side of the cab, which is correct for SLSF 515 and up. The lower numbered units, SLSF 500-514, which made up Frisco's first purchase of the GP-7, did not have this box. The difference is quite obvious if you look at pics of each of the two series of Frisco GP-7's.

    Also to be correct, SLSF 500-514 had a steam generator in their early years, which the Atlas model does not have, though this is easily corrected by adding detail parts (Details West). All of these first series of Frisco GP-7's had the external features of the s/g set removed at the end of 1962, the s/g itself was removed by the end of 1967 and replaced with ballast. See the foot note in Lou Marre/John Harper's book. I think the next GP-7 batch, SLSF 515-549, all came with the box and without the s/g. Hence this higher number series would be best for the Atlas model if you are starting with an undec.

    Perhaps others in the group who understand these GP-7 "phases" better than I do can expand on these points. How high up over r/n 549 can you go with the Atlas model and still be accurate?

    I have all the X2200S issues, but have no idea what issue it was that they did the feature on GP-7's - it was years ago.

    Ken
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 16, 2008
  7. meteor910

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

    Accident - Oooops!

    Those of you who have the HO Atlas b/y GP7 model, be aware of something .....

    I was running a three-unit consist tonight including Atlas Frisco GP7 SLSF 502 as the middle unit. The 502 was not running very well (unusual for an Atlas), so I shut down to remove it from the layout to give it a lookover. Probably dirty wheels or something simple.

    I picked up the 502 by grabbing it by the long hood on the sides. As I lifted it up off the track to about a six inch height, all of a sudden the long hood came loose at the rear (long end), and the chassis crashed back down to the rails. It hit the roof and platform of my Mariemont depot, smashing it all to bits, and the long handrails on each side of the 502 broke just aft of the cab. Darn! (I really said something much worse!)

    I learned my lesson again - when lifting up a locomotive from a congested space, lift it up not by grabbing hold of the hood, but by the frame!

    Fortunately, all the damage seems fairly easily fixable.

    The Mariemont depot (named for the village where we lived in Cincinnati; it's not on the Frisco) now looks like the Monon (CIL) depot in Monon, Indiana in September, 1951 when a Monon F3 running too fast jumped the rails and took out the depot building.

    Ken

    ps - Still don't know why the 502 was running so poorly.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Dec 21, 2010
  8. TAG1014 (Tom Galbraith RIP 7/15/2020)

    TAG1014 (Tom Galbraith RIP 7/15/2020) Passed Away July 15, 2020 Frisco.org Supporter

    I wish I HAD some Atlas geeps, the N scale versions were announced and pre-orders accepted in APRIL! How long were the HO's announced before they were delivered?

    Tom
     
  9. HWB

    HWB FRISCO.org Supporter

    The product you are looking for is called bullfrog. It can be purchased at Walmart in true automotive paint section. There are probably similar products that can be purchased at auto parts stores. It's an aerosol so I just spray some into a airbrush jar then brush the liquid onto the handrails wait for it to dry then paint the handrails the desired color.


    [QUOTE=tmfrisco;33135]I had the same thing happen to me, Ken, when I first bought my GP7s. Unfortunately, I ruined the handrails when the engine fell. I have bought replacement handrails, but I haven't figured out how to get the paint to stick to the slick surface of the handrails. There was a material talked about in an earlier thread, but I couldn't find it, and now I don't remember what it was:(. Thanks for the warning again, because that is something we need to be reminded of periodically. Terry[/QUOTE]
     
  10. meteor910

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

    Tom -

    I ordered my HO Atlas Frisco b/y GP7's three-four years or so ago (I don't remember exactly), when they were first announced. It was a limited run, and I ordered only SLSF 502 as I already had three other GP7's (572, 620, 632). As I recall, it was delivered less than six months later. When I saw how nice they were, I immediately ordered the 500, and my local "pusher" (Tinkertown - sure do miss them!) was able to get one within a few weeks. I got lucky on the 500 as that was the last Frisco GP7 they were able to get from Atlas.

    Nice model, decorated very well, runs great, but the wrong numbers. I haven't bothered to fix that.

    I'll get to 502 perhaps today to fix the damage and to see why it was running like a "Blue Box".

    Ken
     
  11. pensive

    pensive Member Frisco.org Supporter

    A black and yellow GP7 sounds like a great candidate for rerelease from Atlas. Only this time, how about the correct numbers and a DCC/sound version?

    Rich
     
  12. meteor910

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

    After a light lube job with LaBelle teflon grease, and, importantly, a thorough wheel cleaning, the chassis of Atlas GP7 SLSF 502 again runs like a Swiss watch! :)

    Now, on to repair the body damage and add a few details.

    K
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Dec 22, 2010
  13. gjslsffan

    gjslsffan Staff Member Staff Member

    Ken,
    I had almost the same thing happen to me with an engine a few weeks ago.
    Seems like most of the damage my stuff gets in in transportation out to the RR building and putting them on, a taking them off, the track. I wonder if gluing these multi-piece shells would be worth it?
    Not related to dropping but, I have had an unusual amount of trouble with Athearn RTR motors. Have you folks had them just them to start squealing and squalling for no good reason?? I have had to send 3 RTR motors back to Athearn in the last year. Tried oiling and that worked for a bit but that squalling started again.
    They have replace all of them no questions asked, but still a pain to take them all apart and all. Its like the (Chinese?) Bronze oil-light bearings do not seem to be doing the job.
    Tom H.
     
  14. treefrog

    treefrog Member Frisco.org Supporter

    I spoke with an Atlas rep with regards to when a b/y HO Frisco Geep might be offered. Told him I was so interested myself would be good for a dozen myself even at today's prices. (That ruins your mad money) His answer was simply that midwest railroads don't sell, not even the KCS, and if watch eBay and take note of what sells and what doesn't he was close to right. Not that have to agree if look at my shelves and closets but Frisco is rare, few between, and high dollar. We chatted on e-mail while longer and said they hadn't released any Geeps in a good while, he'd see if a salesman could gather 500 buys and some could be made. You all have access to Atlas website, and can write in as I did several times. He gave number of 500 but why make that a goal? This is a wonderful hobby.Atlas has to date made the best Frisco Geep. A hobby is not just RTR as Athearn calls it. Why don't a bunch of you write Atlas, ask for the Geep, then when it get's here we can change numbers, horns, spark arrestors, steam generators, sun visors, and whatever. Important thing is we'd have perhaps the most famous of Frisco diesels. Best Wishes in the Holiday Season & God Bless our Servicemen & Women.

    Rick
     
  15. treefrog

    treefrog Member Frisco.org Supporter

    If folks do not hav the Atlas address might consider fellow who replied to me. If 500 is number they want interested and several of us were buying multiple units, this Group ought to have it made? Excuse me for speaking of being a member of "a Frisco Org." but did not feel was authorized to speak for Group only me. In closing, times are hard, if Atlas can't count on a certain amount of sales they will not make it as they are not a charity.

    Rick

    --------

    Hi Rick,

    Thank you for your e-mail. It is possible. The problem is Frisco is one of our worse sellers (along with KCS, IC/ICG and other mid western roads). I'll ask the salesmen if they can drum up another 500 orders...we're do for a run of Geeps...

    Dave Casdorph
    ________________________________________
    From: Richard Mathews [mathewsspk9@embarqmail.com]
    Sent: Wednesday, November 24, 2010 2:43 PM
    To: Dave Casdorph
    Subject: Contact Us for HO Product Development

    Any chance at all of a re-release of a Frisco GP7 on HO with the Black and yellow colors.Belong to a Frisco Organization and will not peak for them but I am good for at least six if not a full dozen at today's terrible prices. Just some of us like the old Geep.

    Keep up the good work,

    Rick Mathews
     
  16. meteor910

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

    I don't quite understand the Atlas rep's reluctance to consider Frisco units. Atlas has been unique in that they have offered multiple Frisco units over the last five years or so, all done very well, and it seems to me, all sold very well. If not, why do they keep doing them? Athearn now seems to be following Atlas' lead, confirming that Frisco generates a good market.

    The Frisco b/y GP7 is the best example - it was a small run, granted, but it sold out instantly. They are rarely seen on eBay or HOyardsale for resale; when they are, they are gobbled up quickly.

    Another run of b/y Frisco GP7's would seem to be a very low risk venture for Atlas. They have the lettering patterns. All they need to do is change the numbers to SLSF 515-549 and they are set to go.

    Ken
     
  17. meteor910

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

    Tom - Agree. I am constantly frustrated with Proto 2000 and Athearn motors. The P2K's never seem to be consistent - hard to mix different models in the same consist as some run well (FA/FB's, E's, SW's) while some are poor runners (GP's, SD's). The Athearn's start out running well, but like you say, I now have two GP35's that emit various groans and grunts as they run down the track. (Come to think of it, that's very prototypical! ;))

    Back in the "Blue Box" days, we had to deal with a poor motor that sucked up a bunch of high voltage amps, but they were at least all the same.

    Ken
     
  18. meteor910

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

    As I repair the handrail damage to SLSF 502, I want to correct some details on the stock HO Atlas model. I had been running it, and sister SLSF 500, as Atlas set them up - which is in the as-delivered set-up from EMD.

    I want to correct the horns, as shortly after delivery the Frisco changed them to a cab-roof mounting. I have some pics of SLSF 500 sporting a Nathan, an early Leslie, and a later five-chime Leslie - 500 must have been some sort of test bed for horns.

    Does anyone have a pic of 502 in the full stripe b/y scheme showing what horn they put up top on it early on?

    I'm not going to add spark arrestors, a beacon or a radio antenna as those items likely were added during later shoppings when the livery was also changed to the simplified stripe scheme -at least that's what my pics show. I will put a speed recorder cable on it - front truck, right side, rear journal.

    I've decided not to mess with the road number - changing it to the more correct SLSF 515-549 series. Atlas did such a good job on this model I'll forgive them this slip-up, and hope they re-release this fine model in the correct road number series so I can get two more. Never have enough GP7's!

    Ken
     
  19. Ozarktraveler

    Ozarktraveler Member

    Agreed... ;)
     
  20. gjslsffan

    gjslsffan Staff Member Staff Member

    I cannot find this Bullfrog stuff anywhere. Have looked and both super walmarts automotive section here, also checked at automotive paint suppliers and nothing, Can someone that has a can of this please get me a part number and manufactures name so I can order it.
    Thanks for the help
    Tom H
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Dec 28, 2010

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