Walther's carries it and the item # is 174-1 and it is even currently on sale for $21.95. The fact that they stock it is good because it brings the 20% off MSRP that some dealers offer into play.
Be careful asking for Bullfrog at Walmart because they also sell a product called Bullfrog that is a sunblock lotion, and you don't want that! George "The Bullfrog product I am referring to, is a paint adhesion promoter that Howard was telling us about earlier in this thread. I have looked everywhere around here for it and cannot find the stuff. I did find a product call "Bulldog". It did not do as good of a job as I had hoped it would. "
You can credit Athearn's use of CHEAP Chinese motors and drive gears for the squeal and the squall. Re-motoring with a non-Chinese motor and drive train will most likely cure your problem. Also, I use silicone reel grease to lubricate my engines. You can get it from the sporting goods dept. at Walmart. DO NOT USE TOOTH PASTE TO SMOOTH OUT THE SQUEAL! If you have ever tried to scrape dried plaster off of plastic then you know what I mean. George
Just a note on the Atlas 500 and 502 GP-7. I bought both of these new when they first came out a few years ago. I have had excellent results running them. They run extremely smooth and quiet. However, the handrails that Atlas uses are VERY fragile, as I broke mine on the #500 engine. I replaced them with a set of metal handrails from an Anthearn Geep, but they are a lot larger and less prototypical. The #502 is holding up so far, but after breaking the #500 handrails, I mostly leave the #502 in the box and run the #500. I have also noticed the same type of problem on the Proto 2000 series FA-1 and FB-1 Frisco diesels. The handrails and side frames have VERY fragile detail parts that break with any rough handling. They also run extrmely well. Both the Atlas and the Proto 2000 models are out of production, so keep looking on eBay! George
Does anyone know how to obtain Oddball or equal decals for the Black & Yellow GP7? Had an order thru Grandview for up to three months to no avail and even spoke with fellow who makes them said would just be two more weeks about month ago? Dhhh! If I can't get hands on an the Atlas Geep want to make my own from undecorated Atlas units, the yellow stripes being hardest to substitute. On another Atlas note there are usually a set or more of Atlas/Kato handrails on eBay but sure not this evening? Happy New Year everyone! Rick|-|
Oddballs has an SLSF GP-7 decal set (HO:87-180, N: 60-180), you might try ordering direct from Oddballs' own website? I think he uses the hobby shop for credit card orders. He only takes checks on his website. http://www.oddballsdecals.org/ Tom
Spoke to him twice he just not in the providing mood. I'd do it anyway he wanted. He advertised two weeks on credit card three months ago. Thanks however and Happy New Year! Rick|-|
I put in an order through Show Me in Grandview for KCT decals from Oddballs last February and have yet to see them. In the future I will avoid doing business with him at all costs - customer service is horrendous.
Tom marches to the beat of his own drum. I always order direct from him - sometimes I get the decals in a few days, sometimes it takes a month. They always have come, though, and his decals are usually as good as it gets. Ken
Ken will give that a try as retirement & va check got here today. I have amassed a freightenly huge roster of SL&SF locomotives, An embarrasing amount anyway as this is an addictive hobby. Betty Ford as yet has no program for it. I am very well rostered compared to many and should have absolutely no complaints as have haunted eBay for all it's worth. But Frisco to me just isn't Frisco without a mess of GP7s in traditional yellow and black. I can put together a consist of 6 Atlas Orange & White Geeps but just isn't the same. Despite wheelchair, I lay track this weekend as needed more than had. Hope to provide photos eventually but my volumn does not make up for the quality in so much of what I see on Friscrg. It has been an education. Happy New Year fellows, Ricky|-|
Bought myself an Atlas undecorated Alco RS-1 last night and two sets of parts that would make up two extra shells. Was reading in here where a decent gent was helping another with decals for the same unit. He showed a jpeg of Oddballs GP7 decals and they are something. Oddball makes the stripe effort easy. And that has been the grief with me as can't do that with sets from Microscale. So with full consideration of everyone's good and bad luck, including my own, I lose nothing by mailing off the fellows ordersheet thus filled it out, attached a check, and did just that. Nothing says am going to get decals. But if I do I get the very best and if I don't my checkbook won't go red with amount I spent and the uncashed check. So want to thank everyone for their help over a Holiday weekend. I hope your luck holds out over the upcomng year! Maybe I can one day help someone else with decals. Rick|-|
I finally got my Atlas b/y Frisco EMD GP7 SLSF 502 repaired after its crash to the layout table (see my posting above from about two weeks ago). It turned out OK and looks great (of course, most of that is to Atlas' credit). My camera is having trouble - I'll try to post a pic or two of 502 once I get the camera going). I left 502 in the Atlas as-delivered scheme, so I did not install spark arrestors, a cab roof beacon, or an antenna, as I think those things were added during later shoppings when the later economy striping scheme was adopted. If anyone has a pic of an early 500-series GP7 in the as-delivered, full striped scheme with that stuff installed, please let me know - I like the looks of those things up on the cab roof and exhaust stacks. In addition to tuning up the sluggish drive (which was the cause of the accident in the first place), I did do the following: o Successfully repaired the very thin (and very flexible) Atlas handrails which were broken. Fortunately, the breaks were clean. I glued them together by using Microscale Kristal Klear (which is essentially Elmer's white glue). It dries clear and didn't need repainting - only a touch of flat coat to get rid of the gloss. We'll see how long that lasts - I use this stuff as a cement just as much as I use it for windows & headlight glass. Has anyone else tried this technique? It remains somewhat flexible, so I'm hoping it will hold the handrail joints. o Added a speed recorder (DW-284) to the right front truck, rear axle o Changed the Atlas couplers (I hate 'em!) to Kadee 153's. This is a better looking and operating coupler, and has a shorter shank in addition for a more prototypical look. o Added canvas cab side window shades using trimmed DA-1301 shades o Removed the two stock horns mounted on the hood sides (only a press fit) and filled the remaining holes. o Installed a three-chime (all forward) Leslie horn on the cab roof, using a brass Overland #9007. I know the Frisco tested this horn before selecting the five-chime all forward version, and wanted to mount it on at least one GP7. I have a pic of one on a Frisco GP7 somewhere - that's why I bought the Overland part some time ago. SLSF 502 looks great and now runs with the best of 'em. Ken ps - It seems every time I "finish" a model and return it to service, I all of a sudden realize I forgot something. In the case of 502: o I need to add a brake line hose on each end. Atlas gives you all sorts of m/u hoses, but no brake line hose. o A bell. Does anyone know just where the bell was on the GP7? I'm sure I have a diagram somewhere, but a quick look at some Frisco GP7 pics did not reveal the location. It's most likely under the frame.
I look forward to seeing your photos. In case anyone is painting and decaling a B/Y GP 7 Louis Griesemer has created and excellent set of decals for this locomotive. The lettering and numbers are to scale and are an exact match as taken from an original painting diagram, and they include nose striping for whichever version you are doing. If you are interested you can contact him at this email address: louisg@sbcglobal.net Ron Williams
Ron I Thank You so very much, have already sent off an e-mail to the fine fellow. Between him and an order mailed in to "Oddballs" between the two I ought to be able to get my fleet of undecorated Atlas Geeps rolling in fine order or become a decal warehouse. Many Thanks Sir! Ricky|-|
Would like to Thank TAG1014 as joined the HOYARDSALE as a "why not whim" and "allegedly" have bought what was sold to me as an unopened Atlas Classic Fricso GP7 Road number 500, (No laughs) will believe it when or if see it. Thank Ken again for his advice to mail "Oddball" a check and forget Grandview as computer shows fellow has at least cashed it, Decal delivery is yet a possibility? And finally like to Thank Ron Williams for leading me to Louis Griesemer as placed an excited order for Geep decals with him last night. They look great! Has been a positive week, don't always have good ones but you take what get, Thanks to the Frisco Group as a whole for help, Ricky|-|
Ken, got that "New" 500 Geep off of HOYARDSALE in mail today as snow came down and guess perhaps in your honor when opening the box in shock of how good it looked, I made a mistake you are familure with and picked it up by body from the foam insides of box. Yep it seperated from chasis and I too broke side rails in the deal. But it landed in my lap, nothing mechanically broke, runs like a champ. Thought would let you know must be a common snafu as are a lot of us out here that like to do it. It looks better after repairs and like you have some changes to make also. Am not negative about much of anything, nor a perfectionist. As long as there are some of these out there to find, they are in my price bracket and I like them quite a bit! Run like a champ. Ricky|-|
For folks tired of hearing from me this should be it for a while. Oddball decals has delivered and feel like a rich man. No more dealng with Grandview Train store. Delivery time is well within a month so can now deal with my undecorated Geeps and RS-1 units. When fine fellow in Springfield delivers decals will be a rich man for sure! Sure want to Thank everyone who helped with ideas and guidance! Happy New Year! Ricky|-|
