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ANOTHER GREAT FRISCO RAFFLE!

Atlas Trainman GP38-2 in SLSF

Discussion in 'Diesel Locomotives' started by meteor910, Nov 12, 2008.

Page 1 of 2
  1. meteor910

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

    I just saw a notice from Atlas that they will soon be releasing (or recently have) an Atlas "Trainman" GP38-2 in two road numbers: SLSF 469 and SLSF 476. Did we know this?

    I have read comments from the "D-List" (Diesel List) this summer really trashing the Atlas GP38-2 as having major errors. Has anybody seen one and evaluated it for Frisco specifics? It almost certainly will not come with the nose gyralight. The D-listers were complaining about doors, grills, d/b housing, etc.

    Ken
     
    meteor910, Nov 12, 2008
    #1
  2. FriscoFriend (Bob Hoover RIP 4/12/2018)

    FriscoFriend (Bob Hoover RIP 4/12/2018) Passed Away April 12, 2018 Frisco.org Supporter

    Ken:

    I did find the announcement for it on the Trainman website just as you said. Here is the link to a photo of the actual model.

    http://www.atlastrainman.com/Images/HOLoco/HOGP38/0308/10000292-A_TQ.jpg

    The website says that they are now shipping the locomotive. I guess the positive thing is that they will more than likely get the color right. The locomotive has the same drive train as the Master Series, so MUing them shouldn't be an issue. They also have an NMRA plug so we can install our favorite aftemarket decoder.
    Now for the questions/concerns that I'm sure we all would have. First, are the handrails the same fine dimension as the Master Series ones? I did notice that they were solid orange so some painting will be necessary. Also, one has to add the grab irons, lift rings, etc. which is no big deal. They say there ar dimples vs. moleded on ones, so that's a plus.

    There are also some really nice close-up pictures of an actual model on the website, so one could go in and count doors, etc. The one question that I have is for someone to check the length of the hood. I for one don't know if the GP38 had different length hoods. I say this because Atlas has announced a GP40-2 and it has already been extablished that it is a later version and the hood is too long for the Frisco.

    Botom line in my opinion, if this model is close to prototypical and the right color the price of MSRP of $89.95 with a street price of around $72.00 or so, we hav a winner.

    Would you or someone else go in and look at the above mentioned photos and do so serious door counting and report back to the forum. Also, the length of the hood and the diameter of the handrails.

    Thanks,
    Bob Hoover
    FriscoFriend
     
    FriscoFriend (Bob Hoover RIP 4/12/2018), Nov 12, 2008
    #2
  3. Brad Slone

    Brad Slone Member Frisco.org Supporter

    The handrails do look at bit large but it's hard to judge from a photo. Other things that stand out, the snow plow is a type that was not found on the Frisco. The pilot appears to be equiped with a jumbo anti climber which was not a feature of this particular phase of lovomotives. The last thing, one will have to refer to photos to see if this is the correct stlye of Blomberg trucks. The Frisco used both types on there 38's, probably coinciding with the various orders. These are just some things that stood out to me, for what its worth...
     
    Brad Slone, Nov 12, 2008
    #3
  4. Rick McClellan

    Rick McClellan 2009 Engineer of the Year

    I quickly compared the Atlas photo of unit 463 to some photos on the Fallen Flags web site and noticed the following differences

    • Handrails – Like Brad’s comments, they are too large. Don’t think that is due to the photo. It looks like Atlas wants them oversized. The handrails are orange, not white like the prototype. This could be overcome with some white paint.
    • Snow Plow – Unit 463 had a plow pilot. Details Associates makes this part but you would have to match the paint.
    • Anti-Climber – Unit 463 did not have an anticlimber. It had a drop step. This is a rather “big” miss on Atlas’ part. But this is Trainman, not the Master Series.
    • Handbrake Cavity – The prototype handbrake cavity is all orange. The model is half white, half orange.
    • Paper Filer Box – (I hope I have the name of this part right) The box in front of the dynamic brakes is slanted on the model but not on the prototype. Some prototypes had the slanted paper filter box but not the Frisco to my knowledge.
    • Sight Glass – Prototype GP38-2s had the sight glass on the long hood on the engineer’s side, I hope the model does but we cannot tell from the photo.
    These are the items I noticed in my quick scan, there may be more but I couldn't find photos of the engineer's side of the model. Each Frisco fan will have to evaluate these differences and decide if they can live with the compromises that Atlas made in this unit.

    Hope this helps to further the discussion.

    Ship IT on the Frisco!

    Rick
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Dec 15, 2011
    Rick McClellan, Nov 13, 2008
    #4
  5. meteor910

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

    I checked the Atlas web site: www.atlasrr.com

    They have several photos posted of their new Trainman GP38-2. It appears the comments posted above by Rick, Brad and Bob are correct. The handrails look to be about 4" in diameter, the thing has an anticlimber on the front porch, the wrong plow pilot (easily fixed), and some of the "vents & bulges" don't look exactly correct for a Frisco unit. It has no nose gyralite as predicted - none of them do! It looks like grabirons, hoses, etc will have to be added as well. The truck detail is hard to see, but I'm guessing they look OK for SLSF. I don't think I exactly like the fuel tank either.

    The Atlas colors on the B30-7, GP38, and MP15 models were very good, so hopefully they will remember to use the same on this one.

    As the guys noted above, I'm sure it will run well. The Atlas drive is nice.

    I may order one provisionally and decide later if I will take delivery of it. I'll not order two (both numbers).

    I still have a pair of Athearn Frisco GP38-2's which I have never taken out of the box to finish. I'll have to pull one of those out and see how it compares to this new Atlas. The Atlas has an advantage of being numbered in the 400's while the Athearn's are in the high 600's.

    The GP38-2 was never a favorite of mine - only because every time we went to watch the Frisco, these were what we mostly saw! The SLSF enjoyed their GP38/GP38-2's.

    Ken
     
    meteor910, Nov 13, 2008
    #5
  6. FriscoFriend (Bob Hoover RIP 4/12/2018)

    FriscoFriend (Bob Hoover RIP 4/12/2018) Passed Away April 12, 2018 Frisco.org Supporter

    Ken:

    I called this fact to Rick's (McClellan) attention earlier but I have a "never say never" comment for you. The last run of GP40's announced by Atlas will have operating nose gyralights! The Silver Edition ones will have lighted only ones and the Gold Edition ones will have the simulated ones since they have a QSI Sound Decoder in them.
    Now, unfortunately several of us have concluded that this model is not right for the Frisco partially because the nose is too long. I for one doubt if they ever upgrade the GP38AC with all of these features, but again maybe I should say "never say never".
    What I do hope we see is the next run of the new model U30B's in Frisco with the operating nose gyra-light and maybe even the rotating roof beacon. I plan to discuss this very thing with them at OKC. The gyra-light would be easy because I believe that loco like the B30-7 has a blank plate standard. If ones reads the description, it mentions that certain prototypes will have the optional low nose headlight. We all can dream on!

    Bob Hoover
    FriscoFriend
     
    FriscoFriend (Bob Hoover RIP 4/12/2018), Nov 13, 2008
    #6
  7. FriscoFriend (Bob Hoover RIP 4/12/2018)

    FriscoFriend (Bob Hoover RIP 4/12/2018) Passed Away April 12, 2018 Frisco.org Supporter

    I emailed Atlas asking about the questions that were posed and got the following answers:

    (1) The snowplows ar not cast on
    (2) There ar no footboards supplied
    (3) The handrails are not the same as the Master Series, but larger

    It looks like to me without the actual luxury of seeing an actual model that there possibly are dimples cast on where the footboards would mount. As far as the handrail issue is concerned, not all manufacturers handrails are the same diamater anyway and we MU them anyway. This leaves the major issue to me the front anti-climber and to a lesser concern the filter Rick mentioned.

    Bottom line, we know the locomotive runs well, it will more than likely be the correct color or close, and have a very reasonable base cost. By adding top quality aftermarket parts onto dimples vs. scraping off cast ones first and damaging paint, we have a potentially good looking locomotive.

    The one other consideration is the ability to get first time modelers interested in our beloved Frisco at a reasonable level price wise. A good running locomotive, a plug and play decoder and a matching caboose for around $100 or so.

    To me that's a "win, win" scenerio.

    As previously mentioned, when someone actually gets their hands on one of these, would they please update the forum.

    Bob Hoover
    FriscoFriend
     
    FriscoFriend (Bob Hoover RIP 4/12/2018), Nov 14, 2008
    #7
  8. meteor910

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

    Bob -

    FYI, I ordered one of the new Atlas Trainman GP38-2's, SLSF 469, for $62. I'm told it is available now and will ship shortly. I'll do a review as best I can when it shows up.

    Just what I need - another Diesel locomotive!

    Ken
     
    meteor910, Nov 14, 2008
    #8
  9. yardmaster

    yardmaster Administrator Staff Member Administrator Frisco.org Supporter

    Decided it had been a while since I'd thumbed through Frisco In Color ...and lo and behold, there is GP38-2 #689 showing off its O/W brake cavity!

    Wonder if someone in the Paint Shop was having a rough day reading the painting diagram, or if it would have arrived this way from EMD?

    It's not 463, true...but there's prototypical evidence for at least one GP-38-2 with a polychromatic brake cavity! :)

    Rick's analysis is very well done, and I will second Bob's thought that the price is certainly right for the early-70s-to-merger modeler.

    Now, back to my "wayback machine" and 1943...

    Best Regards,
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Nov 16, 2008
    yardmaster, Nov 16, 2008
    #9
  10. meteor910

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

    As we've often said before - the Frisco did stuff like this to keep us on our toes!

    Ken
     
    meteor910, Nov 16, 2008
    #10
  11. meteor910

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

    UPS delivered my Atlas Trainman GP38-2 today. I wound up receiving the unit numbered SLSF 469.

    I'll put my magnifying glass on it and do a review either tonight or tomorrow.

    First impressions: it runs great - like recent Atlas drives (it actually is smoother than the Atlas Frisco GP38 I mated it with for a test spin); the red/orange color looks very good and is the same as the prior Atlas Frisco GP38, B30-7 and MP15 models, the lettering and fonts look OK, and the model has virtually no details or accents added.

    Since it can be had for a modest sum (it cost me $62), I'd say it is a pretty good value and a good choice for a new Frisco modeler as a way to get started.

    More later.

    Ken
     
    meteor910, Nov 26, 2008
    #11
  12. meteor910

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

    As noted above, I received my HO Atlas Trainman GP38-2 today - Atlas item number 10-000-292, done as SLSF 469. Following is a brief "after dinner" review. These points are from a visual observation only, I did not do any measurements, and only ran it back and forth on the layout a few times.

    My comments below might be interpreted as my being negative on this model. That is not the case - I think it is well done for the price (my cost was $62), and is an excellent value for someone wanting an example of a very popular Frisco 1970's-era locomotive.

    As with most all models, there are items that are not correct for the Frisco prototype. I note the following comments, both pro and con:

    o The color and lettering looks to be the same as on the recent Atlas Frisco GP38, B30-7 and MP15 models. Very good - a nice shade of red/orange in my opinion. The lettering is well done, good fonts, crisp. None of the small detail lettering is there, however.
    o It runs very well; better in fact than my other recent Atlas Frisco models (they have been sitting around unused for a while). Directional lighting is included, but the intensity of the lamps is weak.
    o The unit has the short exhaust stacks - proper for the later Frisco units, but not so for the lower numbered 400's (OK for SLSF 469). The body casting includes the sight glass opening on the engineer's side of the long hood, but you will have to blacken it.
    o There are few added details - no grab irons, no lift rings, no m/u hoses, no cut levers, no brake hoses, the horn is a poor version of the Leslie three-chime (needs a five-chime).
    o There are no painted and lettering accents - no small lettering, no darkened vents/grills, no accents on the class lights or headlights, no stripes on the step edges, etc. The number boards do include well done numbers - white with a black background.
    o The handrails are too thick, and are painted all red/orange. The horizontal part of the rails should be white.
    o There is a cab vent on the fireman's side of the cab which the Frisco units did not have. This should be removed, as it is obviously wrong for SLSF.
    o The front porch includes an anti-climber which the Frisco units did not have (had a walkway drop step), making the front handrails different as well. The pilot has a snowplow that is not correct for the Frisco (used a plow pilot). The rear porch does have the walkway drop step, and no plow at all.
    o The front hood nose is longer than the Frisco units used, and is longer than the Atlas Frisco GP38 model's nose. This is easy to notice.
    o The brake well on the fireman's side of the nose is painted white and red/orange. Most, but not all, of the Frisco GP38-2's had an all red brake lever well. This model will be correct for a few of the Frisco units (I found 4 or 5 400's with white & red brake wells, mainly lower numbers).
    o The Atlas couplers (Kadee compatible) should be replaced with real Kadees for better performance. I don't like the Atlas coupler.
    o The cab windows do not include the black coloring to represent the gasketing, and do not include windshield wipers.
    o The air filter hatch box on the top of the long hood is the later tapered style, while most (not all) of the Frisco 400's used a taller square box. The Cannon part catalog for the later tapered box notes it was used from late 1976 on. Indeed, several of the later Frisco 400-series GP38-2's, including the 469, had the tapered filter hatch box. So, this model is correct on this point (at least for SLSF 469).
    o The Atlas EMD Blomberg trucks look OK to me, but do not include the snubber (shock absorber looking thing) that many Dash-2 B-B EMD's used. This will be unit specific for the Frisco, as several units have the snubber, several do not.
    o The fuel tank and air tanks are cast into the metal frame, but look OK. Some detail is included.

    I'm sure I missed a few points - others please feel free to add their opinions of this new Frisco model when you have a chance to look at it. I'm glad I bought it, but I'm equally glad I only bought one.

    I'm not sure what to do about the front porch anti-climber and the excess length nose. Looks to be fairly major surgery to me, though they stand out as being obviously wrong for a Frisco unit.

    Following is a brief list of items I will eventually want to add to this model:

    o Small lettering detail decals
    o Paint accent details - step stripes, window gaskets, class lights, headlight housing, blacken grills and vents, blacken exhaust stacks, white handrails.
    o Correct Leslie 5-chime horn (some were 5 forward, some were 3 front, 2 rear)
    o Roof rotating beacon
    o Nose Gyra-lite
    o Correct plow pilots, front and rear
    o M/U hoses, brake hoses
    o Cut levers
    o Grab irons (model has locator dimples with the NBW cast on)
    o Lift rings
    o Kadee couplers
    o Speed recorder cable
    o Cab window shades
    o Roof radio antenna (hard to tell, probably a whip)
    o Correct drop steps
    o ..... and I'm sure there are more!

    Ken
     
    meteor910, Nov 26, 2008
    #12
  13. B'hamRailsModeler

    B'hamRailsModeler Member

    Evening all. I've been reading the various reviews concerning the Atlas Trainman GP-38-2,and I thought I might tell y'all that Cal Scale,a division of Bowser Trains,makes a detail kit for several locomotives. To date I have installed one set on a L&N RS-32/36 Alco I have,and well I must say,it looks pretty good. The website if I remember it right is,www.Bowser-Trains.com. When you go to Bowser's website,look under Cal Scale,and see what all they got. After looking at the post info,I may try to get an Athearn GP-38-2,and go from there. William.
     
    B'hamRailsModeler, Jan 29, 2009
    #13
  14. River Hills Travler

    River Hills Travler Member

    If you scroll down when you get to the Cal-scale section you will find a detail kit for the Athearn locos. River Hills Travler.
     
    River Hills Travler, Jan 30, 2009
    #14
  15. friscomike

    friscomike Administrator Staff Member Administrator Frisco.org Supporter

    Howdy folks,

    I'm putting together a couple of Frisco Atlas Trainman GP38-2's for runs at the Texas Western. Can anyone offer advice as to what Soundtraxx decoder would be appropriate? I know little about diesels, so I don't know if the 38-2's were 2nd or 3rd generation, thus don't know which version of the decoder to purchase.

    Best regards,
    mike

    p.s., please don't tell anyone I am modeling a diesel...
     
    friscomike, Nov 23, 2010
    #15
  16. Iantha_Branch

    Iantha_Branch Member

    Mike, for a GP38-2 you need a Soundtraxx EMD 645 (2nd gen) non turbo sound decoder. Here's probably the cheapest price you can get.
    http://www.litchfieldstation.com/xcart/product.php?productid=999003059&cat=116&page=1
    You'll need to scroll down to the drop bar and change it from Alco 244 to EMD 645 non turbo.
    And you also get free shipping on this decoder from this web site.

    In case your wondering... it is intended to replace the stock light board in the loco. what you have to do is take the little black tabs off, unwire take the stock board off, unhook it from the frame, hook the soundtraxx decoder to the frame, and then rewire it. At this point most people recommend soldering the wires back on, or if your not very good at that like me you can reuse the boxes.

    Hope this helps
     
    Iantha_Branch, Nov 24, 2010
    #16
  17. friscomike

    friscomike Administrator Staff Member Administrator Frisco.org Supporter


    Wow Eathan, thanks. That is exactly what I needed to know, plus a few tips to go along with it. I appreciate you taking the time to respond.

    Best,
    mike
     
    friscomike, Nov 24, 2010
    #17
  18. Iantha_Branch

    Iantha_Branch Member

    Not a problem. But I gotta give some credit to Bob Wintle for pointing out exactly this to me last summer.
     
    Iantha_Branch, Nov 24, 2010
    #18
  19. friscomike

    friscomike Administrator Staff Member Administrator Frisco.org Supporter

    Howdy folks,

    Would there be any interest in a photo chronicle of the installation of a Soundtraxx Tsunami in with a Railmaster Hobbies #[FONT=&quot]DS1436-8 [/FONT]bass reflex speaker [FONT=&quot]DS1436-8 in an Atlas GP38-2? It is coming near the top of the hobby queue, and I could set up the camera and...

    Best,
    mike

    [/FONT]
     
    friscomike, Dec 8, 2010
    #19
  20. wmrx

    wmrx MP Trainmaster

    Definitely, Mike. Please proceed. Your recorded effort would be greatly appreciated.
     
    wmrx, Dec 8, 2010
    #20
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