HO Scale GP7's: Experiences?

It's been a long time since I've had an HO scale GP7 model. So many out there now. Here's my question:

WHAT is one of the smoothest running GP7 models available now?

I've watched Youtube videos of the new Athearn Genesis GP7 and, frankly, I'm NOT impressed with its slow speed (jerky) performance as reviewed.

The Bachmann GP7 w/Tsunami Sound is way smoother than the Athearn in the review videos, but (as expected) doesn't have the detail niceties of the Genesis model. (This can be corrected with time, $$, and detail parts.)

The Atlas Classic still has the cast metal frame, which makes frame modifications/detail adding a total pain.

Has Walthers come out with the former P2K GP7 w/DCC and Sound?

What are your choices and your experiences for an HO scale GP7???

 

I have 2 Atlas GP7's w/DCC and no sound. They run very smooth and also in a consist. I also have P2K GP7's W/DCC and no sound. They are also very smooth runners and consist very well. These were DCC Ready locos that I installed decoders to them. But prior to installing decoders I made sure that everything was in working order such as wheel gauge and gears are lubed, wires are soldered on and no binding of its mechanism. Programming a decoder to get the motor to run smooth is were the results are defined for motor performance and to consist very well.
If I have a preference between Atlas and P2K, I like the Proto's I think they are more durable, easy to work on, the hand rail stanchions don't break like the Atlas.

 

I have the Atlas orange and white ones that I bought new way back in the early 90s, #573 and #597. The fuel tanks were painted orange from the factory so I painted them black and added some kadee couplers. Also the handrails are black plastic so I painted them. They run really really smooth even after all these years and work great coupled together. I added a rotary beacon and an all weather cab window on one of them and lightly weathered them. Only issue I have is touch up painting the handrails from time to time as the paint tends to flake off of them since they are pretty flexible. I saw one at the last Bixby train show it was a nice used one for 35 bucks.

 

Yeah, the handrails issue for holding paint is a nightmare. I used Testors/Pactra racing car paint, it seems to do the trick on sticking to it. I don't know if it is still available. I bought a bottle years ago and plenty left to do a lot of models.

John

 

Andre,

I have one of the older Atlas/Kato GP7s, and even though it lacks some in detail, it runs great like an Atlas does. Lucky for you, there's a lot of them on ebay right now.
http://www.ebay.com/sch/HO-Scale-/19128/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=frisco+gp7

Ethan

 

Andre, you might check this thread as well.....

http://www.modelrailroadforums.com/forum/showthread.php?35241-Bachmann-709-GP7-in-WP-clothing

 

Thanks all for your valued input. I have a couple of undec P2K GP7s that need the gear swap thing. I am also contemplating purchasing an Athearn Genesis Mop GP9 w/DCC and Sound to use as a transfer engine, but was concerned about how herky jerky it looked during slow speed in the Youtube videos.

I would not be interested in the orange and white Atlas GP7, but I may be interested in an undec Atlas eventually. Do any of you own the original yellow box Atlas GP7 and an Atlas China GP7? How's the performance/looks between the two? I have found the Atlas China RS3 to be better detailed than the yellow box version and runs exactly the same: Smooth and quiet.

Thanks again.

 

To back up Keith, my GP7 was instal was done by him using a Tsunami silent decoder. After some CV adjustments, it runs great with an Athearn Genesis GP15-1 that has OEM Tsunami.

Ethan

 

Growing up in Dixon, MO, one couldn't miss seeing trains 43 and 44, the east local out of Springfield to Newburg on M/W/F and back on Tu/Th/S. I tried to watch them switch Dixon when I was in town. Every time, but one, was with a single GP-7. (1200-series 2-8-0's when I was little). The one other was with one of the RS-1's. So, when I switched from 3-rail (Marx - we were poor) to HO, I saved up my money mowing lawns and ordered a brass Tenshodo GP-7. It was unpainted, so I painted it black with yellow decals from Walthers. The detailing was fantastic, the paint was poor, and the running was terrible. I left it on the club layout at MSM in Rolla. When I graduated, I went to collect it. Someone had stolen it.

My next GP-7 was a major kit bash of a Blue Box Athearn. I took off the D/B, replaced the handrail stanchions with Kemtron castings, put on sun shades, spark arresters, MU posts, 5-chime horn, and even built a 555-timer and 2mm LED flasher, which didn't work very well.

The thing still looks and runs great after 50 years. That Athearn drive was pure percision. It's an O/W representation of 599. I ran it at the Severna Park club during monthly op sessions for decades. That old drive held up well and is still one of the best HO runners I have. There's a photo of it in our "joint-author" article on the ex AT&SF cabooses that ran in PROTOTYPE MODELER along with my model 1158.

Tonight, I finished an ECO-200 sound DCC decoder install in 599 with three LEDs (head light, back-up light, and flashing beacon) and a big ZIMO speaker. There is a lot of room in there. The stall current for that 50-year-old Athearn motor was about 0.6A, but I put in a -200 rather than a -100 anyway. I'll program it at the local Knoxville club tomorrow.

I took photos as I went along and plan to post them to the Knoxville Area Model Railroaders' Facebook site.

599 = perfect ham radio CW signal report.

Anyone who says that DCC decoder installations are easy is not a very honest person and should be running for POTUS.

 

24 photos are posted to Facebook.

 

A beautiful work of an Athearn model of 50 years ago.
you did a really nice rebuild.
You should be proud - you have a right too!