SL-SF GP38AC 662, 650, 648

Got these shells about a year ago. Just now starting to mount them to the Athearn chassis I have in the parts drawer. Why the Athearn? so it will run with all the other locos I have till the DCC thing happens here (playing lotto to win money for same).
After adding the nose lights as explained in this thread

http://www.frisco.org/vb/showthread.php?1568-Nose-Gyralights&highlight=nose+lights

Did some cosmetic work on the noses and now am doing some more work to the shells adding details and such.
These Atlas shells have the thinner handrails with the radiator fans spaced apart a little more than the Athearn shell has, and a split radiator screen. One of the shells is numbered SLSF 636. It is getting renumbered, the other 2 shells came un-numbered. After some research I chose 662, 650, 648. Are these correct numbers for these shells? Need to make sure before decaling. Paint is Model Master (MM) Sunburst Orange, MM flat White (covers so much better than gloss) and MM Aluminum for horn and nose Gyra light on one loco. The research I have done shows the horn and Gyra light was at one time silver in color on 648, a picture I have shows the unit pretty dirty, they most likely both had been replaced at some point. Parts used so far include, 1/4" H beam for nose box and DA 1001 Gyra light, DA 1802 antenna, DW 106 beacon, DW 242 air tank piping, DW 204 air tanks, DW 191 horn, DW 139 air dryers, and .019 brass wire for piping I'm sure I forgot something.

 

Re: SL-SF GP38AC 662, 650, 648

Tom - Regarding your unit numbering, the Atlas shells are GP38's, not GP38-2's. I'm in Naples and don't have my reference books to tell me where the numbering for GP38's stopped, and those for the new GP38-2's started. After they filled up the remaining 600's with new 38-2's, they moved to the 400 series for the additional 38-2's. The 38's did have fan spacing that was farther apart than the 38-2's, and they varied in placement a bit over the time of the 38 production run. The 38-2's also had the sight glass on the right side, while the 38's did not. The Atlas 38 shells do not have the sight glass. The Athearn shell, a 38-2, does have the sight glass.

EMD did this to drive us crazy!

Ken

ps - Nice job on the shells. I really like your method for making the nose gyralight.

 

Re: SL-SF GP38AC 662, 650, 648

Thanks Terry, so these are GP38ACs no sight glass like Ken said, so the numbers I chose should be OK looks to me.

The handrails are factory paint, they did a fine job on them just touched them up in a couple spots with the MM paint mentioned, it matches perfectly.
I will attach a couple photos of the erasers for folks to see, like you say they are a bit harder than all the other ones I have used.
They are Sanford machine eraser strips part #72. 1 box= lifetime supply for several people. I use an exacto blade to cut a sharp chisel type tip to have a broad flat surface it helps to keep from burning thru the bottom coat of paint.

Thanks Ken, as usual your right. BTW you should always take your reference books! That would be like me leaving home without my rulebook or timetable
Thanks Guys

 

Re: SL-SF GP38AC 662, 650, 648

Keith
Can you fix the thread? And remove the -2's from the title.
Thanks

 

Howzat?

Charlie

 

you da man Charlie
Thank You!

 

Tom -

You will have a group of classy looking Frisco GP38's indeed. Did you order any of the new Athearn Genesis GP38-2's to go with them?

I'll let you talk with Caroline about me bring all my Frisco stuff down here! Low odds!

Ken

 

Thanks Ken, Yea you would need one of those big U-Haul trucks for that
Rolling along here with the GP38AC projects, all are decaled up ready for a seal coat and then put the chassis under then a dull coat and off to the weathering Laboratory they go. Have Richmond Controls Light kits for all with operating Gyra lights and beacons. I really enjoy his light kits they work great for me. Keeping the windows masked until finished.

 

Aw shucks, a U-Haul trailer would do!

Love your GP38s! First class models as always.

Ken

 

Thanks Ken, I bet your nice and warm in Florida huh? The Onion Pacific broke out a Russell Snow plow and took it thru Glenwood Canyon for all the snow slides. Man its cold!! Haven't ever seen that plow move, maybe if I worked more.... Naahh,, that aint gonna happen
Yes Sir, I did order a couple of those Genesis GP38-2's got them coming from that outfit Keith recommended.

 

Dont know about you guys but it looks like 648's class light seals were decaled by "Droopy" I will re-do those... Hard to tell where those decals will end up when you place them with water and add the setting solution.

 

I dunno Tom, it kinda looks like 648 has a silly grin with eyes looking down and to the right.

 

OH Dear!!

 

Here we go all three weathered, didn't get the light kit installed on the SL-SF 662, I will when some more kits come in from Richmond Controls. May install some MV lenses till then.
And now they get put into service. BTW these all have sealed ball bearings in the motors, no lube required. This has turned out to be one of the best modifications to date. Extremely quiet operation. Anyway, re-applied the class light gasket decals on 648 so it doesn't look like Droopy or Dopey. Weathered with chalks and airbrushed light coats of very thin wash Poly Scale. Stole a couple tricks from HWB (thanks Howard) for weathering too.
Thanks for looking, and please carry on

 

Jeez Tom - Those GP38's look great! Well done.

Ken

 

Thanks Paul, Ken and George,
I appreciate the kind words and comments guys. I do enjoy modeling the Frisco.
Thanks for looking,