Genesis SLSF GP15-1s Are Delayed Again

Pat - Your "Genny" F3 ought to run as well as anything made. I'd suggest it might not be a track problem, but that the wheels need to be cleaned. Have you taken a look at the wheel tread surfaces lately?

I clean wheels using two different methods -

o I have the Kadee #380-236 wheel cleaner. It does a decent job, and is very easy to use - you can clean the wheels without taking off the body shell.

o For a real rigorous cleaning, I remove the body shell, hook on the electric power with clips to two places that work (trial and error), run the locomotive drive at a slow speed, and polish each wheel individually with my Dremel using the brass wheel brush (not the steel one!). It does a super job that lasts for a long time, and because of the brass brush, does not degrade the wheel tread (the steel brush could). A caution - watch out for your fingers as you hold the truck! The Dremel will do a fine job of cleaning skin off of your fingers as well! My P2K E-units seem to need this treatment every year or so.

Ken

 

I have two Walthers Trainline GP15-1s myself in Frisco colors. One, I left pretty much alone (well, added plow pilots fore & aft & installed nose Gyralite and proper Leslie 5-chime air horns), the other has been stripped, redetailed, and awaits paint, decals & new handrails (Smokey Valley sounds good). With these two (and I may go back to redo the other engine), I'm not sure I will be spending scarce coin on the Genesis unit, even though I'm sure it'll look great.

Being a fan of the baby Tunnel Motors (and getting my first cab ride ever on a Frisco GP15, the 100), I'm grateful there are ANY manufacturers coming out with this unique locomotive.

 

I have all three paints - the Badger Modelflex "Frisco Orange" paint, and the two ModelMaster "Chevrolet Engine Block Red" paints, both the enamel and the Acryl. All three paints are very good and work well. It depends on your eye - to me, the Badger Modelflex is a bit "reder" and the two ModelMasters are a bit "oranger".

I may have invented two new words there!

The Frisco prototype "red/orange" varied between units, varied between EMD, GE, and Frisco shop(s) applications, and weathered differently - as we have discussed before. All three of these paints will do a good job for you. I guess if I had to pick between them, I'd go for the ModelMaster as you can have it in both solvent based and water based formulas. Testors ModelMaster is also a bit easier to find.

Ken

 

Judging by what I see in pictures of Frisco O/W power, weathering and grime tends to help disguise the differences of paint color. For the record, I have painted my diesels with Floquil SP Scarlet, but I do have a bottle of Model Flex "Mandarin Orange" paint to try.

 

Manny - Horizion now owns both Athearn and Roundhouse (MDC). They are putting out all models under the Athearn name. Some of Athearn's recent releases - the Alco RS-2 is a good example - are old Roundhouse items that have been upgraded. I wonder if they will ever do anything with the old Roundhouse metal steam locomotive line.

Ken

 

I still have the Roundhouse 0-6-0 kit, about half finished, that I got in 1982. Don't know if I will ever finish it! Neat little engine - SP prototype.

Ken