HO Scale SLSF 1102

Discussion in 'Cabooses' started by gjslsffan, Oct 11, 2009.

  1. meteor910

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

    Agree ..... the Utah Pacific NG-85 is a nice casting. Fortunately, I have several, all pre-Tomar. I also have a pack of the Sunrise H-108, which is an OK substitute for the NG-85.

    The GE gyralight Bob mentions is Sunrise H-109, good for SLSF late U30b's and the B30-7's.

    Adding all this little detail junk is one of the great pleasures of the hobby for me. Like you guys, I have a drawer full of parts ..... all (sort of) organized.

    Ken
     
  2. gjslsffan

    gjslsffan Staff Member Staff Member

    Don't know about you folks but those tabs that hold the shell to the frame drive my crazy. Too hard to get apart and when you do get them apart you sometimes drop the shell or frame or both. I cut those tabs off and use the coupler pockets to hold the shell on. Very easy to do, file .070 from the ends of the frame coupler mounts then drill them out with a #35 drill bit, just right for a # 4-40 screw. Next use a KD # 42 off set coupler, you will have to trim the back of the coupler to fit onto the frame at this point. The center mounting hole in the KD coupler box readily accepts a # 4-40 thread tap, with a little cutting filing and threading you can have the coupler mounted to the frame with screws you can remove from the bottom. Next I put piece a of.020X.250 styrene strip and place on each end of the pilot where the bottom of the coupler boxes will be, I then use a piece or .020X.040 styrene to reinforce where the coupler box will press against the styrene plug in the pilot. It's been more time and effort to type this than do the modification, and you can use a multitude of other styrene sizes or parts to do this, these are just what I had handy.
    I like to turn the shell on its back, lay the frame in it and take a fine leaded pencil and mark where the openings or notches are frame to shell so you know where to mount the next details. The other details I like to add to the shell are DW 139 air filter, (it is actually an air dryer) and plumb with .015 wire to air resevoir as shown, also a DW BE 127 bell (other bells are available too like DA 1202 ect.) but the DW one is rubust and I have allot of them. Also you can add brass .020 wire to the air resevoir ends as shown being careful not to foul the shell to frame clearance points.
    Then the trucks get a DW 285 speed recorder and .008 wire for the cable, on the Firemans side lead axle. There are other speed recorders you can use too (got allot of these also) and sometimes mounted on other axles. I do not have good detailed shots of the firemans side of a SLSF GP50, the books that I do have show not so clearly that this could be correct for the GP 40's (Bob-Ken any help here?). I used .012 steel wire I bent for the brake cylinder air lines, drilled out the brake cyl's with a #79 bit (have many, many of these). Then .025 electrical wire insulation I used for sander hoses. Some folks use brass wire for this, it's just easier for me to wrap the insulation around the ends than wire. plus I got allot of that electrical wire lying around from 1.5 volt bulbs.
    Mask off the electrical contact areas and paint the frame and trucks black. I love the smell of Scalecoat in the evening.
    comments, suggestions, corrections are welcomed
    Tom:)|-|
     

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    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 15, 2009
  3. meteor910

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

    Tom -

    I have few GP50 pics, and none that show the fireman's side lead truck clearly.

    Yes, for the Frisco GP40-2, the DW 285 speedo looks like the right call, mounted on the lead axle of the Fireman's side front truck. Very likely the same on the GP50.

    Nice technique to get rid of those body shell tabs and hold the body on with the coupler box. Designing those tabs like they did was not one of Athearn's better moments.

    What paint system are you going to use to match the red/orange on the GP50 body?

    Ken
     
  4. gjslsffan

    gjslsffan Staff Member Staff Member

    Ken-
    Testors Model Masters GM engine Red with a touch of yellow matches almost perfectly. I my opinion and only mine, I think if a person painted the MM GM Red over white it might be darned close. My real problem is that all of the lights I use for pictures are flourescent and tend to not picture well.
    Tom
     
  5. gjslsffan

    gjslsffan Staff Member Staff Member

    GP 50 790 was SLSF 1102

    This is the GP 50 that was started a few days ago. I painted the additional detail parts and added them to the shell as it was finished.
    DW 191 horn, DW 106 beacon, DA 2206 eye bolts, a DA 2218 grab iron behind the cooling fans, DA 2202 grab irons as well as A-line 29210 sunshades, a DA 1901 toilet vent was added to the nose. just a dot of old Silver was added to that 3101 in tank fuel sight glass, most carriers paint the fuel tank caps Red. Sometimes I will add that Silver paint just ahead of the brake pistons to simulate the brakes as being applied.
    High voltage decals, engine start, water fill, lube oil check, fire extinguisher and emergency fuel shut off decals were install accordingly form Micro Scale, 527, 716 decal sheets. We could do a whole story just about those stickers.
    American Model Builders (AMB) # 230 flush fitting windows were installed almost last, the outside covers were left on, then the loco was weathered then the window covers removed, and DA 2314 windshield wipers were installed.
    This unit was not to recieve lighting and I do not have an MV lens to fit the Gyra light, although I did find a source for them.
    The SLSF 790 is the GP 50(-2) shell I bought from Ken Wulfert, the 792 is my GP 50 (stenciled bn 3100), rescued and renumbered for the Frisco.
    There are multiple suppliers for almost every part # mentioned, use the ones you have or like the most. These units were both a blast to build.
    Thanks to Ken, Bob and all the others that had input, advise and comments on this project.
    I do think that had the Frisco remained an independent operation they would have had GP 60's too. What do you think?
    Tom
     

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  6. meteor910

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

    Tom - The old girl is looking good! Congrats on SLSF 790!

    FYI - BN/SLSF 3100 would have been SLSF 791. Your SLSF 792 would have been BN 3102. No problem - given that you have them in the to-be frisco numbers, it matters not!

    Very nice work. I can't believe how fast you did this project. I just shipped the GP50 shell to you a week ago. Can I ship you some of mine that have been sitting around here for many weeks? :):):)

    Ken

    ps - Interesting parallel between GP35's and GP50's. The EMD GP35 was the last big EMD series based on the proven 567 engine. They had the GP35 567 hyped up so much that, though the model was a success, it was a maintenance hog as it suffered from constant engine ailments. The GP50 was similar - its EMD 645 engine was hyped up to its ultimate level. The locomotive was very powerful and performed well, but, like the GP35, suffered from constant engine ailments. Same story! Hence, the EMD 710 was introduced to solve the problem in the following 60-series.
     
  7. HWB

    HWB FRISCO.org Supporter

    nice work
     
  8. friscobob

    friscobob Staff Member Staff Member Frisco.org Supporter

    Yes, I could see GP60s on the Frisco, and I don't doubt they would have also tested GE Dash-8s, such as B39s and B40s. (uh-oh, did I just mention another possible project?LOL)
     
  9. gjslsffan

    gjslsffan Staff Member Staff Member

    Hi,
    Thanks for the comments.
    The 50 series, like the 35 series of EMD's had allot of problems. The prime mover's for one, the electrical for part of the other too. I first started my RR career as a machinist, in the Backshops in Denver for the DRGW/SP. The RG like the Frisco had GP 35's, the DRGW's suffered from electrical problems constantly, mainly with making transition. Some engine problems but mostly electrical. I think the 50 sereies was one of the first to use the processors to manage some of the electrical functions on the units. Needless to say the environs weren't exactly what the computer processors needed. The 50's also employed and kind of radar for wheel slip mudulation, these were constanly fouling up too.
    I remember when I got into train service, was on a drag out of Denver headed West up the Moffat with all the tonnage 3 tunnel motors and a SD 50 could possibly handle, we were going slower than we should have been. SO back thru the power I go before the tunnel district to see whats the matter. All those good old TM's show 8-9 mph, amp guages were pegged and the SD 50 amp guage was somewhat less and the speeder said 52 mph!
    Back outside I went climbed down a step of two and sure enough, we were
    re-profiling the rail throwing sparks like you couldn't believe.
    I think Frisco would have had some of the same problems, and may not have placed any more orders for GP 50's.
    I agree and think this would have driven the Frisco to try some GE's.
    But would have ended up with some GP 60's too, after the teething problams, they turned out to be good locomotives. SP and ATSF literally have ran the wheels of of their's. If you gotta train they can handle they are going Jessie's. But not quite as much fun to run as a GP 40.
    HHHMMMM I think I have a couple gp 60 shells in a drawer around here somewhere.
    Cheers
    Tom|-|
     
  10. meteor910

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

    Tom -

    Thanks for the insight. I had heard that about the GP50 wheel-slip controls - one person I talked to several years ago called them "track polishers".

    Kind of like the GE U36b. Lots of power, but terrible anti-slip control.

    Ken
     
  11. HWB

    HWB FRISCO.org Supporter

    I just ran across this thread because of a GP50 model picture. Given time I think the Frisco would have subscribed to the six axle "train" of thought. The SD40-2 purchase showed their willingness to get on board. I know they were pleased with the SD45 despite the prime mover maintance cost. I believe an order of SD60's would have been next to replace the ailing SD45's...
     
  12. gjslsffan

    gjslsffan Staff Member Staff Member

    I agree, And the 60 series of locomotives were, and still are, very popular and just plain good locomotives. The Frisco would have bought heavily into the radial trucked SD60/70 units I think too. From what I remember they were always concerned with rail wear caused by those heavy 6 axle units.
    The SD 60's always had a high "average days available for service, compared to failure rate", often times being well into 120+ days between failures. When you compare that to the relative torture chamber they were in, thats a good locomotive.
    I also think the Frisco would have bought into the 60 GP's as well for a time too. At least they have on "my" Frisco:D
    Tom
    GJ
     

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