Hi all, at last Sunday’s train show I finally found a Atheran Gp-9 Conrail dummy that I’ve been looking for for quite sometime to match my powered Geep. The only problem is they have the same shells and therefore the same number. Blah!!! I already have plans to change that anyhow. Now comes the next part in a two part question.
I want to detail these GP’s and I need to know where I can get an entire detail kit, instead of windshield wipers here, and window inserts and shades there. Do they make such a kit? Once I do that I’ll be ready for weathering.
I want to put lighting in the dummy. What’s the best way to do this? Should I just find an Atheran powered truck and take the gearing out of it so I have electrical pick up? What’s the best way?
Thanks people, I’m so excited about finally getting a matching set of GP’s going, just like when I was a kid. For now it will do because I don’t have the power to run two bigger loco’s like that yet. But when I do I 'll have a GP-9 chasis to put this dummy shell on.
When I’m looking for a dummy, I usually just go into the bathroom and look in the mirror. [:-^]
Does the dummy have plastic wheels, or metal? If they’re metal, you can just pick up a set of power wipers (Tomar, etc.,) and pick up the power. To avoid flicker, it’s best to put pickups on all the wheels.
If you need wheels, see if your LHS can help you out. They do have wheels for these things, but a lot will depend on your trucks.
A big empty shell is an awfully tempting place to put a sound decoder and speaker in.
They’re plastic wheels. I haven’t even noticed if the trucks are metal though. And great minds think a like. Although I didn’t put that in my original post, I will want to put sound and speaker in there when I get to that point. Basically, these will be my pride and joy, my center piece if you will. [swg]
Detail associates makes the full run of detail parts as well,some in the form of a complete kit,Even if you have to pick up their parts packs separatly the pricing isn’t too bad.Most good hobby shops will stock the required detail parts. Get yourself a good photo of the Conrail GP’s and go to town .
Well unpowered units or cars aren’t too reliable on picking up power, the lights will tend to flicker.
I would try running two wires back from the powered unit (you could disguise them as M.U. cables) and light up the rear headlight bulb from the powered unit. If you intend on always running these together, that would work. You’d probably only need the front headlight on the lead unit and the rear one on the second (dummy) unit, assuming you’re going to run them both facing forward as in the pic.
