GP15-1 Project

Anonymous · July 5, 2004, 9:10pm

I’ll try this again. Here’s a GP15-1 from Walthers that I’m detailing to represent MP 1621. I have installed Digitrax DH123D, and Golden White LED’s. It runs smooth and is awaiting the Cannon & Co. Treadplate set before painting.

The model’s looks improve with the added details, and smaller handrails from Athearn. These are the plastic GP38-2 handrails, that were shortened and cemented back together with cyanopoxy. I’ll post pictures of this engine once it is completed.

Anonymous · July 5, 2004, 9:11pm

I also used Athearn Blomberg B sideframes that were modified with Plastruct styrene tubing to extend their mounting tubes to match the original Walthers mounting. I drilled the center truck mounting pin hole out to 7/64" to accomodate the Athearn pin, which was also trimmed about 3/16" to make sure the trucks fit under the frame correctly. The stanchion holes were filled with .040 styrene rod and CA glue. New stanchion holes were drilled for the new handrails. Additionally, those are Tichy drop grab irons you see installed as well. I have four other GP15-1’s in the works along with this unit.

Anonymous · July 5, 2004, 9:44pm

It looks good so far.
Ch

Anonymous · July 6, 2004, 8:49pm

Are you putting in double rear grab irons on the rear too?

—jps

Anonymous · July 7, 2004, 2:02pm

Looks good. I have a Wlathers GP-15-1 that I detailed and painted for the California Northern. With added details these units look quite good. Especially if you find good running ones! Great project!

Anonymous · July 7, 2004, 5:11pm

Anonymous · July 7, 2004, 5:20pm

Also, the engine is very quiet running on Digitrax’s DH123D decoder. The Walther’s unit has a smooth drive already, and the DH123D just made it better. Cannon & Co. will be shipping their treadplate sets in the next two weeks, so I’ll have the MP 1621 ready to go shortly. I am very happy to get back to kitbashing, detailing, and painting locomotives. Thanks to all for the comments. I hope to post updates to the engine soon. Oh, and this will be a “canary” unit in UP colors with MISSOURI PACIFIC lettering. The other four will be in Jenks blue.

Anonymous · July 7, 2004, 5:31pm

That’s a good-looking engine! Walthers units are an excellent base for this kind of work in my opinion as the basic shell and drive system are very good. I particularly like the brass sunshades and air horns - I have a few Athearn Dash 9s that came with plastic sunshades and air horns which have proved very vulnerable to damage (luckily they just tend to get knocked off) and look slightly over-thick - the brass shades and air horns win on both counts!

Anonymous · July 8, 2004, 6:38pm

Question… what gauge brass did you use for the sunshades?
Thanks

Anonymous · July 8, 2004, 6:40pm

PS: The loco looks great so far. Good work!

Anonymous · July 10, 2004, 3:55pm

Those are A-line’s # 29210 Brass Sunshades. They are HO scale. Thanks for the reviews. Still waiting for the treadplate from Cannon & CO.

Anonymous · July 10, 2004, 4:00pm

Thanks!! I’ll agree with you on all points. I custom paint and detail all my locomotives. I wish I could find a few more GP15-1’s. I paid $25.00 for this GP15-1. It is from the second run and includes the rubber washers on the top of the motor mounts, which eliminate almost all noise. I have four more GP15-1’s in the works. This one will be the only MP Canary unit. The other four will be blue.

Anonymous · August 12, 2004, 9:31pm

The Project is finished. I’ll shoot some better pix of it later on. The engine now has Digitrax’ DH123D decoder in it, and LED’s (Yellow-glow). It has the Athearn trucks and looks very nice. It’s the only yellow GP15-1 I will run. The Cannon Treadplate set is very nice, and is a must for a great looking GP15-1. The engine runs smooth and quietly.

Anonymous · August 14, 2004, 8:30am

That looks VERY nice. I hope the GP50 that I am painting will eventually turn out like that, just in BN colors[:)]
Reed

Anonymous · August 14, 2004, 2:13pm

Wow, that looks very sharp![:)] Nice paint job!

darth9x9 · August 16, 2004, 3:04am

Hey JoppaSub,

How would you like to build four undec units? LMK

Anonymous · August 18, 2004, 10:49pm

In what roads?

Anonymous · August 18, 2004, 10:56pm

BTW:

I have four more Undec GP15-1’s on the way in Jenks Blue…I would recommend the following things to do for a great looking GP15-1 from Walthers:

Use Athearn Blomberg M or B trucks instead of the Walthers sideframes. The Athearns are superior in detail and require simple modifications with extending the mounting tubes. Use plastruct styrene tubing and dowells with CA cement.
Use a scale handrail set of your choice. I chose the Athearn GP38-2 sets with the long handrails cut down to fit per scale drawings. I filled all of the factory stanchion holes with .040 styrene rod; putty and CA cement. Excellent looking unit.
For this MP Canary unit, I trimmed the “flash” off of the top row of door latches on the long hood with PBL nippers. This allowed the striping to settle down after applying solvaset.
Use the Cannon & Co. Treadplate set along with their Fuel Tank detail set for this engine. Great castings from Gordan Cannon (as usual). Excellent results. It makes the engine look complete.

I am starting a new kitbash right now…A “Ratlas” B23-7 using a Railpower shell and Atlas drive (U23B)…I cut the Railpower nose off and replaced it with an Atlas C30-7 nose and U23B Cab…It appears to be going the way of MP 1621. I’ll post pix soon.

darth9x9 · August 21, 2004, 8:56am

Hey JoppaSub,

I would want them undec. People have a hard time painting the scheme I want in the correct colors. Send me an email at tv@bkcarl.com so we can talk off forum.