GP30 Modeling Help

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

Got yet another for my forum friends. I picked up a Bev-Bel GP30 shell painted for the BN from eBay last night. (It looked good at the time as an additional engine for coal service. Of course, I didn’t really need to add another engine to the 24 diesels I already have.) I have managed to figure out what drive to put under it (Athearn GP35, as used when they were sold originally), the couplers (Kadee 149s in 252 boxes. The 149s are for clearing the plows), and I have located prototype pictures.

My questions are these:

  1. Could parts from Details West DS-282 be used to detail the shell somewhat? My question is prompted by the fact that the kit is designed for the Life Like P2K GP30s. I am aware that these shell were sold by Kader (Bachmann’s parent) to Bev-Bel for this scheme.
  2. As I don’t super detail (i.e. speed recorders, mu hoses, etc.), am I correct that, if the DS-282 works, I should only need the following: 2 PL-287 plows (front and back), an AH-190 air horn, a horn stand (see question 3), and an RA-157 “Firecracker” antenna?
  3. As to the horn stand, would I be looking at using a HB-329? The item number is not specified in the DW listing for the DS-282 kit and that is the only horn stand I find mentioned on the Diesel Parts list on the website.
  4. Are there any other points that I should be aware of for this project?

As usual, thank you in advance for any help the forums can provide.

2

I usually go off of any prototype pics I can find, and see what is included in different detailing kits offered, and add accordingly.

A great source for a question like this is in the Diesel Detailer forum. If you are in the Atlas forum, it’s the same login.

Don’t know if it’s “legal” in here to name another forum, but other members seem to do it.

Mike.

3

I agree with Mike. Step 1 is get some prototype photos, step 2 is get MORE prototype photos, and step 3 is get EVEN MORE prototype photos.

Stick with one prototype; accessories can vary WIDELY from road to road on the same engine.

THEN, once you have your photos, you start deciding what to add.

4

Could you provide a link for the above mentioned forum? Otherwise, I am a little stumped as to where I might find it.

5

Try this:

http://dieseldetailer.proboards.com/

Google Diesel Detailer in it’s the first thing that comes up. Beware, [(-D] Some of the people in here are serious prototype diesel builders. It’s a great place for detailing.

Mike