Here is one that will bring back memories to long-time (OofOF Members, Let Your firgure Out what this stands for) HO Scale Modelers.
GSB
Remember the long awaited EMD SD40-2 Model?
Yes.[:D]
It took some work, but I got it running pretty well. Except for those handrails, it has a very nice shell, and it would be a better runner if the gears all had their holes centered properly. Because of that, it has one of those GRK-GRK-GRK-GRK sort of noises, but it’s at least smooth since I got the gear’s off-centeredness somewhat lined up.
The GSB SD40-2 was reviewed in the May 1983 issue of MR. The review noted the good proportions and the fact that many of the options available on the prototype had been built into the model: the cab, battery box covers, radiators, and long hood top sections were all cast separately; the radiator could accept plain mesh or louvered grid. A special panel could replace the ratchet handbrake with a brakewheel. The fuel tank was in plastic over a weight so the modeler was not stuck with a one size fits all fuel tank, and the review noted that a rather thorough instruction book came with the model to explain all these options. Jim Hediger who wrote the review said the engine went together “pretty well” – other guys who I know who purchased one had a much less generous opinion. He noted that the handrails were prone to damage, and termed them toy-like compared to the quality of the body castings. He also observed that the motor, a bit light in capacity at .4 amps, was good but there were no flywheels and only four axles were powered. Among other things Hediger noted that one sideframe was longer than the other! The price, undecorated, was $39.98.
GSB had the midfortune that the Athearn SD40-2, almost as much a best-seller for them as the prototype was for EMD, was reviewed the month before: April 1983 MR. It was cheaper ($32.50), had finer looking handrails, had flywheels with good momentum, and the dynamic brakes were a separate casting. In some ways the SD40-2 was a break-through for Athearn as it had scale width hoods unlike their other EMDs (and a different motor as a result), finer truck detail than they had featured previously, and came nicely painted and lettered.
No doubt, GSB was on to something, with the many options recognizing that most plastic model diesels of the time bought into the “they all look alike” mantra that some still chanted at the time, while the reality was
I think they were based in Irving, TX. They had other successful products that pre-dated the SD40-2; illuminated super buttons come to mind. These were momentary contact switches that had a 1.5 v bulb in them and a colored lens; primary use was to active remote controlled switches. I was able to install four or five in the panel of the first model railroad I built in high school. They worked well, and they looked cool.
GSB also made interiors for diesel cabs; I believe that tooling was purchased by Keystone Models. I came across five kits this afternoon while I was looking for something else; they will probably go on the evil auction site. I don’t need them anymore; although I kept a couple for use with Athearn blue box F7s.
Good times, good times!
I’ve got a couple of GSB Milw bodies around here–boxes and all. My former good bud wanted the drives and left me with the bodies.
Gotta wonder–who won that one.
Ed
Never really cared for the GSB locos,but I still have a small cashe of TanCan motors from GSB. They were ironically a local company for me, as the boxes are maked GSB Products, Silver Spring MD, about an hour from here. Thankfully the motors still show up on eBay now and then. (Yes I will run out soon!)[:D]
LOL what made you think of those? Yes, I remember them. Atleast the part where they were coming out. Seems like it took forever. And as I have read the posts it seems my having never purchased one was a good idea. Opting for the Athearn version instead.
I may be wrong (memory failure) but it seems that the Athearn version came out of no where, was available first, and cheaper. Even though it was a new tooled model by Athearn, it was the most expensive model they were putting out at $32 to $38 depending on who you got it from. the rest of Athearns fleet was $19.99 or less. Dam those were the days! (GSB listed close to $50 I think)
Curious to know, as now 2 decades have passed, put the Athearn against a GSB. For those who have one each of the original versions, which turned out to be the lasting one? Which does your railroad’s Locomotive Foreman put on the head end the most? My bet is on the Athearn. Ya just can’t beat those ole blue boxes!
Like the modular steam locomotive kits from The (Scale) Locomotive Company, GSB was an interesting idea crippled by poor exeecution.
Yes never ending and premature ads for the bulldog chassis which lead to the race between GSB and Athearn. Reminds me of the premature ads for the Highliner F units too.
I have several of the units laying around somewhere in a box. As I recall the GSB was the first letters of three people’s names. G for Gordon…???
About the time that GSB released its SD40-2, it put out a catalog that listed other upcoming projects, such as a plastic SD40T-2, an RS-1 and a gas electric doodlebug, none of which they ever released.
The hobby shop I worked at at the time got two GSB SD40-2s in and sold the first one to a regular customer who did a lot of painting and detailing work. His review back to us was pretty scathing, so we held off on buying any more for stock.
Within weeks, it seemed, Athearn had their model out, and we couldn’t keep the things in stock, especially the Chessie-painted units (we were in a Chessie shop town). The second undec GSB model languished in the case for nearly a year.
I vaguely remember the T&D SD40T-2 widebody shell that was sold to go onto an Athearn FP45 frame, but can’t place when it hit the market.
I have two of the Undec SD40-2 and I got mine for $39.95 each List Price. I may someday get around to building them. But most of the comments I heard was to put an Athearn Frame etc under the body and use the Tan Can in place of the Athearn Motor to get a good unit.
By the way the Pushbutton People were G&B out of Texas, and they disappeared also after a few years.
GSB in addition to the F7 Interiors did a SW1500 and Wide Vision Caboose interior which I have somewhere in the basement.
North American Diesel Locomotive used the T&D Shell which was made about 2 years earlier than the Athearn SD40-2 came out. T&D also did a SD40-2 shell which NADL used with a turned aournd Athearn SD Truck and SDP 40 Frame for their SD40-2. It was really funny when Athearn came out with the SD40-2, they cancelled all the back orders for the NADL SD40-2’s that they had.
Rick J